IMDb RATING
5.9/10
4.8K
YOUR RATING
A New York Police Detective and his Wife try to take care of his slain partner's three daughters.A New York Police Detective and his Wife try to take care of his slain partner's three daughters.A New York Police Detective and his Wife try to take care of his slain partner's three daughters.
- Awards
- 1 nomination total
Mike Hagerty
- Walsh
- (as Michael G. Hagerty)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
MICHAEL KEATON is a great actor hes one of them actors you forget you are watching a movie & think its real life video footage. kinda like NICK NOLTE - GARY OLDMAN - PETER STORMARE but anyways KEATON plays a COP who when his partner is killed in the line of duty who had 3 kids he doesn't want them to be in an orphanage but his house is too small by SOCIAL SERVICES standards to house 3 kids so he robs a drug kingpin who indirectly had something to do with his partners murder so he can buy a bigger house so he can adopt his partners 3 kids & he gives the rest of the money to the orphanage he didn't want his partners 3 kids to go to in order to help the other kids their. they say even criminals have right & a COP is supposed to go by the book but sometimes you gotta just say what the F#@k & do what you gotta do
The stage curtains open ...
Before the event of the Quentin Tarantino film, "Jackie Brown", this 1991 movie was Michael Keaton's bid to enter the action arena which was so prevalent at the time. It is also a film with warmth and heart. Though it feels disjointed in places, this is an entertaining entry into Keaton's silver screen work.
When Artie Lewis's (Keaton) partner is killed while on duty, he leaves behind three young girls and not much else. While facing death almost daily, resisting the temptation to be on the take, Artie and his wife decide to fight for the girls and give them a home. This is the story of how one good cop endures the daily struggle of trying to bring justice out on the streets and still make ends meet on the home front. Finally, he is faced with a life changing decision ... one that may force him to do something he doesn't want to so that he can do what is ultimately right.
This is very typical of an early 90's action film with a little over-the-top violence, but nothing too heavy. Keaton does a decent job on the believable scale turning in a good performance. As I mentioned before, there are parts that seem out of place, but overall, this was an entertaining movie. The pacing is decent with some lulls, but I felt those were necessary to the story. I enjoyed Rene Russo in this one as the loyal, yet frustrated wife. And the three girls were perfect for their roles.
I would recommend this one, but not highly. Not necessarily one I would watch a lot, but one I might pull out some time down the road and probably enjoy just as much. I think this would have to be a sentimental favorite - a movie that would take someone back to a good time in their life or to this era of film making, or for a big fan of Michael Keaton. A solid 7 out of 10 stars.
Before the event of the Quentin Tarantino film, "Jackie Brown", this 1991 movie was Michael Keaton's bid to enter the action arena which was so prevalent at the time. It is also a film with warmth and heart. Though it feels disjointed in places, this is an entertaining entry into Keaton's silver screen work.
When Artie Lewis's (Keaton) partner is killed while on duty, he leaves behind three young girls and not much else. While facing death almost daily, resisting the temptation to be on the take, Artie and his wife decide to fight for the girls and give them a home. This is the story of how one good cop endures the daily struggle of trying to bring justice out on the streets and still make ends meet on the home front. Finally, he is faced with a life changing decision ... one that may force him to do something he doesn't want to so that he can do what is ultimately right.
This is very typical of an early 90's action film with a little over-the-top violence, but nothing too heavy. Keaton does a decent job on the believable scale turning in a good performance. As I mentioned before, there are parts that seem out of place, but overall, this was an entertaining movie. The pacing is decent with some lulls, but I felt those were necessary to the story. I enjoyed Rene Russo in this one as the loyal, yet frustrated wife. And the three girls were perfect for their roles.
I would recommend this one, but not highly. Not necessarily one I would watch a lot, but one I might pull out some time down the road and probably enjoy just as much. I think this would have to be a sentimental favorite - a movie that would take someone back to a good time in their life or to this era of film making, or for a big fan of Michael Keaton. A solid 7 out of 10 stars.
Not at all what I was expecting. The title and movie poster suggest a straight NY police procedural -- or at least the one good cop out of the whole corrupt department.
Nope. The movie sees Michael Keaton lose his partner in the line of duty and try to raise the now-orphaned children. This is while he's also trying to take down a drug kingpin, but it's that Mr. Mom angle and split focus that's distracting.
The movie also engineers a reason for him to break bad, which feels forced, as well as the "but wait!" ending in the service of the family drama.
I dunno, maybe I was disappointed that Rachel Ticotin didn't have more to do. It's just that the cop stuff was so much more interesting. They certainly put some real effort into the melee right scenes, there's some nice grit there.
Keaton's fantastic as usual, and the supporting players are all strong, no complaints there. It's just scattered.
Nope. The movie sees Michael Keaton lose his partner in the line of duty and try to raise the now-orphaned children. This is while he's also trying to take down a drug kingpin, but it's that Mr. Mom angle and split focus that's distracting.
The movie also engineers a reason for him to break bad, which feels forced, as well as the "but wait!" ending in the service of the family drama.
I dunno, maybe I was disappointed that Rachel Ticotin didn't have more to do. It's just that the cop stuff was so much more interesting. They certainly put some real effort into the melee right scenes, there's some nice grit there.
Keaton's fantastic as usual, and the supporting players are all strong, no complaints there. It's just scattered.
Michael Keaton and wife Rene Russo want to adopt Anthony LaPaglia's three young daughters after he is killed on duty with partner Keaton by his side in this dull, slow-moving and uninteresting little film. The typical problems arise as the couple need money to move to a larger place before they can legally claim guardianship of the girls. Could this mean that Keaton will get involved in crooked dealings to get the cash they so desperately need? Predictable and amazingly cheap-looking film that just never does generate any drama or real intrigue. 2 stars out of 5.
This is an excellent movie that surprised me at every turn. It felt like watching someones real life, with up and downs and real decisions. One Good Cop is an uplifting story about a good person with difficult decisions to make. After the death of his partner Keaton and his wife (Rene Russo) are given custody of his three girls. Keaton cannot afford three kids and foster care will split the kids up. The decision that Keaton makes is brutal but for people who are desperate sometimes something brutal is the only solution. I had never heard of this movie before but it has become one of my favorites. Michael Keaton gives a great performance the entire way through. This is a 4 for 4 star movie.
Did you know
- TriviaOriginal title was "We're Alive".
- GoofsTakes places in New York City but some scenes were obvious on California streets.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: The Movies We Loved as Kids (1991)
- SoundtracksCali Es Sexy
Written by Luis Gabriel Gerlado
Performed by Ivan Serna y La Secreta
Courtesy of Kubaney Records
- How long is One Good Cop?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Un buen policía
- Filming locations
- Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA(Precinct Police Station)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $4,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $11,276,846
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,360,277
- May 5, 1991
- Gross worldwide
- $11,276,846
- Runtime1 hour 54 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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