Look, we all know being a cop is a dirty job but somebody’s got to take out the garbage. In the acknowledged masterpiece of Steven Seagal’s storied career, director John “Rolling Thunder” Flynn & screenwriter David Lee Henry (straight off Road House) perfect the actor’s ‘90s template with elegant simplicity, showcasing the star’s brutal physical ability and strong code of honor. When a police officer is savagely gunned down in front of his family, his partner & best friend Gino (Seagal) goes on the hunt for the psychotically vicious Richie (William Forsythe, foaming at the mouth and chewing scenery with glee). Seagal gets to speak Italian, rescue an abandoned dog, and most importantly kick a ton of butt while turning the neighborhood into a war zone, tearing through armies of goons, street urchins and made men while growling bon mots like “I’m gonna cut off his head and piss down his throat.” Yes, skulls will be cracked, bones will be broken and glass will be shattered in this top-tier beat-em-up!
