This heavyweight thriller seemingly slipped under the radar, but offers enough top casting, excellent scripting and twists and turns to rival Oscar-acclaimed films such as LA CONFIDENTIAL. It's a film with a small, central cast of characters and a number of plot threads which eventually converge into a big conspiracy. The film aims for a low-key, realistic approach throughout, and the characters emerge as the most important elements; these are real, recognisable people, and the corruption running throughout the movie seems all too believable.
Stallone gives what I believe to be his personal best performance as the somewhat slow, dim-witted, mild-mannered sheriff who solves the riddle, and he is ably supported by star turns from Keitel, De Niro (in an extended cameo) and Liotta. A bunch of other notable actors fill out solid, more minor roles, like Michael Rapaport, Robert Patrick and Peter Berg. Everybody is great here, right across the board from Keitel to Sciorra.
I loved this movie due to the suspense and the intrigue, and mostly the likability of Stallone's leading character, who really is an unconventional chap, deaf in one ear, with no muscle, just a load of flab. Stallone is really touching in this part and definitely should have received an Oscar, but hey, just watch the film and enjoy watching, knowing that he gives his all. The film culminates in an amazing shoot-out which puts an atypical soundtrack effect to brilliant use, although short, I preferred this to more grandiose shoot-outs in the like of OPEN RANGE. The film as a whole can't be faulted – crime fans will love this one to bits.
Stallone gives what I believe to be his personal best performance as the somewhat slow, dim-witted, mild-mannered sheriff who solves the riddle, and he is ably supported by star turns from Keitel, De Niro (in an extended cameo) and Liotta. A bunch of other notable actors fill out solid, more minor roles, like Michael Rapaport, Robert Patrick and Peter Berg. Everybody is great here, right across the board from Keitel to Sciorra.
I loved this movie due to the suspense and the intrigue, and mostly the likability of Stallone's leading character, who really is an unconventional chap, deaf in one ear, with no muscle, just a load of flab. Stallone is really touching in this part and definitely should have received an Oscar, but hey, just watch the film and enjoy watching, knowing that he gives his all. The film culminates in an amazing shoot-out which puts an atypical soundtrack effect to brilliant use, although short, I preferred this to more grandiose shoot-outs in the like of OPEN RANGE. The film as a whole can't be faulted – crime fans will love this one to bits.