Homicide (1991)

Director:

David Mamet

Writer (WGA):

David Mamet (written by)

Release Date:

28 August 1991 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Powerful. Provacative. Controversial.

Plot:

A Jewish homicide detective investigates a seemingly minor murder and falls in with a Zionist group as a result.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Racial Slur | Neo Noir | Terrorism | Jewish Cop

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Joe Mantegna	...	Bobby Gold
William H. Macy	...	Tim Sullivan
Vincent Guastaferro	...	Lt. Senna
J.J. Johnston	...	Jilly Curran
Jack Wallace	...	Frank
Lionel Mark Smith	...	Charlie Olcott
Roberta Custer	...	Cathy Bates
Charles Stransky	...	Doug Brown
Bernard Gray	...	James
Paul Butler	...	Commissioner Walker
Colin Stinton	...	Walter B. Wells
Louis Murray	...	Mr. Patterson
Christopher Kaldor	...	Desk Sergeant
Linda Kimbrough	...	Sgt. Green
Robin Spielberg	...	Records Officer

MPAA:

Rated R for language and violence.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Germany:12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Bison Films

Trivia:

Mamet's script began as an adaptation of his friend William J. Caunitz's novel "Suspects", but the more Mamet wrote the more his story diverged from the book until it ultimately became an original screenplay.

Goofs:

Continuity: Toward the end of the film, when two policemen take Randolph away from Bob Gold, Bob's right arm is hanging. In the next shot, Bob's right arm is stretched.

Quotes:

Tim Sullivan: Bob, I'm gonna tell you what the old whore said, and this is the truest thing I know: "When you start cumming with the customers, it's time to quit."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Magnolia (1999)

My favorite Mamet film

A big-city police detective, Joe Mantegna, who always ignored and downplayed his Jewish heritage, finds himself forced to examine his values after being pulled off what he considers an important case, at the request of influential Jewish citizens, to investigate the death of an old Jewish storekeeper, who might have been the victim of anti-Semitic violence. This film isn't without its flaws, but writer/director David Mamet deserves a great deal of credit for having the courage to present a number of provocative questions about what it means to be a Jew in an often hostile society. The film can also be applauded for not offering any simple answers. Usually in Hollywood movies, characters are rewarded for returning to their roots. In "Homicide," the reverse is true as Mantegna soon finds his life spiraling out of his control. The drama is always compelling, if somewhat heavy-handed and implausible at times. More importantly, the Mametisms which increasing mar his work, i.e., scripts where every character speaks in exactly the same voice, and big roles for non-talented wives, are kept in check here. This is my favorite Mamet film.