Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Ellen Barkin | ... | Margaret Wells | |
Laurence Fishburne | ... | Nelson Crowe | |
Frank Langella | ... | Vic Grimes | |
Michael Beach | ... | Tod Stapp | |
Gia Carides | ... | Julie Ames | |
David Ogden Stiers | ... | Judge Beach | |
Daniel Hugh Kelly | ... | Les Goodwin | |
Spalding Gray | ... | Walter Curl | |
James Hong | ... | Bobby Birdsong | |
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Tegan West | ... | Al |
Fred Henderson | ... | John Cartwain | |
Michelle Beaudoin | ... | Wanda | |
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Sherry Bie | ... | Mrs. Beach |
Alan Robertson | ... | Phil | |
L. Harvey Gold | ... | Doctor |
Nelson Crowe is a CIA operative under the thumb of the Company for a disputed delivery of $50,000 in gold. They blackmail him into working for the Grimes Organization, which is set up as a private company for hire, to blackmail prominent individuals. Crowe, working with Margaret Wells (another former Covert Operations operative), blackmails and bribes a State Supreme Court judge, but the deal sours. One of Crowe's co-workers, Tod Stapp, discovers Crowe's current CIA involvement in a plot to overthrow Grimes, and blackmails him to be cut in on the deal. More blackmail occurs as Wells manipulates Crowe to kill Grimes, then the CIA uses that discovery to blackmail Wells into killing Crowe. Who can you trust??? Written by Tad Dibbern <DIBBERN_D@a1.mscf.upenn.edu>
Decent thriller has a basic story of double-dealing partners with different agendas and bribery of a judge with a gambling problem. Ellen Barkin, Laurence Fishburne and Frank Langella are the principals involved in an organization that specializes in blackmail and bribery schemes, with double crosses thrown in for good measure. A key element in the picture is the offer of a bribe to a judge for his vote in a controversial court case, with the predictable drama and mystery following thereafter. The film also has wild sex scenes that are intended to add spice to a complicated mystery involving shadowy CIA and espionage figures. Gia Carides has a key supporting role as the judge's mistress who later acts out her part of a woman bent on payback. Remainder of the cast is okay and the tech credits are fine.