IN TOO DEEP

US, 1999, 93 minutes, Colour.
Omar Epps, L.L. Cool J, Stanley Tucci, Nia Long, Pam Greer.
Directed by Michael Rymer.

In Too Deep, as the name suggests, is a police story. It is set in Cincinnati and focuses on drug dealers in that city. It reflects the 1990s when drug dealers from Chicago set up operations in the smaller American cities. Omar Epps plays an enthusiastic young policeman who wants to go undercover. As he becomes friendly with the head of the drug gang, he unwittingly crosses the line. As he moves in and out of the deep cover, has conversations with his supervisor who is wary, especially when he shoots someone, he still wants to go back to the gang. When, eventually he does, he is caught between his friendship with the dealer and his sense of right and wrong. Ultimately, he is debriefed and is able to come back into the real world and act as an instructor.

L.L. Cool J brings a humanity to the drug dealer, not just simply a ruthless caricature, who is amazed at the end when his friend has turned against him. Nia Long provides some romance as well as some kind of critique of what he was doing. Stanley Tucci is very good as the conscientious supervisor.

The film was directed by Australian Michael Rymer, best known for his Australian Film Institute Award-winning Angel Baby (1995).

1. The popularity of this kind of police story? The reality of deep cover surveillance? The effect on the psyche of the policeman?

2. The Cincinnati settings, the police precincts, apartments and ordinary life, the contrast with the world of the drug dealers, affluence, violence, the secrecy of the deals? The musical score?

3. The structure of the film: the opening with Jeff instructing the rookie police, the transitions to his life undercover, bringing back the action to his lessons at the end and audiences appreciating what he had gone through? The supervision by Preston Boyd?

4. The situation, the need for deep cover, Jeff agreeing to go in, his transformation, appearance, being one of the home boys? A criminal friend bringing him into the gang? Seeing him in the car, his inability to shoot - and then the explanation of who he was and why he was there? His getting friendly with Gittens, working with him, the shooting? Involved in the drug deals? His coming out for a while, his story about coming from Akron, Ohio? His return, being trusted by Gittens, the final set-up, the white dealers protesting that he was a cop, Gittens trusting him? The confrontation, the shootings? His being wired, the deal on tape to be used in court? His hesitating, his loyalty to Gittens, his loyalty to his job? His finally moving against Gittens? (The explanation that he gave to Myra about his background, drug deals, his motivation for being in the police, for confronting Gittens?)

5. The effect on Jeff's psyche, his being involved day by day over a long period, his having to act, being part of the criminal world? The associates, the growing friendship, a sense of betrayal? His coming out after the shooting, the discussions with Boyd, Boyd's severity, applying the letter of the law and regulations, the phone call at night, coming to rescue him? While out, his encounter with Myra, her being an art student, falling in love, the time together, the discussions, the strength of their relationship? His telling her the truth?

6. His going back in, the discussions by the authorities about his psychological state? The district attorney and the governor's office wanting arrests and the cleaning up of the drug trade? The politicians? Their decision to let him go back in, the protests by Boyd?

7. The achievement, his being thanked, the speeches about the whole squad and the busting of the gang?

8. Gittens, his nickname "God", his henchmen? His pleasant personality yet his ruthlessness? An interesting insight into the personality of drug barons?

9. The overall effect, the film as police story, as a focus on drugs in the late 20th century in American cities, in the psyche of the policeman, the psyche of the criminal?