MPAA Rating: R/Genre: Crime Thriller/Stars: Richard Gere, Andy García, Nancy Travis, Laurie Metcalf, Richard Bradford, William Baldwin, Michael Beach, John Capodice, Faye Grant, Annabella Sciorra, Katherine Borowitz, John Kapelos, Xander Berkeley/Runtime: 115 minutes
If you were to make a list of the most difficult professions that a person could make the choice to become a part of, I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that one of the top 5 slots (if not top 3) would undoubtedly be filled by the position known as law enforcement officer (or cop for those of us who prefer things short and sweet). Of course, is it any wonder why this profession would be so high up on that Family Feud-style list dear reader? I mean not only is the coffee terrible and the doughnuts typically at least one day old (to say nothing of no sprinkles), but (all joking aside mind you) here is a profession where you go out every day to try and make a positive difference in the world around you only to come home at the end of every shift with maybe a fresh bruise or three at a minimum to say nothing of a collection of new stories to tell about just how generally depraved, ill-mannered, idiotic and/or straight up chaotic society has managed to become from the guy who got tazed due to a simple speeding ticket to the robber who held a convenience store up all over the 200 dollars located inside the cash register. As tough as it must be to be a police officer however, there is perhaps one group that has it just as stressful (if not worse). That group being the division in police forces across the planet known simply as internal affairs. A group that, to the public, doesn’t really fit the mold of a typical police officer and, to the officers that serve alongside them, are at best a group that they would rather ridicule and/or shun than take the time to invite over to the weekly BBQ night at the captain’s house and at worst are viewed as a potential major hinderance to them being able to effectively do their job to the best of their ability. Tragically, we see that this unease is by no means limited to the real world and also extends itself to the world of entertainment as well with the vast majority of films, TV shows, and even a few video games portraying Internal Affairs officers as less genuinely good people trying to do their job and more as antagonistical forces dead set on making life heck for our hero in blue. Yet despite the fact that the vast majority choose to portray this career path as such, that by no means makes every entertainment property that way. As a matter of fact dear reader, there is a film where an Internal Affairs officer is portrayed in a heroic light as he went after a particularly despicable cop. That film incidentally would be a slice of cinema from 1990, and film I happen to be reviewing for you today, known as Internal Affairs and this really is a solid little film dear reader. To be sure, it might not be for everyone and it does have a few issues here and there, but with the aid of fairly potent work on both sides of the camera Internal Affairs is one riveting cinematic cat and mouse game that you should definitely check out if you get the chance.
The plot is as follows: Taking us as movie goers to that distinctly iconic locale known as Los Angeles, Internal Affairs gets its thrilling story underway by taking us to a scene that we have witnessed before in cinema. That being a late-night drug bust by members of that infamous (or notorious dependent on perspective) group known as the LAPD. Unlike most of these however where we see the cops break down the door, charge in, find copious amounts of narcotics, bust the bad guys, and become heroes (or something like that), we quickly see that there definitely seems to be something a bit…off about this bust. A suspicion that is soon solidified when one of the officers shoots an unarmed suspect outside the den only for another one to engage in an action that I shall not spoil for you here. At any rate, we soon see that in the aftermath of this particular bust that a bright and idealistic young man by the name of Raymond Avilla is just beginning his time with the LAPD, but more specifically with their Internal Affairs (hence the title of the film) Division. A division that, despite the spiel given by his commanding officer, is immediately made clear to him to be the most despised group within the LAPD. We soon see that our hero, in an effort to make it clear to his colleagues with particular regard to his new partner that he is willing to be impartial and can handle the stress that comes with investigating their “brothers and sisters in blue”, is more than willing to have his first case involve a fellow officer, and someone he went to the academy with, by the name of Van Stretch. Yet despite the fact that there is definitely something seemingly a bit off with how Stretch has been conducting himself on the job, it isn’t long before our intrepid hero starts to suspect that Van’s partner, one Dennis Peck, might be more of an issue worth taking a look at. A belief soon solidified as we see that, despite the higher-ups in the ranks viewing Peck with a mix of admiration and respect, the truth of the matter is that Peck is no more or less than who the writers of the dictionary were thinking of when they came up with the word “scum” or “sleazy”. By that I mean here is a guy who is not only always looking for a new woman to be with if you get my drift, but who also has no qualms about playing every angle he can to benefit him and his, quite often legally and morally questionable, goals in life. As a result, we soon see that what may have started out as a simple investigation is now about to turn into a perilous example of that time-honored game known as cat and mouse between Raymond and Peck. One that will not only see both sides go to some pretty extreme lengths in order to get what they are after, but which has the very frighteningly real potential to become quite deadly. Not just for our hero, but for those closest to him as well…..
