INTERNAL AFFAIRS. Directed by Mike Figgis; written by Henry Bean; produced by Frank Mancuso Jr. for Paramount. Starring Andy Garcia and Richard Gere. Rated R.
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As any fan of police TV series or movies knows, "Internal Affairs" is the division of the local PD that investigates police corruption. So this movie lets you know its subject matter in a pretty obvious way.
What's not so obvious, though, is that there are some hidden meanings in that title, too. And that this is not your usual cops-on-the-take movie.
The story and characters of Internal Affairs don't fit into easily defined pigeonholes; this fact alone makes it a movie of note in today's largely by-the-numbers film scene. It's incredibly refreshing to watch a movie and actually not be able to predict how it's going to end!
But it also has good, even exciting, acting going for it. Gere has always been an interesting actor. And his characterization here of veteran cop Dennis Peck is good enough to become a classic villain.
On the one hand, Peck is rotten through and through, completely amoral and remorseless. But, to prove W.C. Fields right, perhaps, he does love small children (probably dogs, too). And he's as charming and friendly as he can be.
Garcia, who has "Big Star of the '90's" written all over him, plays Peck's nemesis from Internal Affairs, Raymond Avila. But as the story progresses, he looks less and less like a true-blue good guy. He has definite communication problems with his wife, and isn't above bending a few rules if he thinks it will help him get his man.
A couple of supporting players who round out the excellent cast are worthy of note. Laurie Metcalf, as Avila's sidekick, does a good job with a restrained role. And William Baldwin is terrific as Peck's loser of a partner.
A lot of violence makes me temper my recommendation for Internal Affairs somewhat. Several shootouts are shown in all too graphic detail. If you've got the stomach for that, though, you'll enjoy the movie. And look for Richard Gere to play more bad guys and fewer leading men in the future.
January 31, 1990