SHAKEDOWN (BLUE JEAN COP)

US, 1988, 112 minutes, Colour.
Sam Elliot, Peter Weller, Patricia Charbonneau, Blanche Baker, Shirley Stoler, John C. McGinley?.
Directed by James Glickenhaus.

Shakedown is a very well-made police thriller, set in New York. It is quite involving, the only difficulty being two stunt sequences which seem to be ends in themselves and exceedingly far-fetched, especially the finale with the plane. However, audiences probably will be carried along, despite the exaggerations.

The film was written and directed by James Glickenhaus, director of The Soldier (and the Sam Elliott character is in a 42nd Street cinema watching a spectacular scene from this film) and The Exterminator which is advertised as its support.

Peter Weller is the lawyer, Sam Elliott does another of his seedy-type genial police. Patricia Charbonneau (the lover in Desert Hearts) is the assistant district attorney.

The film highlights the work of the New York police, police corruption, drug dealing as well as gangsters in the city.

1. Effective police thriller? New York city? Drugs and police corruption? The courts?

2. The New York city locations, Central Park, 42nd Street? Authentic atmosphere? The stunts, the chase through the city, the shoot-outs, the finale With the plane? How authentic? The musical score and atmosphere?

3. The title, the focus on the police, their work, corruption? Glickenhaus and his vigorous style (and the spectacular excerpt from The Soldier seen during the film)?

4. The opening with the dealer, the confrontation by the policeman, their both being shot? The network of police corruption with the dealers? The wealth of the dealers, the clubs and brothels, raids, the holding and destroying of evidence? Easy bail?

5. Roland and his work, taking on Michael Jones's case, the case and the interviews, its being his last job? His living with Gail, the relationship, searching out the apartment, the new job at Wall Street, the influence of her wealthy father? Meeting Susan again, her work in the DA's office, the bond with the past, the strength of his love for her, his declaration, the clash, the nights together, her demands on him? The contact with Richie Marks, his giving the information about police corruption and their use of money? His going to see O'Leary's wife, the discovery of the Porsche? Participating in the raids? The brothel and the club, the 42nd Street shootout, the chase on the back of the bike? In court, the clashes with Susan, the evidence the cross-examination of the car salesman etc? The information about Michael Jones's tape? The police refusing, the broken key? His decision to steal the tape, being caught, held by the police, about to be shot, rescued? Giving the evidence to the judge and her rejection of it? Jo announcing she was pregnant? The dinner with the family, his telling them - wrong timing? A future with Susan? His going back to his Legal Aid job?.

6. Marks and his ragged style, past relationship with Gail, sleeping in the cinema giving the information about crooked cops and their money, his being with the young group, going on the raid? The raid on 42nd Street, the chase of the bald killer, the stunt work and his coming down the light pole, the chase and the crashes? The bond with Roland? His becoming the drug boss's target? Fishing, the chase through the carnival, the roller coaster and the death of the killer? Giving Roland the information about the tape, rescuing him from the police? The honest cop?

7. O'Leary and the plan of the corrupt police, the concealing of the evidence, the wife ringing her contacts, the young thug police and their raids, the murders, their own deaths? The link with the drug boss, the policeman escaping on the plane?

8. The network, informants, murders, the clubs and their toughness, the raids, the drug boss going to court, the million dollars bail, fleeing the country? Poetic justice in the plane explosion?

9. The trial, Roland's skills, the witnesses, Susan and the cross-examination? The 'not guilty' verdict?

10. Susan, yuppy, her work, relating to Roland, her demands on him?

11. Gail, wealth, the apartment, the false pregnancy, the dinner?

12. Themes of justice - abhorrence of the drug dealers, but their not being condemned for crimes they did not commit? Police escaping justice? Police themes, drugs, corruption? The blend of the action spectacular with thematic exploration of law and order?