Just when you think you know where this movie is headed, it does a U-turn. Thumbs up for the screen writing which is sharp, caustic, and true to the characters. The premise is actually more complex than simply good cop versus bad cop. Richard Gere plays, or better stated, is infiltrated by Dennis Peck, a kind of Godfather-equivalent of a leading police officer in Los Angeles law enforcement. He not only takes bribes from wealthy white collar businessmen but most of his younger underlings on the force are completely beholden to him and his will. Only as the story unfolds do we learn why and how Gere is able to manipulate his fellow police officers like a puppet-master. Gere plays the different sides of Peck very effectively, first showing an amiable demeanor which cloaks a much more sinister and heinous interior that begins to give-way about half-way through the movie.
Andy Garcia plays the new kid on the block, Raymond Avilla, an internal affairs investigator, a kind of detective for cops. He teams with a fellow investigator who happens to be a lesbian and both begin to uncover circumstantial evidence that there is corruption amidst some of the cops in terms of how they treat suspects, especially African-Americans. Offsides, unnecessary roughness, late hits, etc. There is also evidence that some of this traces back to Peck, but the cops are clamming up about it. Either they are fiercely loyal to him or he has something on them, or maybe a combination of the two. But when Peck realizes Avilla is on his trail, he starts to make references to Garcia's wife--to his face. The word "affair" starts to take on a double meaning...
A good script with superb acting by the leads with absolutely nothing romantic about either. They constantly use the f-word to refer to romantic liaisons. Gere is wonderful as the maniacal bad cop who has a bad habit of engaging in blatant criminal activity. He seems worse than someone like Al Capone since he is supposed to set an example for his community. Garcia is equally good and reminds me of the young Al Pacino of the 1970's, soft-spoken most of the time with the ability to explode into unexpected fits of rage and even violence when provoked. Both the actors and the script are unpredictable enough to keep you on the edge of your seat all the way.
Andy Garcia plays the new kid on the block, Raymond Avilla, an internal affairs investigator, a kind of detective for cops. He teams with a fellow investigator who happens to be a lesbian and both begin to uncover circumstantial evidence that there is corruption amidst some of the cops in terms of how they treat suspects, especially African-Americans. Offsides, unnecessary roughness, late hits, etc. There is also evidence that some of this traces back to Peck, but the cops are clamming up about it. Either they are fiercely loyal to him or he has something on them, or maybe a combination of the two. But when Peck realizes Avilla is on his trail, he starts to make references to Garcia's wife--to his face. The word "affair" starts to take on a double meaning...
A good script with superb acting by the leads with absolutely nothing romantic about either. They constantly use the f-word to refer to romantic liaisons. Gere is wonderful as the maniacal bad cop who has a bad habit of engaging in blatant criminal activity. He seems worse than someone like Al Capone since he is supposed to set an example for his community. Garcia is equally good and reminds me of the young Al Pacino of the 1970's, soft-spoken most of the time with the ability to explode into unexpected fits of rage and even violence when provoked. Both the actors and the script are unpredictable enough to keep you on the edge of your seat all the way.