VERY rarely will you see a film as emotionally gripping, intellectually stimulating, realistic, and well-acted as Prince of the City. It is AMAZING to me that it didn't win the Academy Award. Everyone knows "Serpico" (a good film), "The French Connection" (a very good film) and so many other good (and not very good) films, yet for some reason that remains sad and frustrating, this film remains virtually unknown and unappreciated. It's not a good film. It's not a very good film. It's a GREAT film. With all due respect, how Foxion in Houston could call this a "passable cop story" and "not the film other comments would have you believe" is not only misleading, it borders on irresponsible.
By the time you read this, you're most likely already familiar with the plot. Just in case you're not, here's the synopsis....It's based on the true story of a highly decorated NYC narcotics detective (Danny Ciello) who has a crisis of conscience after years of using effective but illegal (and immoral?) methods to obtain the many major drug busts that he and his partners have accomplished. He decides to help federal anti-corruption prosecutors in an effort to once again become the "good cop" he started out to be and always wanted to be. By confessing some of his own transgressions, wearing a wire for the feds to get more corrupt cops, and vowing to "never give up his partners or the deal is off", he figures his soul will be cleansed and he can contribute toward helping stop at least some police corruption, thus making him a "good cop" again. However, once the wheels of justice start to turn, a very large and tangled web gets woven and spins out of control as more and more people get implicated and "strictly by the book" prosecutors who know nothing of how things work "on the streets" (and simply don't care), begin pressuring Ciello for more and more details (including info on his partners) as events further unfold. Being that Ciello has already "confessed" to them some of his transgressions, and being that he will have to perjure himself on the stand to protect both himself and his partners (thus jeopardizing his credibility as a witness and thus the entire government's case), Ciello is backed into a nightmarish corner that he never imagined could happen. Thus starts an ongoing series of further moral and legal crises that Ciello has to somehow face under extreme duress while things continue to fall apart in his world, sometimes with tragic consequences.
Now...let's break down the common criticisms of this film: 1) "It's a bit long." Sighhhhhhhh. Lawrence of Arabia was long. Ghandi was long. The Godfather was long. Gone With the Wind was long. I don't hear anybody complaining that THOSE films were "a bit long." A great film is a great film no matter the length of it...and let's face it, there's a LOT of material to cover in this film and it does so brilliantly while keeping the viewer engaged. 2) "Treat Williams was too emotional and overacted." Sighhhhhhh. Someone who was as successful as Detective Ciello at such a young age HAS to be passionate (emotional) about the things in his corner of the world or they simply would not get accomplished. The unfathomable amount and intensity of emotions this man had to deal with are portrayed impeccably by Williams not only in spoken delivery, but in body language and facial expression as well. It's simply a "tour de force." 3) "They never tell you WHY Detective Ciello turned state's witness." Sighhhhhhhhhhh. So what??? As it turns out, upon being interviewed, the real-life detective upon which the movie is based (Detective Bob Leuci), states that to this very day, he can't put a handle on exactly why he decided to turn "rat" (and if you actually THINK about what you watched in this film, you'll realize that it's not simply a matter of "becoming a rat" as several others have described in their plot assessment.) Besides, if you read between the lines of this film, you'll realize the most likely "WHY" rather easily.
Bottom line...this movie is extraordinary. It's intellectually stimulating, morally fascinating, and extremely well-acted and well- crafted, not to mention it has a TREMENDOUSLY powerful final scene that's just perfect. How it didn't get nominated, let alone WIN, "Best Picture of 1981", and how it remains virtually unknown, simply seems incomprehensible.
By the time you read this, you're most likely already familiar with the plot. Just in case you're not, here's the synopsis....It's based on the true story of a highly decorated NYC narcotics detective (Danny Ciello) who has a crisis of conscience after years of using effective but illegal (and immoral?) methods to obtain the many major drug busts that he and his partners have accomplished. He decides to help federal anti-corruption prosecutors in an effort to once again become the "good cop" he started out to be and always wanted to be. By confessing some of his own transgressions, wearing a wire for the feds to get more corrupt cops, and vowing to "never give up his partners or the deal is off", he figures his soul will be cleansed and he can contribute toward helping stop at least some police corruption, thus making him a "good cop" again. However, once the wheels of justice start to turn, a very large and tangled web gets woven and spins out of control as more and more people get implicated and "strictly by the book" prosecutors who know nothing of how things work "on the streets" (and simply don't care), begin pressuring Ciello for more and more details (including info on his partners) as events further unfold. Being that Ciello has already "confessed" to them some of his transgressions, and being that he will have to perjure himself on the stand to protect both himself and his partners (thus jeopardizing his credibility as a witness and thus the entire government's case), Ciello is backed into a nightmarish corner that he never imagined could happen. Thus starts an ongoing series of further moral and legal crises that Ciello has to somehow face under extreme duress while things continue to fall apart in his world, sometimes with tragic consequences.
Now...let's break down the common criticisms of this film: 1) "It's a bit long." Sighhhhhhhh. Lawrence of Arabia was long. Ghandi was long. The Godfather was long. Gone With the Wind was long. I don't hear anybody complaining that THOSE films were "a bit long." A great film is a great film no matter the length of it...and let's face it, there's a LOT of material to cover in this film and it does so brilliantly while keeping the viewer engaged. 2) "Treat Williams was too emotional and overacted." Sighhhhhhh. Someone who was as successful as Detective Ciello at such a young age HAS to be passionate (emotional) about the things in his corner of the world or they simply would not get accomplished. The unfathomable amount and intensity of emotions this man had to deal with are portrayed impeccably by Williams not only in spoken delivery, but in body language and facial expression as well. It's simply a "tour de force." 3) "They never tell you WHY Detective Ciello turned state's witness." Sighhhhhhhhhhh. So what??? As it turns out, upon being interviewed, the real-life detective upon which the movie is based (Detective Bob Leuci), states that to this very day, he can't put a handle on exactly why he decided to turn "rat" (and if you actually THINK about what you watched in this film, you'll realize that it's not simply a matter of "becoming a rat" as several others have described in their plot assessment.) Besides, if you read between the lines of this film, you'll realize the most likely "WHY" rather easily.
Bottom line...this movie is extraordinary. It's intellectually stimulating, morally fascinating, and extremely well-acted and well- crafted, not to mention it has a TREMENDOUSLY powerful final scene that's just perfect. How it didn't get nominated, let alone WIN, "Best Picture of 1981", and how it remains virtually unknown, simply seems incomprehensible.