We've been accustomed to seeing Al Pacino play loud, unruly lawyers so it is quite refreshing to see Andy Garcia as a smart, tough lawyer in one of his best roles since "Internal Affairs." The movie may not be great but it is a well-crafted, watchable piece of entertainment.
Garcia stars as Sean Casey, a tough New York City lawyer who has been trying minor cases such as freak accidents, drug dealers, petty thieves, etc. He's no ambulance chaser but he's trying to get ahead by playing the rules, and he was a former cop so he "knows the streets." His father, Liam Casey (Ian Holm), is an undercover cop trying to catch a big-time heroin dealer and is subsequently shot while on a stakeout. Sean is upset by this and so is the whole city since two cops were killed by this psycho dealer. The D.A. Morgenstern (Rob Leibman) screams bloody murder and wants the dealer found who managed to escape in an NYPD car! The D.A. makes Sean the leading prosecutor, much to everyone's chagrin, but he's also risking his political future when the defense attorney turns out to be a brilliant shyster, Sam Vigoda (Richard Dreyfuss). It is, theoretically, an easy case and one that could launch Sean's career, but is there police corruption at the core? What do you think? Have you seen movies about corruption before or is this something entirely new to you?
"Night Falls on Manhattan" is not an original film nor should you think that director Sidney Lumet hasn't made similar films before. This time, Lumet has made it fresh by instilling a sense of humanity and making his characters invigorating and real. Garcia's Sean Stone is the moral center of the film - a lawyer who uncovers a hotbed of corruption and lies and people who mask the truth. Could his father, Liam, be concealing evidence? And what about Liam's partner, Joey (James Gandolfini)? And how did all three precincts manage to arrive within seconds after Joey calls for backup during the stakeout? If you haven't heard the disturbing news of New York City cops lately, then you must be residing on a mountain top in Tibet somewhere.
Lumet's problem as a writer is his frequent lack of credibility. For example: why would a psychotic dealer turn himself in to a defense attorney when he could have skipped town? Why would the D.A. assign such a media crazed event over to a small-time lawyer who has no experience trying such cases? Because the lawyer's father is a cop who was badly injured? I don't think such cases occur in New York City but what do I know. This movie was written for the screen by Lumet and based on a pulp novel by Robert Daley. Maybe that explains it.
As usual, Lumet's casting is impeccable. Garcia is strong and believable as Sean, a lawyer who by chance becomes D.A. in a movie full of miraculous chances. Richard Dreyfuss is superbly witty as the Alan Dershowitz-type who is trying to reveal the corruption himself. The great British actor Ian Holm is quietly understated as the wise old cop who may or may not be involved, and adores his bewildered son and his partner. James Gandolfini, who has appeared in a slate of mediocre movies, shines brightly and evocatively as Liam's partner - his scene with Ian Holm and Garcia crackles with energy as he begins to admit his involvement. This is an actor to watch for in the future. Veteran actor Rob Leibman shouts and spews with relish in several great scenes as Morgenstern, the D.A. who is always looking for a fight. The one performance that doesn't ring true is Lena Olin ("Unbearable Lightness of Being") as Peggy, a legal assistant to Sam Vigoda. Her frivolous romance with Sean exudes little charisma or excitement and takes up too much screen time.
"Night Falls on Manhattan" falls short when compared to Lumet's great, intelligent police movies such as "Prince of the City" and "Serpico." Nevertheless, it is a fine film and uniformly well acted but it ends with a silly anticlimax that diminishes the power of the first three-quarters (a similar problem pervaded Lumet's "Family Business"). Still, how can you resist a great cast in a generally vivid, exciting picture when we are mostly bombarded by superfluous hogwash nowadays. Don't resist.
For more reviews, check out JERRY AT THE MOVIES at http://buffs.moviething.com/buffs/faust/
E-mail me with questions, concerns or complaints at jerry@movieluver.com or at Faust667@aol.com
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