The Glass Shield

What year was this made again? 1994. Oh, I thought it was made 2020. That just goes to show how long there have been issues between Black folks and the police. Not that I needed "Glass Shield" to inform me of that. The '92 Rodney King verdict was enough to wake me up.

"Glass Shield" is an upsetting movie. It taps the nerve center. Conspiracies and corruption always elicit a strong reaction--mix racial injustice in there and you have a real deadly brew.

John Johnson (Michael Boatman) was a wide-eyed rookie sheriff just added to the Edgemar station in L.A. County. He was the only Black sheriff, but he wasn't going to let that upset his plans to become a cop.

His loyalties were tested when an officer Bono (Don Harvey) detained Teddy Woods (Ice Cube) at a gas station. Johnson backed up Bono and backed him up again later on in court. Teddy Woods was arrested and later charged with murder which would be the central part of the overall plot.

"Glass Shield" at its core is about police corruption and the "thin blue line." It's not far-fetched corruption that a sound-minded person could never fathom; it is corruption right in the wheelhouse of what has been seen from our various law enforcement agencies: mysterious inmate suicides, improper arrests, tainted evidence, racial bias, and more. "Glass Shield" is a rousing movie that will stoke the emotions, it's unfortunate that it is still so relevant.

The Glass Shield (1994) is a movie that I recently watched on Prime. The storyline follows a black police officer on the force who is trying his best to fit in to the culture of the department. He witnesses an arrest that he knows is wrong; but to fit in, he bites his tongue and lets it go to trial. Once faced with the task of testifying, he will need to decide what's more important - the truth or his job.

This movie is written and directed by Charles Burnett (Killer of Sheep) and stars Michael Boatman (Hamburger Hill), Lori Petty (Tank Girl), Ice Cube (Boyz n the Hood), Michael Ironside (Total Recall) and Erich Anderson (Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter).

The storyline is well written, and the circumstances are a challenge to this very day and the cast is pretty good in name...but Ice Cube is the only performance that is well executed. Lori Petty delivers a strong supporting character also, but the villains were a bit cliche, even if their characteristics are a challenge within our society. Michael Boatman's mannerisms, facial expressions and overall delivery of the main character left a lot to be desired. The dialogue is very well written, as is the court drama, and the ending is worthwhile.

Overall, this is a movie with a solid premise but inconsistent execution. I would score this a 6/10 but strongly recommend it.

The movie sends a good message. As clichéd as it sounds: Absolute power corrupts absolutely. As other viewers have noted, this movie is low budget and not overtly action packed. But it does showcase very well what can happen when trying to fit in: Loosing sight of what is right and wrong, then trying to do what is right and getting penalized for it from different directions. Many movies do an awesome job in telling a tale. This is one of them. The message of being drunk with power and corruption among peers is something that is not only seen in the law enforcement institutions, but in the corporate and higher education areas as well. It just appears that corruption is more harmful in law enforcement because there is the higher probability that people may become physically and psychologically damaged (on the deepest level) as a result of corrupt people misusing their guns, badges, and utmost authority). The movie is more likely to hit home for someone who is female and/or a minority who has had some in-depth exposure to law enforcement. While many police officers are, for the most part, decent and on the level, I would say that EVERY law enforcement agency has some level of corruption occurring. The corruption can be a lone officer or two belittling citizens unjustifiably (and getting away with it), or a group of them who systematically abuse power. Perhaps a film like this would be worth mandatory viewing for new police recruits. There is something in it for everyone. Not only is there the lesson of how wrong and nasty discrimination is (especially in groups), but there is also the lesson of your own well meaning, however wrong actions, coming back to haunt you. And finally there is the lesson of how harassment, alienation and adversity are often used as cruel weapons in attempts get others to conform to wrongdoing.

John J Johnson (Michael Boatman) is a rookie in the Los Angeles police department that is also the only black cop in his office, but he won't let the racial prejudices stop his plans. After clashing with deputy Deborah Fields (Lori Petty), they gradually become friends and do their best for exposing corruption in the police department. It begins when deputy Bono stops Teddy Woods (Ice Cube) at a gas station, finds a warrant for Woods' arrest in his car and even a gun that Woods reveals he stole it, and Woods is also a prime accused for a murder, but Johnson and Fields will do everything for uncovering the truth even against their chief Gene Baker (Michael Ironside). There is a lot more than this but it's best if you just see it for yourselves.

While it may look like a made for TV vehicle and the plot is a bit too complicated for explaining it full, it's still worth a look. While Michael Boatman has never been an household name Lori Petty, Michael Ironside and Ice Cube give very decent performances. There are various twists and turns as well that are well inserted in the plot, and also some nice 1990s music as well. The themes are very actual even for 2022 as it talks about prejudices on the job derivating from the skin colour.

Overall, not an outstanding movie but one that falls in the time passer category. If you don't have high expectations, it can make your day.

There's a strong resemblance to the much praised L.A. CONFIDENTIAL in this vivid story of crime and corruption on the police force, based partially on a true story involving these events.

Basically, it's the tale of a black police rookie who tries to fit in by covering corrupt practices and tries to uncover the truth behind the false prosecution of a black man (ICE CUBE). The black rookie (MICHEAL BOATMAN) suffers slurs inherent with being the first black man on the force and other social injustices within the department.

All the performances are first rate, beginning with Boatman, who does a fine job, MICHAEL ANDERSON, BERNIE CASEY (especially good as Ice Cube's lawyer), and ELLIOT GOULD--all first rate. LORI PETTY is also convincing as the only woman rookie who helps Boatman in his investigation. MICHAEL IRONSIDE is chilling as one of Anderson's most corrupt officers.

Given terse direction by Charles Burnett in well paced, brisk, documentary style, it maintains a grip on the attention throughout as it unravels a tale of police corruption and the hard decisions that have to be made.