The Rookie (1990)

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers (WGA):

Boaz Yakin (written by) &
Scott Spiegel (written by)

Release Date:

7 December 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Clint Eastwood plays a veteran cop who gets stuck with a rookie cop (Charlie Sheen) to chase down a German criminal (Raul Julia.)

Plot Keywords:

Auto Theft | Police | Chop Shop | Chase | Gangster

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Nick Pulovski
Charlie Sheen	...	David Ackerman
Raul Julia	...	Strom
Sonia Braga	...	Liesl
Tom Skerritt	...	Eugene Ackerman
Lara Flynn Boyle	...	Sarah
Pepe Serna	...	Lt. Ray Garcia
Marco Rodríguez	...	Loco
Pete Randall	...	Cruz
Donna Mitchell	...	Laura Ackerman
Xander Berkeley	...	Blackwell
Tony Plana	...	Morales
David Sherrill	...	Max
Hal Williams	...	Powell
Lloyd Nelson	...	Freeway Motorist

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Spain:18 | Iceland:16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Canada:PG | West Germany:16 (re-rated) (video) | Singapore:NC-16 (edited version) | Australia:M | Finland:K-18 | Germany:18 | Norway:18 | South Korea:15 (DVD) (2003) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

East Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Kazanjian/Siebert Productions

Trivia:

The film featured over twice as many stuntmen as it did actors. Held the world record for the biggest ratio of stuntmen/actors.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the transfer of the money a suitcase is standing on the road. When the suitcase is picked up, it's lying down.

Quotes:

Loco: Just for that, I'm gonna make it hurt, puta!
[while attacking Sarah, who scratched him in the face]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtrack:

Red Zone

Straight-forward formula, above par execution

Back in 1968 Clint Eastwood did a film called "Coogan's Bluff" where an Arizona cop follows the trail of a criminal to New York City. The movie was practically a prelude to "Dirty Harry" as Clint Eastwood metaphorically took his well known Western tough guy persona into the big city. Two years later he would pick up and immortalize the .44 Magnum. Now, after 5 "Dirty Harry" films Clint Eastwood goes through another film that serves as a metaphorical transition: a tough as nails veteran cop gets partnered with a rookie. The comparisons to Dirty Harry have been made, but they are pretty much inevitable and unavoidable. Though that doesn't really detract from this film.

The plot is relatively straightforward - Det. Pulovski goes out to avenge his partner's death and Ackerman is an eager new cop ready to show that he has what it takes to do an often "dirty" job. Pun intended.

As far as Clint Eastwood's body of work is concerned this is one of his more ridiculous and self-indulgent films; in particular the concluding act has some odd excess and the final action scene turns too cold blooded for its own good. However, even as a straightforward and often brainless action movie that is in now way as legendary as Eastwood's other work it is still enjoyable. There are some spectacular stunts - "fasten your seat belt" - and despite Eastwood playing a familiar character he puts enough amusing spin into the film; particularly Raul Julia as the villain - he's so straightforward, yet so oddly original at the same time. Almost like Hans Gruber's brother, or maybe cousin, who went into the car jacking business. --- 7/10

BsCDb Classification: 13+ --- violence, profanity