A drug dealer shoots a corrupt police officer in Central Park, New York. Though the drug dealer admits his guilt, he pleads self-defence.
His lawyer, savvy public defender Roland Dalton (Peter Weller), and honest but unorthodox NYPD narcotics agent Richie Marks (Sam Elliott) work together (both inside and outside the law) to pursue evidence in his favour, encountering opposition from other corrupt police officers, drug dealers, and various street scum.
Their aggressive investigation makes them moving targets for both the law and the underworld. Dalton’s life is further complicated by the fact that prosecuting attorney Susan Cantrell (Patricia Charbonneau) is a former lover.
The movie is basically action and stunts – a high-tech series of explosions, hurtling automobiles, shattering glass and impossible feats.
Exhibit one: A private jet is taking off from LaGuardia airport in New York. Dalton and Marks are chasing it down the runway in a Porsche. At the last moment, Marks leaps from the car and grabs one of the wheels of the plane. As the plane gains altitude, he shoots a bullet through an engine, forcing the pilot to turn back.
As the plane approaches the runway for an emergency landing, he slips a hand grenade under the wheel well and falls into the water below. The grenade explodes, making it look like the plane crashed, while the cop swims to safety and is hauled ashore by Dalton.
Elsewhere, Marks leaps out of the third-story of a building onto the piping of the facade which bends to suspend him over Broadway, from where he can drop onto a bus, jump down onto a motorcyclist, steal the bike and chase down a bad guy who stole a police car.
The body count soars accordingly, with a roller coaster smash up at Coney Island, shoot-outs in Times Square, an accidentally on-purpose electrocution, and other such business-as-usual for the urban warfare game.
Weller and Elliott are not doing Hamlet here, but they’re pretty good at nailing Hollywood’s favourite 1980s format – the cop buddy drug action movie.
Roland Dalton Peter Weller Richie Marks
Sam Elliott Susan Cantrell
Patricia Charbonneau Nicky ‘NC’ Carr
Antonio Fargas Gail Feinberger
Blanche Baker Officer Kelly
Tom Waites Michael Jones
Richard Brooks Patrick O’Leary
Jude Ciccolella Officer Varelli
George Loros Dr Watson
Daryl Edwards Ruben
Jos Laniado Sean Phillips
John McGinley Irma
Shirley Stoler Dean Howland
Walter Bobbie Big Leroy
Judd Henry Baker Billy
Andrew Johns Preacher
Roy Milton Davis Margaret O’Leary
Kathryn Rossetter Rydel
Larry Joshua Bumpers
Michael Medeiros Collins
Bill Cwikowski Stevie ‘Dipshit’
Everett Mendes III Mary
Mary Beth Lee Nancy
Julia McNeal (as Julia Mueller) Monster
Bari K. Willerford Leon
Roy Thomas Steve Rosen
James Eckhouse Larry
David Proval Tommie
Harold Perrineau Ira
Rockets Redglare Suzi
Lisa Ann Poggi Judge Maynard
Augusta Dabney Mr Feinberger
William Prince Mrs Feinberger
Marya D. Dornya Julio
Anthony Crivello Blade
Richard Epper Mastrangelo
Ronald Maccone Muffy
Marie Marshall
Director
James Glickenhaus
Video
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Their aggressive investigation makes them moving targets for both the law and the underworld. Dalton’s life is further complicated by the fact that prosecuting attorney Susan Cantrell (Patricia Charbonneau) is a former lover.
Elsewhere, Marks leaps out of the third-story of a building onto the piping of the facade which bends to suspend him over Broadway, from where he can drop onto a bus, jump down onto a motorcyclist, steal the bike and chase down a bad guy who stole a police car.
