Review of Internal Affairs (1990) by Bill S — 10 Mar 2015

One of the most underrated thrillers of the 1990's. Since this movie had an early release of 1990, an month before the release one of Richard Gere's biggest hits "Pretty Woman". This movie offers one of Gere's best roles to date (Perphas my favorite roles of his). Which he is so good playing a slimey, corrupted police officer, who thinks, he is above the law until a Young, by the book Internal Affairs officer Raymond Avila (Andy Garcia) and his Partner Sergeant Amy Wallace (Laurie Metcalf) investigate police officer Van Stretch (William Baldwin) conduct on a drug bust but Avila is more interested on Officer Dennis Peck (Gere), who is Stretch's Partner. Peck is a beat cop on the Streets, who is corrupted, somehow more money than any other police officers, who has his way with ladies, a clever manipulator but he is one dangerous psychopath to booth. Avila and Wallace needs proof that Peck is up to no good to finding evidence but Peck is always one step ahead from them.

Directed by Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas, Mr. Jones, One Night Stand) made an fascinating if extremely unpleasent crime thriller that is made for an adult audiences that might find this movie very entertaining. It has a sharp script by Henry Bean (The Believer, Deep Cover, Noise). It has strong performances by Gere, Garcia, Nancy Travis as Garcia's worried wife, Metcalf as Garcia's dedicated Partner and Baldwin as Peck's Partner. Reportedly that Gere and Garcia didn't get along while making this movie, if there is some tension between them, some scènes do show on screen. Figgis' thriller is certainly very rough at times, unusual and unique for a rather Hollywood picture. It is the kind of movie that Hollywood won't make anymore.

"Internal Affairs" does come close being an perfect thriller but it has some flaws and sadly, it goes for the cliches towards the end. For two-thirds of the way, "Internal Affairs" is dynamic thriller with plenty of clever touches of black comedy. Grade:A-.