BACKSTREET JUSTICE (DEAD WRONG)
US, 1994, 100 minutes, Colour.
Linda Kozlowski, Hector Elizondo, Paul Sorvino, John Shea, Viveca Lindfors, Tammy Grimes.
Directed by Chris Mc Intyre.
Dead Wrong is a '90s B-budget thriller for the big screen but with a life on video and television. It is also a star vehicle for Linda Kozlowski, best know for her Crocodile Dundee films. The film has a strong supporting cast including Hector Elizondo, Paul Sorvino and John Shea.
The film focuses on a female private investigator, burdened by her father's reputation for being on the take as a policeman and being killed in a mob shootout. She is involved in trying to detect a killer who is terrorising residents of an apartment block in a dilapidated part of Pittsburgh. The plot is quite complicated with Hector Elizondo as the former DA, Paul Sorvino as the police controller and John Shea as the former boyfriend. Nobody, except Linda Kozlowski, is what they seem. As the plot progresses, a whole pattern of corruption, greed, land deals, police turning a blind eye is uncovered. There are many action sequences and Linda Kozlowski is an intrepid hero.
Viveca Lindfors appears in one of her final films as a resident of the apartment block and Tammy Grimes has some moments as Linda Kozlowski's mother.
1. Interesting and entertaining police thriller? Action show? Character show? The material of former B-budget movies?
2. The Pittsburgh settings? The dilapidated areas, the apartment blocks, the streets? The police precincts? The environs of Pittsburgh? The musical score?
3. The title and its focus? Perceptions by the characters of each other? Audience perceptions of the characters? Dead Wrong and its application to Carrie's father and his vindication?
4. The introduction to Carrie, in disguise, investigating the killings? Luring the killer? The violent confrontation? The police and their angry reaction to her? The tenants and their organisation, their clash with her, suspicions of her because of her father? Her continued investigations? The clash with the police chief and the tradition of their enmity because of the death of his brother? Her relationship with the retiring DA, affection for him, his treating her like a daughter? Her past relationship with Nick? Its on again, off again progress throughout the film? The relationship with the head of the tenants' group, his later being arrested for murder, the investigations? Her visiting him in prison? Her relationship to Millie and the other tenants, at the meetings, her discovering more of the truth about the building, its ownership, the collecting of the rent? Millie's murder? The pursuit of the police? Their cruelty and brutality? The physical conflicts with them? The build-up to the final confrontation, her going to the archives, confronting Nicoletta and his henchmen, the shooting on the Pittsburgh hill? The confrontation with Nicoletta and Steve, Nick and his betrayal? The truth about the police commissioner's brother and his going on the raid? The revelation of the truth and the shootout? Carrie's friend and his being shot on the boat, their being together in hospital? Her finally going to the cemetery, the photo, the revelation about Steve? The final tribute to her father?
5. Paul Sorvino as the police commander, at work, antagonism towards Carrie? His ordering her off the investigation? The truth about his brother, his collaboration with Carrie, the final shootout, the vindication of her father?
6. Steve and Nick and their relationship? Her love for Steve, the relationship with Nick and its tensions? The unmasking and the irony of Nick being on the payroll? The shootout? The truth about Steve and his explanation in the cemetery?
7. Nicoletta and his being behind the scenes, sending in rapists and serial killers to escalate the crime rate and for residents to move out after selling their apartments cheaply? New apartment blocks and making money? The assassination of the commissioner? The ambiguity of Carrie's father's position? The commander's brother? The revealing of the truth?
8. Millie, the residents' committee? The outspoken leader and his later being arrested? Millie's information, the murder?
9. The crooked police, their brutality, working for Nicoletta, the murders? The chases, the violent fights with Carrie?
10. The glimpse of her mother, in the institution, her fear of Nicoletta? Her being present in the cemetery?
11. Fast-moving action entertainment? The underlying themes of duty and police corruption? Real estate deals and mob dealings? The legal system turning a blind eye? The theme of police, duty, reputation?