Now right off, it should be said that the work done behind the camera on this particular cinematic outing is fairly well done all things considered. This starts with the work done by Mike Figgis at the helm and honestly, for his first American film, he does do a really good job here. Perhaps the key thing that Figgis really brings to the film is the conjuring and subsequent implementation of a noir-style bleak atmosphere to the proceedings that, although perhaps not on the same level as perhaps Figgis’ debut film Stormy Monday, really helps to place the viewer in the cynical mindset of the characters involved in the story. Along with that, we see that Figgis does some terrific work with how he kinetically utilizes the camera in this film in such a way that there are quite a few moments in this, including a riveting chase scene and a genuinely tense moment in an elevator between Garcia and Gere, where it feels less like we are watching a movie and more like we are an unseen witness to what is going on between the characters in this. Indeed if there really is an issue to be found with the work done behind the camera, it would have to be in terms of the script that this slice of cinema is operating off of. Now I’m not saying that the script for this film, as penned by Henry Bean who also penned the script for the highly underrated Deep Cover from 1992, is a terrible piece of trash that has more holes in it than a block of Swiss cheese. Far from it. Rather, it’s the fact that the script that this slice of cinema is operating with was one that could have definitely benefited from at least one or three more edits before being to celluloid only to be thankfully saved by both the rest of the work done behind the camera to say nothing of the performances being given in front of the camera as well. Incidentally one of those other aforementioned elements behind the camera would definitely be the skillful job by the late John A. Alonzo in the cinematography department. Indeed Alonzo, who also did the cinematography for both Chinatown and the 1983 Scarface, does a masterful job here of really making sure that his work on this film definitely fits in with the noir-like vibe that Figgis is going for in terms of his aforementioned work at the helm. Lastly, I definitely think praise is most assuredly due to the work done on this slice of cinema’s musical accompaniment. Indeed as created by no less a trinity of individuals, one of whom also directed the film believe it or not, the score for this film does a wonderful job of being not just taut and thrilling should the situation occurring on screen call for it to be, but also at bringing a wonderful touch of melancholy and gloominess to the proceedings also. As a result, we see that it most assuredly is able to add to the overall atmosphere present in the film quite well. Suffice it to say that when you also incorporate into this distinct cinematic brew highly skilled editing work from Robert Estin among others it’s clear that this slice of cinema might not be a perfect film by any means, but by and large there is no denying that the majority of the work done behind the camera definitely helps make this as engaging and taut of a sit as it ultimately turns out to be.
