Q & A
Seen it?1990 | 132 min | Action, Thriller, Crime
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (88% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and a lukewarm 5.9 out of 10 from audiences. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and action fans. If you loved L.A. Confidential or Cop Land, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, gritty.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 2 hr 12 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
A young district attorney seeking to prove a case against a corrupt police detective encounters a former lover and her new protector, a crime boss who refuses to help him.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
88% on Rotten Tomatoes, 66 on Metacritic
- AudiencesBelow par
5.9 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerWeak
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 24K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
L.A. Confidential
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed legal crime thriller.
Cop Land
Saturday SpecialAnother crime thriller, and a Saturday Special.
The Bone Collector
Weeknight WatchAlso stars Luis Guzmán, in another crime thriller, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Out for Justice Weeknight WatchAnother action film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Exit Wounds Weeknight WatchAnother crime thriller, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Sidney Lumet
- Nick NolteMike Brennan
- Timothy HuttonAl Reilly
- Armand AssanteBobby Texador
- Patrick O'NealKevin Quinn
- Lee RichardsonLeo Bloomenfeld
- Luis GuzmánLuis Valentin
- Charles S. DuttonSam Chapman
- Jenny LumetNancy Bosch
- Paul CalderonRoger Montalvo
- International ChrysisJose Malpica