La proposta

"The Proposal" turned out to be a very pleasant surprise not simply for what it was, but what it wasn't. Amazingly, there are no cliches in this relatively low budget suspence/drama work. Most notable is the camerawork, with not a single pedestrian sequence of shots. Subtly original, these camera angles serve to nicely parallel the storyline which is unpredictable in both its direction and its mood. The audience, as a result, must give its full attention throughout this film or risk losing its bearings. Those who watch this film closely will be rewarded not only with a stimulating storyline, but the opportunity to experience some superbly interesting and well developed charactors as well. For those who appreciate the nuances of filmmaking, this is a must see.

The Proposal both contains surprises and is a surprise. The story is suspenseful and tight, acting solid, and direction skilled, all better than I had been expecting. Undercover cop Terry Martin (Nick Moran) and his new partner Susan Reese (Jennifer Esposito) infiltrate a crime lord's underground operation. But Reese, anxious to leave her desk job behind, pushes too quickly to get close to Big Boss Simon Bacig (Stephen Lang), and soon Martin doesn't know who he can trust. Figuring out exactly who is on whose side rapidly becomes an intriguing puzzle for the viewer.

The believable acting and storyline plus lack of any significant plot holes are a refreshing change from what Hollywood often churns out. This film won't insult your intelligence with gratuitous violence, unbelievable gun fights or unwarranted car chases; the R rating probably should have been PG-13. Esposito seems genuine and comfortable in front of the camera. Unfortunately Moran's performance is marred by what I assume to be a speech impediment of the actor ("wobbewy in pwogwess"), which distracts at times. Lang is convincing as the crime boss with an inflated ego who is used to getting whatever he wants. You'll recognize character actor William Davis who plays FBI Agent Gruning with an understated appeal. An interesting mix of flashbacks and flashforwards from director Richard Gale will taunt you with clues about the mystery.

No, this movie is not without weaknesses. Until Esposito can smooth out her New York accent, she'll be relegated to playing either ethnic or tough girl roles, otherwise she has the looks and talent for more significant acting jobs. Setting and filming the movie in New York or Chicago, rather than some unnamed generic city, would have added authenticity. The background music could have been better. Still, definitely worth a view, especially if you are fond of the genre.

All of the warning signs are there from frame one: an opening sequence that intercuts between shots of the movie and the credits on a black screen, mobsters fresh out of movie mobster school, and unnecessary cross dissolves from one scene to the next. And then of course there are the fellow police officers who yell at one another most of the time, whether it be the captain admonishing the hero for taking too much time on the case or the hero and his new partner who don't see eye to eye.

I figured at the very least if I stuck around, I would be treated to some gratuitous nudity courtesy of the beautiful Jennifer Esposito. Unfortunately that didn't happen, yet I found myself being absorbed by the developing relationship between her character and the undercover cop played by Nick Moran.

There are some nice moments that elevate the film above its direct-to-video trappings. A scene where Esposito places a banana to her ear as if it were a phone has such a genuineness and spontaneity that it doesn't come off as a cheap attempt at humor but as an actual moment involving real people.

The two leads deserve a lot of credit for making this movie what it is. Nick Moran has a certain star quality, a charisma that holds the viewer with him. He gives everything he has in this performance, particularly midway through the film when his psyche is tortured after having been forced to assassinate an enemy of the mobster he's trying to bring down. It's almost as if he didn't get the memo letting him know that this was direct-to-video garbage and that he really need not try so hard. Fortunately for the film and the viewer he does.

I caught this show on HBO not too long ago and it didn't disappoint me at all. The story of this cop show was well-written; it has some interesting twists along the way and some good romance which makes the show more appealing to viewers.

The main plot of this movie is about an undercover cop who was joined unwillingly by another policewoman halfway through his investigation. As the show progresses, romance build up between both of them and besides just having to conceal their true identities, they are trying to bring the villains to justice until.........

I feel that the greatest contributions to the show were the characters that were very well-developed thanks to the wonderful writers and casts. Nick Moran and Jennifer Esposito look great together and Stephen Lang portrayed his role of the villain very well.

The directing of this movie was remarkable but it is truly the characters and plot that keep people watching.

This movie is about Terry Martin (Nick Moran), a neurotic undercover cop who

finds himself in a sticky predicament. Martin is investigating Simon Bascig

(Steven Lange), a very charming, intelligent, and mildly psychotic underworld figure. To prevent himself from blowing his cover, Martin claims to have a high maintenance wife that keeps him from socializing after work. This ruse works for a while, but Bascig presses Terry to bring his wife to a social gathering. The problem: Martin has no wife, real or undercover. Enter Susan Reese (Jennifer Esposito), a cop with no undercover experience, but a lot of ambition, smarts, and beauty. Reese accompanies Terry to Bascig's party and Bascig falls for

her. Much to Martin's chagrin, Reese becomes a part of the investigation. From here, the movie unfolds into a first-rate thriller wrought with intrigue as we see...

This moving is great! The story is fresh and original, striking a nice balance between character development and action. Great acting by Esposito, Lange

and Moran. I especially love Lange's performance: the right amount of bravado and psychotic. The cinematography is crisp and does a nice job fueling the

mood of the story. The director, Richard Gale, does an excellent job bringing the story to life, which is especially impressive given that the movie was made under the smallest of budgets and shot over just a few weeks. By the way, all this information, and a whole lot more, is found in the director's well-done

commentary. Gale gives us insight into all the behind the scenes tricks as well as his reasoning for scenes. This part of the DVD is a must watch, especially for directors working under similar circumstances.