Fort Apache, the Bronx
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Movie Reviews of Fort Apache, the Bronx
Movie Review: Newman slums through the Bronx
Summary: 4 Stars
Films about police officers underwent a fundamental transformation after the 1960s. Gee, I wonder why? Could it have something to do with the scurrilous effects of the Counterculture, that merry band of kool-aid pranksters and miscreants that worked tirelessly to undermine confidence in our public institutions? You bet it did, and the pattern continues today. Before the nuts took over the asylum, pictures dealing with police and other authorities routinely portrayed them as essentially honest, hardworking people devoted to public service and safety. Of course, there were exceptions, such as the crooked cops in noir films or the beat officer on the take, but these figures only served to reinforce the rule that most police officers were truly dedicated to their work. Nowadays, it's impossible to see a film that doesn't paint the men in blue as deeply corrupted by intolerance, bribery, extralegal murder, or whatever else passes as socially disapproved behavior today. "Fort Apache, the Bronx" constitutes a prime example of the "new" police film in several important ways, but it also contradicts itself in the process. No wonder this film wasn't a success at the box office; when tarring the cops with an unfair brush, it's absolutely necessary to do it in the clearest way possible.
Officer Murphy (Paul Newman) is a good cop. Sure, he's tired of toiling away in the hellhole that is the Bronx borough of New York City, and he's getting a bit long in the tooth to chase criminals through the streets, but at heart he believes in giving people a fair shake and not stirring up unnecessary trouble. His young partner, the narcissistic Corelli (Ken Wahl), thinks Murphy's a bit soft sometimes but will always support his views when the chips are down. Not every cop on the force, let alone every cop in Murphy's precinct (referred to as Fort Apache), harbors such idealistic aspirations. Some of these guys, primarily Officer Morgan (Danny Aiello) but many others as well, believe that any action is acceptable when dealing with the savages. And there are a lot of savages in the Bronx, including murderers, drug dealers, harridans and their flashy employers, and general lunatics. The two ideological poles, represented by Murphy and Morgan, exist side by side in an uneasy truce until a new commander, the rotund Captain Connelly (Ed Asner), arrives to take control of Fort Apache. Connelly is a real take charge type, a no nonsense cop who plays by the rules and approaches his new task with a fervor rarely seen in the Bronx. He's going to clean up the station, clean up his cops, and clean up the streets.
The first order of business is to solve the murder of two patrolmen that occurred immediately prior to Connelly's arrival. It's to the film's credit that this murder, which involves a harridan named Charlotte (Pam Grier), never finds satisfactory resolution. Most homicide cases don't. Instead, it serves as a thread to tie the rest of the film together, popping up from time to time to help move the rest of the plot threads along. Most of the film deals with Murphy's personal life, a life full of personal disappointment and moral quandaries. His relationship with pretty hispanic nurse Isabelle (Rachel Ticotin) puts the cop in a bad spot when he discovers she is a heroin addict. Too, the coupling takes a couple of shots on the chin when relations deteriorate between the police and the local hispanic community. The latter issue arises when Connelly's insistence on shaking up the Bronx touches off a riot after he orders the arrest of a local cell of revolutionaries. Even worse, Murphy and Corelli witness Morgan taking advantage of the riot to toss a kid off a rooftop. Murphy's world implodes when he tries to deal with Isabelle's addictions while simultaneously deciding what to do about Morgan's crime.
"Fort Apache, The Bronx" works well as a gritty crime drama. You've got Newman slumming in his role as a tortured cop, Ken Wahl and Danny Aiello at their mouthiest, and Ed Asner busting chops as a tough cop. Pam Grier, a personal favorite of mine, simply cannot hide her natural beauty even in a role that requires her to portray a drug addled streetwalker. The atmosphere easily sets and reinforces the tone of the film: the Bronx resembles a war zone, with crumbling buildings and overgrown lots hiding all sorts of unsavory crimes and secrets. Police officers in this area of the city must act as disciplinarians, confidantes, and doctors all in the course of a single shift. I think this last point is one of the strongest elements in the movie, as it portrays what cops do every day in all of its sleazy glory. The most interesting theme, however, is how the film tries to reconcile different methods of policing. "Fort Apache, the Bronx" cannot bring itself to take sides when dealing with Murphy and Connelly. Rather, the movie shows how both methods, an occasionally lenient attitude along with one as tough as nails, are necessary to protect people. That's surprising since most cop films paint any effort to enforce administrative discipline as fascistic at best and satanic at worst.
While "Fort Apache, the Bronx" is far from Paul Newman's best film, it's worth a look. Sadly, the DVD version contains only a trailer and filmographies/biographies as extras. Even sadder is the fullscreen picture transfer. There's simply no reason to release any big studio film in fullscreen to DVD, especially one starring a big shot like Paul Newman. Viewers looking for a multi-layered cop drama with few concrete resolutions--in other words, a movie that at least remotely resembles real life--will probably find a few things to like here.
