Q & A (1990)

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writers (WGA):

Edwin Torres (book)
Sidney Lumet (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 April 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

When the questions are dangerous, the answers can be deadly.

Plot:

A young district attorney seeking to prove a case against a corrupt police detective encounters a former lover and her new protector...

Plot Keywords:

Racial Slur | Gay Slur | Vulgarity | Neo Noir | Racism

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Nick Nolte	...	Captain Michael Brennan
Timothy Hutton	...	Asst. Dist. Atty. Aloysius 'Al' Francis Reilly
Armand Assante	...	Roberto 'Bobby Tex' Texador
Patrick O'Neal	...	Kevin Quinn (Chief of Homicide)
Lee Richardson	...	Leo Bloomenfeld
Luis Guzmán	...	Det. Luis Valentin (as Luis Guzman)
Charles S. Dutton	...	Det. Sam 'Chappie' Chapman (Homicide) (as Charles Dutton)
Jenny Lumet	...	Nancy Bosch / Mrs. Bobby Texador
Paul Calderon	...	Roger Montalvo
International Chrysis	...	José Malpica
Dominic Chianese	...	Larry Pesch / Vito / Lorenzo Franconi (as Dominick Chianese)
Leonardo Cimino	...	Nick Petrone (mob boss)
Fyvush Finkel	...	Preston Pearlstein
Gustavo Brens	...	Alfonse Segal
Martin E. Brens	...	Armand Segal

Runtime:

132 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Brazil:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

Odyssey Distributors

Trivia:

Smithee: [Sidney Lumet]the director was unhappy with the way this movie was edited for television so he had his name removed and replaced with the pseudonym "Alan Smithee" for the television broadcast version.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Chief Quinn asks ADA Reilly why he did not attend St. John's Law School. Hutton says his father didn't like the Jesuits. St. John's University is not a Jesuit institution. It is conducted by the Vincentians.

Quotes:

Captain Lt. Michael 'Mike' Brennan, NYPD: You're the whitest black man I know, Chappy.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Finding Forrester (2000)

Soundtrack:

QUE SERA SERA (WHATEVER WILL BE, WILL BE)

Walk on the wild side

Whats not to like about this movie? Well, the violent and the dark, at times manic context which prevails in a good share of the scenes, together with the perversity thats being thrown at you in the most unsubtle way. Nick Nolte's Brennan must be the most foul,intimidating and maniacal cop figure ever portrayed since Orson Welles' Captain Quinlan in "Touch of evil". He pulls off a great performance, although not very pleasant to watch (nor listen, for that matter).

Whats there to like about this movie? For one thing, there is Armand Assante and what most likely is the role of his career, even if its a supporting one and he gets only a couple scene stealers. He demonstrates how great he can be if given the right part. And his role is very interesting, an archcriminal with feelings, brought out by a woman who may not even love him.

Jenny Lumet was also good in her role, although I missed more interaction between her and Assante's character. Timothy Hutton, although overshadowed by Nolte and Assante in turns (inevitable really), proves again that he is a solid actor.His performance is not spectacular(as the role doesn't allow it), but its worthwhile. Another great presence by Patrick O'Neal as the sly and cunning district attorney with a criminal past and ties to Bobby Texador(Assante).

Sidney Lumet is the master of socio-political drama/comedy/thriller. Here he mixes all three into an enjoyable, intriguing and satisfactory work. This film deserves more attention than I believe it got. But again, looking at its "walk on the wild side" perspective, it really couldn't have become a blockbuster hit an average person chooses to watch on video or DVD on a Saturday night.