Gang Related (1997)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Jim Kouf

Writer (WGA):

Jim Kouf (written by)

Release Date:

8 October 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

How do you solve a murder when YOU'RE the killer?

Plot:

Two cops kill an undercover DEA agent by mistake, and frantically try to cover their tracks by framing a homeless man for the crime...

Plot Keywords:

Homeless Man | Homeless | Police | Federal Agent | Loan Shark

Cast

James Belushi	...	Det. Frank Divinci
Tupac Shakur	...	Det. Rodriguez
Lela Rochon	...	Cynthia Webb
Dennis Quaid	...	Joe Doe / William
James Earl Jones	...	Arthur Baylor
David Paymer	...	Elliot Goff
Wendy Crewson	...	Helen Eden
Gary Cole	...	Richard Simms
Terrence 'T.C.' Carson	...	Manny Landrew
Brad Greenquist	...	Richard Stein
James Handy	...	Capt. Henderson
Kool Moe Dee	...	Lionel Hudd
Victor Love	...	Hooper
Robert LaSardo	...	Sarkasian
Perry Anzilotti	...	Vic

Also Known As:

Criminal Intent (International: English title) (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, some violence and a scene with nudity.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | USA:R (certificate #35072) | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:13 | Canada:14A | South Korea:18 | UK:15

Company:

Kouf/Bigelow Productions

Trivia:

The spiky onscreen relationship between James Belushi and Tupac Shakur was helped offscreen by the fact that Shakur liked to nail his scenes in one or two takes, and was annoyed by Belushi preferring to do it in multiple takes.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Det. Frank Divinc talks to Joe for the first time about the crime in the car we can clearly see the camera in the reflection of the window. As the scene progress the camera zooms in and a head can be seen next to the camera.

Quotes:

Detective Rodriguez: [in Divinci's office, shortly after Dunner is found Not Guilty] ...Bad news.
Divinci: Don't tell me: Clyde walked. I heard all about it.
Detective Rodriguez: Worse: Joe's going to stand trial. Judge Pine found him mentally unfit to plead one way or the other.
Divinci: [glaring at him in shock] You're joking with me! ...Right?
Detective Rodriguez: Oh, yeah, I *love* to make people laugh; that's my life's work! Did you hear the one about the two cops who wasted a Drug Enforcement Agent?

Movie Connections:

Features "Sally Jessy Raphael" (1985)

Soundtrack:

Freak Sumthin'

Better than expected

Much better movie than I expected. Jim Belushi and Tupac Shakur have a good chemistry as 2 crooked, conflicted cops. Tupac Shakur actually played a very good character as the increasingly troubled cop. He was willing to bend some rules, and put some money in his pocket, but things have now gone entirely too far for him. Jim Belushi plays a morally dumb cop who continues to make the situation worse, and continues to believe he can probably manipulate his way out of anything.

Dennis Quaid, James Earl Jones and Lela Rochon were all excellent.

I didn't expect too much from this, but I was drawn into a well-done, well-acted movie.