Movie Review: The Rotten Part of the Big Apple
Summary: 4 Stars
The story is a well paced, gritty cop drama that side steps the usual Hollywood treatment of the good cop in the bad city, in this case the South Bronx (the film drew heat for it's realistic locations and hellhole depiction of the area). This is straight forwarded NY story telling. Paul Newman (Hud, Cool Hand Luke) is Patrolman Murphy, a veteran cop almost ready for retirement. His partner is Corelli (Ken Wahl) a younger man who tries to dress for success. Together they patrol their 40 block area with a population of 70,000. The beat looks like one of the German cities that was bombed flat in WWII. Ed Asner is the new precinct captain, wanting to get everything shipshape.
In response to a pair of cop killings by a deranged hooker, Asner orders the cops to roust the ghetto, resulting in a riot. Because of some rock throwing and heckling, a couple of cops throw an innocent boy off the roof of a building. Newman witnesses this and wrestles with his conscience about it. I think if the filmmakers would have stuck with just those plot points they would have had an excellent movie, however, they added many additional situations to give Newman more things to do. These included stopping a jumper, delivering a baby, saving hostages, and there are lengthy courting scenes for both Newman and Wahl. These stock plot devices derail what could have been a compelling story.
Paul Newman does a genuine job, as usual, playing Murphy with an admirable restraint. He puts the dramatic emphasis where it's needed and stays low-key otherwise. Ken Wahl also does a good job as Officer Corelli, a flamboyant guy, giving the older cop unsolicited advice, often. The byplay between the two cops is very good and believable. Supporting players include Ed Asner (Precinct Commander), Rachel Ticotin (Murphy's girlfriend), Pam Grier (Angel Dust Hooker), and Danny Aiello (cop). All of these players do a good job, but Pam Grier is basically wasted in a few brief scenes portraying a prostitute who kills people while under the influence of drugs. Of course, these inexplicable things do happen in real life so in that respect it makes sense. However, the film, rather than trying to play it straight with all the ambiguities of real life, puts in all these stock situations for Newman to react to thereby watering down the impact of the main story. I blame the writers and the director for not streamlining the screenplay, which has too many clichés.
Directed by Daniel Petrie, who mainly did TV, Fort Apache, the Bronx has serviceable visuals, particularly effective when showing the devastated landscape of the South Bronx. The cinematography is workmanlike but nothing special. If you don't mind an average film with a sad ending, Fort Apache, the Bronx might be for you.
Movie Review: IF ONLY LUMET HAD DIRECTED!
Summary: 4 Stars
If the GREAT Sidney Lumer (12 Angry Men, The Verdict,Q & A) had directed this film it would have had the potential to be a classic.No one is better than Lumet in getting at the bitterness and tension of the streets of New York,especially the racial and ethnic (Irish,Jewish,Black,Puerto Rican).Paul Newman plays an 18 year veteran Irish cop(Murphy) team up with a younger cop,palayed by Ken Wahl .This South Bronx police district is nicknamed "Fort Apach" because of its hign crime rate.Junkies,bad cops abound and Newman (excellant) trys to cope the best he can and thats' not easy considering what he is up against-High crime, a by the book new commander (Ed Asner) and very, very bad cops.The divorced Newman finds romance with a Puerto Rican nurse, movingly played by Rachel Ticotin and encounters a wacked-out hooker played by the very beautiful Pam Grier.This film needed LUMET and this DVD needed a commentary.Otherwise very good.Movie Review: A little hokey, but a solid film with great performances
Summary: 4 Stars
Good cop films are really important, and this is an excellent portrayal of the human side of law enforcement. What a find. It's a very convincing, gritty New York drama, something that is always appreciated. One of the film's strengths is its ability to shift from comedic moments into harsh tragedies, and in this sense feels like an accurate reflection on real life. Newman is absolutely convincing in his top rate performance, as is the rest of the cast. Which brings us to the plot - it's solid, but not dazzling. You have a sense it is trying to be a tour-de-force about police mentality and corruption but falls a bit short. But, for the rest of the film's strengths, this can be overlooked. Highly recommended.Movie Review: Gritty and realistic police drama
Summary: 4 Stars
This "lost" cop drama from the early 80's hardly ever shows up on television and seems to be relegated to the one-copy-per-store shelf of the local video store. Such an unfortunate fate has befallen a really good film.
Paul Newman, Edward Asner, Ken Wahl and a "young" Danny Aiello are excellent. Only is Pam Grier "wasted" as a drug-dependant prostitute. For one that is an early 70's icon (for films like "Foxy Brown" and "Coffy"), Grier deserves more than a "walk on" as a addicted prostiture. Fortunately, her resume has a variety of roles that display her talents, as well as her physical attributes, in larger and more impressive roles.