Freebie and the Bean is a laugh out loud, action-packed, buddy cop shot across the bow to the 1980’s, featuring James Caan (Freebie) and Alan Arkin (Bean), with an onscreen chemistry that rivals Warren Beatty and Julie Christie for the best of that decade. In their attempt to take down a crime boss in San Francisco, the squabbling duo discover that their 14-month long investigation might get foiled by an out of town hitman. Not wanting to let their crime boss collar get upstaged, these two cops will not let any car, innocent bystander, or law get in their way to keep him alive in order to make the arrest. Not for the easily offended, director Richard Roush (The Stunt Man) has assembled some jaw-dropping action sequences (even the visceral violence is hard not to laugh at), as well as knowing when to get out of the way and let Caan and Arkin riff through their dialogue like two jazz musicians in the pocket after midnight. Cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs (Five Easy Pieces, Paper Moon, Shampoo) captures the comedic melee in all its destructive glory.
