Watch Street Crimes
- R
- 1992
- 1 hr 35 min
-
4.8 (245)
Street Crimes is a hard-hitting action movie with an emphasis on police procedural. The film is set in Los Angeles, where a rash of brazen robberies and murders has placed the city on edge. The story follows the exploits of two cops, Tom and Matt, who must navigate the treacherous underworld of the city's criminal scene to bring these criminals to justice. Along the way, they discover that their lives and the lives of their loved ones are at stake as they fight to keep the streets safe.
Dennis Farina stars as Tom, a seasoned detective who has seen it all. Farina's performance is top notch as he portrays a man who is both tough and vulnerable. His character's past experiences have made him cautious but determined, and he brings that to every scene. Michael Worth plays his younger partner Matt, who is a bit more impulsive but equally dedicated to the job. Worth's character is the perfect foil to Farina's, and the two work well together on screen.
The movie opens with an intense robbery scene that sets the tone for the rest of the film. The criminals are brazen and violent, taking no prisoners as they ransack a liquor store. The aftermath of the robbery leads Tom and Matt to a larger conspiracy involving multiple robberies and murders. The case takes them all over the city, from the seedy streets of the ghetto to the posh neighborhoods of the rich and famous.
One of the most memorable aspects of this movie is its realistic portrayal of police work. The film takes pains to show the tedious and often frustrating nature of detective work. Tom and Matt follow up on leads, interview suspects, and sift through mountains of paperwork. They butt heads with bureaucrats and deal with internal politics in the department. This realism adds weight to the story and makes the eventual triumphs feel all the more earned.
Patricia Zehentmayr plays Lisa, a waitress who becomes involved in the case when she witnesses a crucial piece of evidence. Lisa is the epitome of the damsel in distress trope, but Zehentmayr plays her with a lot of heart, making her a sympathetic character. She and Matt develop a romantic relationship over the course of the film, but it never feels forced or out of place. Lisa's involvement in the case makes her a liability to the criminals, putting both her and Matt in danger.
The antagonist of the film is a ruthless criminal mastermind named Gatling, played by Tony Di Benedetto. Gatling is a classic crime boss, cool and collected on the surface but prone to violent outbursts. He employs a small army of heavily armed henchmen who do his bidding without question. Gatling is one step ahead of Tom and Matt for most of the film, presenting a formidable challenge for our heroes.
The action in Street Crimes is well choreographed and exciting. There are plenty of shootouts, car chases, and hand-to-hand combat scenes to keep the adrenaline pumping. The film doesn't shy away from violence, and there are a few scenes that might be too intense for some viewers. However, the violence is never gratuitous, and always in service of the story.
Overall, Street Crimes is a gritty, realistic action movie that delivers on all fronts. The performances are top notch, the story is engaging, and the action is thrilling. It's a great example of the genre and deserves more recognition than it gets. If you're a fan of cop movies or action movies in general, Street Crimes is definitely worth a watch.
Street Crimes is a 1992 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.8.