HavingwitnessedhisjunkiefatherkilledRussellStevensgrowsuptobecomeapolicemanandmakeadifferenceWhenheisofferedanundercoverjobbyGeraldCarverheacceptsandbeginstobuildarelationshipwithDavidJasoninordertogettothemaindealersHoweverasheisforcedtodealdrugsandkilltokeephiscoverhefindsthelinesbetweencopandcriminalbeinglost–isheacoppretendingtobeadealeroradealerpretendingtobeacop LarryashewasthenFishburne'sfirstleadrolewasatypicallydarkvehicleThestoryistheusualoneofcoplosinghimselfwhenundercover,howeveritmanagestobemorethanthatformostofthetimeCowrittenbyTolkin,whowroteThePlayer,thisnaturallyhasanicecynicaledgetoitwhenitlooksattheUS'shypocriticalapproachtodrugcontrolandthepoliticallinksbetweenthestreethustlersandthepoliticalhighrollerswhocourtrespectabilityThestorydoeseventuallysettleintoatraditionalsettingbuteventhenitworkswellasathriller ThemultitalentedBillDukedirectswellwithagrittyfeelandafewnicetouchesHoweverseveralthingsareabitiffyFormostofthefilmFishburne'snarrationvoiceoverisabitlikeacrossbetweenApocalypseNowandBladeRunner–itcomesacrossasalittletoodarkandheavyandalsoexplainsthingslikewecan'tfigureitoutourselvesHoweveronceyougetintothefilmit'snotasbigadealMymainproblemlieswiththecharacters Fishburneisexcellent,arealmodelofunderlyingangerandviolence,GoldblumisgoodbutperhapsalittleOTTontheyuppieviolencething,butthere'sgoodsupportfromSmithandSpinCity'sbeautifulandoftenunderused–butnothereVictoriaDillardHoweverthetwomainwhitecharactersGoldblumandSmitharebothsmearedwithracistinsinuations–Smithappearstoinsulthisblackofficersanddoesn'tcareaboutthejunkies,whileGoldblumisfascinatedaboutallthingsblackandtalksaboutthemaswildbeautifulbeastsandloveshavingsexwithblack'Thesethingsaren'tamajorproblem,butwithbasicallyonlytwowhitecharactersinit,it'salittleworryingthatbotharegiventhatedge HowevertheseareminorcomplaintsthatgetlostwithagoodthrillerFishburneexcelsandDukedeliversastorythatisagoodthrillerbutalsohasajaded,subversiveedge
