Vingança Infernal

The Last of the Finest, also released as Street Legal, is a fair action film from 1990, starring Brian Dennehy as Officer Frank Daly of the LAPD, and he and his fellow officers (Joe Pantoliano, Jeff Fahey and Bill Paxton) are up aganist a drug operaton headed by a US Government agent (Guy Boyd). After the investigation grows cold, Daly is forced to turn in his badge, but he takes matters into his own hands and also doesn't realize that his former police captain (Henry Darrow) is also apart of the operation. After Bill Paxton's character is killed, Daly does what any honest cop would, to bring justice back, or let the Government get away with the crime. Director John MacKenzie tries to build up a good cop story, but seems to rely mostly on tongue in check, not to mention some slow moving scenes, without action or adventure. However the ending showdown on a Los Angeles football field was pretty good, the helicopter crash looked rather authentic. But like most early 90's action films, The Last of the Finest is an average film most of us have probably seen.

Miss-Marketed and Ignored Movie about Four Honest Cops Knee-Deep in the Stench of Political and Law-Enforcement Corruption.

Reagan-Era Blow-Back about Highly Corrupt Politicians and Leaders in the LAPD Using Drug-Money to Get Rich and Fund the "Freedom-Fighters" in Central America.

Thinly Veiled Commentary about the Iran-Contra Scandal.

The Studio seemed Nervous about the Political Aspects of this Character Study.

It's about an Elite Squad of Brian Dennehy, Joey Pants, Jeff Fahey, and Bill Paxton Uncovering Not Only Drug-Trafficking but Corruption at the Highest Levels.

The Movie was Ignored by the Studio and Given the Bum's Rush.

Did Not Screen Well with Critics (What do they know?).

The Film is a Fine Action/Drama with the Four Actors Delivering Good Character Comradery and are a Convincing Squad.

Suspenseful Story Peppered with Good Action.

Underrated and Unacknowledged Film that Deserves a Second-Look.

My review was written in March 1990 after a Greenwich Village screening.

The Iran-contra affair becomes the plot device for a farfetched and preachy co film offering Brian Dennehy an interesting star turn. Commercial prospects are bleak for this oddball Orion message picture.

Originally titled "Street Legal", "The Last of the Finest" belongs in a rarely attempted brand of pastiche film, last seen in the Watergate comedy "Nasty Habits" in which nuns led by Glenda Jackson and Geraldine Page portrayed thinly disguised members of the Nixon administration.

"Finest" is less interesting because it's one step removed. The central characters are Dennehy and his band of dedicated cops who tumble upon a bunch of corrupt characters (who parallel the Iran-contra protagonists) while working on a drug bust.

Like characters for a Don Siegel action pic (especially "Charley Varrick"), Dennehy and his loyal men Joe Pantoliano, Jeff Fahey and Bill Paxton bristle at L. A. P. D. rules and are suspended when their task force becomes overly zealous in its fight against drug trafficking. Audience immediately tumbles to the fact that higher-ups are blocking their noble cause: it's a combination of police brass and feds, working on an elaborate scheme to trade drugs for arms to supply Central American freedom fighters.

In pic's silliest plot twist, Dennehy and company too easily rip off minor drug dealers to finance their own purchase of heavy weapons to stage a three-man war against the baddies (one of Dennehy's merry men is murdered early on, as a corny motivational device). Their victory against tall odds is phony and the film's symbolism goes over the top in a climax of the drug money exploding in its cesspool hideaway, covering the baddies in excrement.

Despite the deficiencies of a script that unwisely mixes tongue-in-cheek elements with soapbox messages, Scottish director John Mackenzie keeps the pic moving and enjoyable on a strictly thriller level. Its unsubtle references to Iran-contra are more fun for film historians than action fans, leading to an ending on tv identical in purpose to the rabble-rousing conclusion of Alex Cox' similarly preachy "Walker".

Dennehy is excellent in delivering a liberal message in the form of a free-thinking independent who's tired of the expediency and greed of a system riddled with phony patriots. Guy Boyd ably leads the gang of Machiavellian villains and Aussie thesp Deborra-Lee Furness makes a good impression as Dennehy's wife.

Former Rolling Stone Mick Taylor adds punch with his guitar solos.

I was pleased with the cast of reputable players. The story is one of standing up for a cause, even if you are at personal risk in doing so. In a time where violence and pain are often in the movie forefront, this movie focuses on the old fashioned good cop. Although similar plots have been done repeatedly, these guys pull it off well. Kick back and enjoy. Dennehy is a master of taking over a movie.

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.