L'enfer bleu

I saw this on TV and was disappointed in how small a role Bill Paxton had in it. He was the main reason I was interested in seeing it. The movie is not that bad, but it wasn't anything I hadn't seen before, either. If you're interested in cop dramas, this one is average.

This movie is about what you would expect just from the title and looking at the art on the DVD box. It's a bunch of expert, no nonsense drug cops who are in a war against drugs and there turns out to be corruption high up the ladder. So they have to fight against the odds to keep their war against crime going. Some surprisingly good acting by some decent actors like Dennehy and Pantoliano (spelling?), this one is worth watching if you get a chance.

This is a radical change from the movies of today that MUST have an X rated scene, lots of noise, lots of face to face rhetoric that means nothing, and who could miss the windshield that doesn't leak with 6 bullet holes.

I had viewed it many years ago, but just last week found a VHS, which really shows the changes in the movie industry. For one thing, there was no shot thru the heart and lives scenes. True, some risky theatrics with dangerous people, but not like a Harrison Ford/James Bond film bordering on Science Fiction.

They selected a group of actors for everyday-like people of lean means, who are proud to be honest.

The plot is totally believable in today's major crime activities. And it has a believable ending.

Outstanding acting from Brian Dennehy, Joe Pantoliano, Jeff Fahey, and Bill Paxton vaults this vigilante cop film into way above average territory. While character development is good for the good guys, it is rather skimpy when it comes to the villains. This does not detract enough to spoil the fun however. There is nice chemistry between the rogue cops, and the script though derivative is totally acceptable. It's rare to get the kind of likable performances delivered in "The Last of the Finest" from all four leads. Special mention must be made of the stunt work, because it's good, and the movie has some very unusual and exciting parts. This is a real surprise, and fans of the actors will not be disappointed. - MERK

While I can't say "Last of the Finest" will go down as one of the most memorable films ever made, I am a bit surprised at how few reviews there are for it on this site since it is pretty decent for what it is. The movie is about a squad of four elite vice cops, who take their favorite past time of football just as seriously as do their job. They were formed to do the stuff that the ordinary cops couldn't. But when they start hitting brick walls after a failed drug bust, they begin to suspect that their superiors and possibly even some powerful players in the US government are involved in the drug trade in order to support some rebels fighting in Central America. So in order to find out the truth, they decide to resign and work outside the law. Admittedly this probably sounds similar to other films you might have seen. But the film manages to maintain it's own feel, manly due to the camaraderie and chemistry among the actors who play our heroes. You have the always enjoyable Brian Dennehy as the group's leader Frank, Joe Pantoliano as Wayne, Jeff Fahey as Ricky, and Brian Paxton as Hojo. All play their parts well and Brian Dennehy is able to shine as the one of the good guys instead of the usual heavies he's played through out his career.

And while the story may not be the most original ever written, it is one that has good dialog and also one that has an important message under the surface: Never, under any circumstances, trust your government, especially when they claim to be doing something for the common good! The film especially shows this at the very end in a sly, clever way. When you see it, you'll know what I mean. The movie does start out a little slow but at the same time you do get a chance to really know the characters and care about them. The movie also has some pretty decent villains in the form of Michael C. Gwynne as the Slimy Anthony Reece and Guy Boyd as Norringer. Like I mentioned earlier, the film seems to have gone under the radar. Perhaps it's because the market was already saturated with cop-buddy films at that time and the audience probably was getting tired of them by then. Still, if you should find yourself with nothing to do and are looking for a decent cop film, give "Last of the Finest" a chance.