HavingwitnessedhisjunkiefatherkilledRussellStevensgrowsuptobecomeapolicemanandmakeadifferenceWhenheisofferedanundercoverjobbyGeraldCarverheacceptsandbeginstobuildarelationshipwithDavidJasoninordertogettothemaindealersHoweverasheisforcedtodealdrugsandkilltokeephiscoverhefindsthelinesbetweencopandcriminalbeinglost–isheacoppretendingtobeadealeroradealerpretendingtobeacopLarryashewasthenFishburne'sfirstleadrolewasatypicallydarkvehicleThestoryistheusualoneofcoplosinghimselfwhenundercover,howeveritmanagestobemorethanthatformostofthetimeCowrittenbyTolkin,whowroteThePlayer,thisnaturallyhasanicecynicaledgetoitwhenitlooksattheUS'shypocriticalapproachtodrugcontrolandthepoliticallinksbetweenthestreethustlersandthepoliticalhighrollerswhocourtrespectabilityThestorydoeseventuallysettleintoatraditionalsettingbuteventhenitworkswellasathrillerThemultitalentedBillDukedirectswellwithagrittyfeelandafewnicetouchesHoweverseveralthingsareabitiffyFormostofthefilmFishburne'snarration/voiceoverisabitlikeacrossbetweenApocalypseNowandBladeRunner–itcomesacrossasalittletoodarkandheavyandalsoexplainsthingslikewecan'tfigureitoutourselvesHoweveronceyougetintothefilmit'snotasbigadealMymainproblemlieswiththecharactersFishburneisexcellent,arealmodelofunderlyingangerandviolence,GoldblumisgoodbutperhapsalittleOTTontheyuppie/violencething,butthere'sgoodsupportfromSmithandSpinCity'sbeautifulandoftenunderused–butnothereVictoriaDillardHoweverthetwomainwhitecharactersGoldblumandSmitharebothsmearedwithracistinsinuations–Smithappearstoinsulthisblackofficersanddoesn'tcareaboutthejunkies,whileGoldblumisfascinatedaboutallthingsblackandtalksaboutthemaswildbeautifulbeastsandloveshavingsexwith"black'Thesethingsaren'tamajorproblem,butwithbasicallyonlytwowhitecharactersinit,it'salittleworryingthatbotharegiventhatedgeHowevertheseareminorcomplaintsthatgetlostwithagoodthrillerFishburneexcelsandDukedeliversastorythatisagoodthrillerbutalsohasajaded,subversiveedge
