Extreme Justice

Mark L. Lester has directed some of the most enjoyably trashy movies ever ("Roller Boogie," "Class of 1984," "Gold of the Amazon Women" etc.), mostly working in the low-budget direct- to-video or TV movie realm though he briefly entered the mainstream with the Stephen King adaptation "Firestarter" and Stallone vehicle "Commando." I haven't seen much of his more recent work, but always perk up when I see his name on a DVD or old VHS tape--his movies are sometimes ridiculous but they're almost always energetic and entertaining.

This is actually one of his more respectable efforts, as it's a fairly effective indictment of police corruption that was made at a time when LAPD was under close scrutiny for just that. Lou Diamond Phillips plays a conscientious (but incongruously long-haired) young police officer recruited to a special unit, teamed with his mentor Scott Glenn. They're assigned to track down serial murderers, rapists and robbers, but somehow every time they apprehend the bad guys, all the perps and usually a few innocent bystanders end up dead--the whole squad is way too trigger-happy, esp. Glenn. Phillips gets increasingly uncomfortable with this, leading to the inevitable tension (a la the later "Training Day") between cop veteran and newbie partner.

Both leads are good, the violent action is solidly handled, and the movie is less campy but no less fun than many of Lester's other films. It's nothing great, but it's a solid "B" flick.

I love it when films about these low profile organizations (like the SIS in this film or secret societies in The Skulls). Because I never heard of these organizations and I watch a film that when watching, I have the mentality of it just being a movie. Turns out these organizations exist. Well, in 1993, a little TV movie called Extreme Justice was made and it is about the SIS. Now before I go any further, research does say that this is a TV film (at least in the US) and the only lead I got was that this premiered on LifeTime which is something I highly doubt seeing that LifeTime (at least now) is geared towards women. Extreme Justice was directed by Mark L. Lester (The Base and The Base 2: Guilty as Charged). The film stars Lou Diamond Phillips (Stand and Deliver, and made appearances in 24), Scott Glenn (Apocalypse Now and The Silence of the Lambs), Yaphet Kotto (Alien and The Running Man), and Ed Lauter (Golden Years and I found out recently had an uncredited role in Talladega Nights).

Jeff Powers (Lou Diamond Phillips) is reassigned and put into the SIS. The SIS is a group of police officers who take down the worst of criminals by following them and catching them in the act. But Jeff is starting to realize that things may be going too far.

For those who do not know, Mark L. Lester would later go on and direct two films. The Base and The Base 2: Guilty as Charged. But it is the latter that I keep finding similarities between the two films. But it is this film that I like better. First off, I came in expecting some sort of buddy cop film that was violent enough that it would be allowed on television. But, it went a more serious route for the most part but still retained enough violence to satisfy my tastes (and hopefully it will satisfy the biggest of gore hounds when it comes to action movies). The whole story is a pretty generic and does nothing to stand out. It plays it safe. The whole moral conflict about killing and whatnot or just any sort of moral conflict has been done before and I cannot say I was a bit surprised by the overall outcome when it came to the end of the film. But, with that being said, it still is pretty entertaining for the most part. As mentioned before, the violence is enough for most people to easily handle and take in. The shootouts/action is pretty standard yet do not take it all as a negative. This is a TV movie (I think, unless this was a late night movie where you did not have to have anything censored) and you won't be seeing anything on a grand scale. Plus, it is the early 90's so good luck trying to get any big action on TV. The performances are actually fairly good and I usually find the best acting coming from the scenes filled with arguing. I know it sounds weird, but having tense scenes like that truly show how good these actors can be. Lou Diamond Phillips plays the long haired, young and cocky cop (and looks like he could be some bass player for some 90's rock band). A role that has been done before but I still had some fun watching him. The film flows fairly nice and does not slow down. If the film had any signs of slowing down, I would probably think that this film would have worked better as a TV show. Now, coming to think about it, it should have at some point!

Extreme Justice is nothing extraordinary but it does the job in being a TV movie. Something you turn on and be entertained by. It has some violence and good acting on top of the entertainment value.

In a plot strikingly similar to that of Eastwood's "Magnum Force", "Extreme Justice" deals with cops that take the law into their own hands and execute criminals in cold blood. The blurring of the line between law and justice, and between vigilantism and paranoia, is done here more efficiently than it was in "Magnum Force", so the movie holds your interest, despite the routine on all other accounts script and Mark Lester's unimaginative direction. The entire male cast is solid, but Chelsea Field is unconvincing as the hotshot reporter. (**)

Here's a film that was a warm welcomed surprise. If you want to be entertained, get Mark Lester to do it. And when you have great actors like Glenn and Phillips as the leads, you know you're in for surefire entertainment. Here, it's more explosive entertainment, in a well polished and slick actioner about loose vigilante justice, only the justice here is wearing a badge. SIS is Special Investigation Section, a secret division of cops, who are out to take out the worst high profile offenders, ready at the assigned locale, for when they strike, only we have more murders than arrests. Losing his cool with a scummy piece of s..t, undercover cop, Jeff Powers (Phillips) is the latest to join Glenn's warm posse of cops, but being a witness to long time friend, Glenn's reckless actions, puts a strain on the work relationship, where soon at first hand, Jeff begins to see the real truth about this organization. The films has great shootouts and action, brilliantly staged, with no dull moment to spare. Chelsea Field, a really good actress, plays Phillip's older girlfriend, an avid reporter, out to bust this squad. The last scene, a stand off between Glenn and Phillips, where all out war is declared, is my favorite. Have to viddy this surprisingly well made film again. To bag this film, you'd have to be a bit off. Great, exciting entertainment, based on real incidents. Watch.

'Extreme Justice' is one of those action films that teethers on a great premise. Not original, but good ground for fun entertainment & some thought as well. Scott Glenn, Lou Diamond Phillips and a supporting cast of known faces directed by Mark L. Lester (Commando) carry out this dark trip, but the end product is merely average in most regards.

Det. Powers (Phillips) take it too far with a kidnapping suspect and it looks like IA is going to bounce him off the force after multiple brushes with him. That is until his former partner Det. Vaughn (Glenn) calls in some favors to get him reassigned to SIS (real life LAPD unit). Tired of seeing criminals go free or get joke sentences, this squad makes it their sole purpose to put repeat offenders away for good - in body bags.

This simple idea works on the surface because everyone knows in real life the justice system ain't perfect and Phillips character acts as our moral guide traversing this dangerous terrain. Everyone wants justice served, but where does the line get drawn? That sort of shtick however it isn't content with keeping things believable. This unit, these cops will allow suspects to commit their crimes under surveillance and only move in to waste 'em after their deeds are in progress or done which puts innocent victims at risk.

There's a lot of faces here which I'm a sucker for. You got b-movie reg Ed Lauter as the Captain of the unit. He's still doing hand jesters like he did in 'Raw Deal'. While Yaphet Kotto, William Lucking & Andrew Divoff make up fellow cops. Stephen Root a news agency boss while William McNamara plays one of the criminals. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this is the second film I've seen Chelsea Field play a integral reporter linked to a main hero too.

Things get contrived in 'Extreme Justice' and then just flat out dumb which ultimately what keeps it from being better. You can see where things are going a mile ahead and Glenn who starts off as a jaded, but believable presence is no more than a sociopath caricature with a badge by the end. The bum finale, ridiculous end title card too. The action is entertaining, but it only gets you so far.