Alongside the fairly solid work done behind the camera, this slice of cinema is also blessed to have a collection of well-done performances by an undeniably talented cast of players. Without a doubt in my mind, this starts with none other than Richard Gere and honestly this is easily one of the best performances he has ever given. Indeed, as Dennis Peck, Gere does a magnificent job at giving us a character who might seem on the outside to be a decent and upstanding guy, but who the more you learn about him the more you feel that this is a character that could easily have been the training officer to Alonzo Harris from Training Day. By that I mean we see that Peck is someone who is charismatically sinister, happily corrupt to the hilt, and definitely the kind of person who excels more so at getting inside your head in order to break you either to get what he wants or should you get in his way (though he also has no problem at physically roughing someone up as showcased by a tense and brutal scene in an elevator). In short: this is very much a guy who is definitely a sociopathic antagonist you will love to hate and the way that Gere brings him to life here is truly nothing short of electrifying. Operating very much as the yang to Gere’s yin here is a solid turn from Andy Garcia as Raymond Avilla. Yet whilst you might be thinking this guy is going to be nothing more than a clean-cut Boy Scout-kinda hero, we see that this slice of cinema is not content to go that route with the character. Instead, the film chooses to give us a most assuredly flawed and stoic protagonist who starts out genuinely wanting to do good within the police force only to find himself, in various ways, falling prey to his quarry’s mind games and as a result slowly turning into the kind of individual that he is hunting here in order to catch him. Suffice it to say that it’s a very nuanced turn and one that Garcia, who I have always considered to be an underrated talent, brings to life wonderfully especially when taking into the apparent real-life animosity between him and Gere while making this movie. Now backing this undeniably dynamic duo up is a genuine powerhouse line-up of support talent starting with William “Not Alec” Baldwin in the role of Peck’s partner/ Avilla’s friend from the academy Van Stretch. Indeed he might not have reached the heights (?) of brother Alec, the lows of brother Stephen, or be a host on TruTv’s World’s Dumbest like brother Daniel, but there is no denying that William does a heartbreakingly good job here of playing a sleazy yet relatable character who is torn between continuing to follow his partner’s lead and doing the right thing for a change. Lastly, I would definitely be amiss if I didn’t take some time to praise the work done here by Laurie Metcalf (Andy’s mom from the Toy Story movies). Indeed, in the role of Avilla’s new partner Amy Wallace, we see that Metcalf does a terrific job of being someone who is hardnosed and determined to get the job done yet also willing to have your back should you need it. Suffice it to say that when you also factor into the mix well done work from such support talent as Nancy Travis as Avilla’s long-suffering wife Kathleen, Richard Bradford (who was terrific in 1987’s The Untouchables), Michael Beach, Faye Grant, Annabella Sciorra, John Kapelos (Carl the janitor from The Breakfast Club!) and character actor extraordinaire Xander Berkeley among others it’s clear this film might have issues, but this cast definitely does what it can to help make up for them.
All in all and at the end of the day is Internal Affairs a perfect slice of cinema? Honestly no, but that’s ok because that can be quite the daunting task for a lot of movies to aspire to achieve let alone pull off. At the same time however, is this the worst movie Richard Gere or Andy Garcia has ever made in their respective careers? No and truth be told if you believe that then would you mind coming with me because Movie 43 and Geostorm (or the 4th Expendables) would love to have a word with you. Snarky comments aside dear reader, I must admit that all things considered I really do dig this slice of cinema a great deal. Yes the script is one that is definitely a script that could have used a fair bit more work done on it. As such, don’t be surprised if you might find yourself able to predict a few of the big moments that happen throughout the film’s runtime. On the other hand, the direction is solid, the cinematography is well-done, the soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful, and the performances given by the undeniably talented cast of players (with particular regard to the turns here by Gere and Garcia respectively) are truly electrifying no matter how big or small their role in the grand scheme of things may be. Suffice it to say that if you want a genuinely great movie about cops vs crooked cops then definitely check out such gems as 2001’s Training Day or even 2006’s The Departed though I am more inclined to believe that the latter is just as much, if not more so, a cops vs. gangsters and crooked cops movie so maybe disregard the latter example. On the other hand, if you want a fairly solid movie about a cop squaring off against a crooked cop and the repercussions that their cat and mouse game have on both the two of them to say nothing of the people around them then definitely check out this film. Unlike the actions committed by Gere in this movie, I promise doing so won’t have the titular organization want you to come in to answer a few questions….hopefully. Make of that what thou will dear reader. On a scale of 1-5 I give Internal Affairs “90” a solid 3.5 out of 5.
