Homicide: The Movie is a television movie that aired 13 February 2000, one year after the completion of the American police drama television series Homicide: Life on the Street

Homicide: Life on the Street

Homicide: Life on the Street is an American police procedural television series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Homicide Unit. It ran for seven seasons on NBC from 1993 to 1999, and was succeeded by a TV movie, which also acted as the de-facto series finale...

. It was written by the series' head writer Tom Fontana

Tom Fontana

Tom Fontana is an American writer and producer.-TV career:Fontana has been a writer/producer for such series as Oz , The Jury, The Beat, The Bedford Diaries, Homicide: Life on the Street, St...

 and staff writers Eric Overmyer

Eric Overmyer

Eric Overmyer is a writer and producer. He has written and/or produced numerous TV shows, including St. Elsewhere, Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, The Wire, New Amsterdam, and Treme.-Biography:...

 and James Yoshimura

James Yoshimura

James Yoshimura is a Japanese American writer and producer, best known for his screenwriting work on the NBC series Homicide: Life on the Street and the short-lived Fox series The Jury, for which he served as a co-creator. He also co-wrote Homicide: The Movie, a made-for-television film that came...

, and directed by Jean de Segonzac

Jean de Segonzac

Jean R. B. de Segonzac is a director, screenwriter and cinematographer who has worked in documentaries and television programs...

, who had served as a cinematographer and director several times during the show's run.

Plot summary

Retired police lieutenant Al Giardello

Al Giardello

Alphonse Michael Giardello, Sr. is a fictional character from the television drama Homicide: Life on the Street. The character was played by Yaphet Kotto...

 is running for mayor on a platform of drug legalization and seems to be the front-runner when he is suddenly shot at a press conference, by an unseen gunman. Unconscious, he is rushed to the hospital. In a montage sequence, each of the detectives who used to work for him during the show's 7-year run learns of the shooting and rushes to the squad room. While some of the detectives are still working Homicide, most have either quit the force, retired, or transferred to other departments. Particular attention is paid to Frank Pembleton

Frank Pembleton

Francis Xavier "Frank" Pembleton is a fictional homicide detective on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by Emmy Award winning actor Andre Braugher. He is a primary character of the show through the first six seasons...

, who is now working as a college professor, and Mike Giardello

Mike Giardello

Alphonse Michael Giardello Jr. is a fictional character from the television drama Homicide: Life on the Street. The character was played by Giancarlo Esposito.-Biography:...

, who has quit the FBI and is now working as a uniformed officer.

At the squad room, all of the detectives, past and present, clamor for an opportunity to help find the shooter. There they find that Stuart Gharty

Stuart Gharty

Stuart Gharty is a fictional character played by Peter Gerety in the television series Homicide: Life on the Street.He is introduced in the season four one-shot episode "Scene of the Crime", as a cowardly patrolman who allows two drug dealers to murder each other rather than venture into a housing...

 is now shift commander despite his overwhelming lack of qualification. Captain Roger Gaffney

Roger Gaffney

Roger Gaffney is a fictional police officer of the Baltimore Police Department on Homicide: Life on the Street. He was played by Walt MacPherson....

, who has previously shown overt signs of racism, allows all of the white former detectives to aid in the investigation, but forbids Pembleton from participating. However, in Gaffney's absence, Gharty admits that he was promoted to shift commander only because the top brass figured he'd never have the spine to stand up to them in a conflict. In defiance, and out of respect for Pembleton's knack for police work, Gharty secretly permits Pembleton to temporarily re-join the unit, and teams him with Det. Tim Bayliss

Tim Bayliss

Timothy Bayliss is a fictional detective on Homicide: Life on the Street. He was a primary character, and was played by Kyle Secor. He was loosely based on the real-life Det...

, who had been on an extended leave of absence. Just as Bayliss and Pembleton had been partners for most of the series' run, John Munch

John Munch

Sergeant John Munch is a fictional character played by actor Richard Belzer. Munch first appeared on Homicide: Life on the Street. Upon that series' cancellation, the character was transplanted to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the first spin-off of the Law & Order franchise...

 (who now works at the Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...

 in New York City) is temporarily re-teamed with his old partner, the now retired Stanley Bolander

Stanley Bolander

Stanley Bolander is a fictional character in the American crime drama / police procedural Homicide: Life on the Street. He is portrayed by Ned Beatty and appears in the first three seasons and Homicide: The Movie.-Character overview:...

. As videographer J. H. Brodie

J. H. Brodie

J.H. Brodie is a fictional character in the television series Homicide: Life on the Street. He appeared in a recurring role in the show's fourth season and was a regular in the show's fifth season, after becoming an official crime scene recorder....

 examines video footage of the shooting, the detectives disperse throughout Baltimore, following various leads, some involving the mayoral race, and others involving various cases Giardello worked while a lieutenant at Homicide.

Meanwhile, Giardello's son is under the dual strain of intense media attention and worrying about his father. He eventually manages to evade the press, and is approached by Mike Kellerman

Mike Kellerman

Detective Michael Scott Kellerman is a fictional character on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by Reed Diamond. He is a main character from seasons 4-6, 1995-1998.-Biography:...

, who offers an arrangement with Mike: Kellerman uses his P.I. skills and contacts to track down some of Al Giardello's old enemies, and then stands guard as Mike Giardello tries to beat information out of them.

A key subplot involves Bayliss and Pembleton rekindling their bond despite having seen very little of each other during the past two years. Bayliss guesses that Pembleton misses being a homicide detective and may even return one day, but while Pembleton admits that he sometimes misses the job, he insists he could never return, because he felt that his soul was weighed down a little more each time a suspect confessed a crime (this being a reference to Pembleton's unparalleled talent for convincing suspects to confess during interrogations). In one of the film's final scenes, Bayliss sacrifices his friendship with Pembleton by forcing him to listen to one last confession, as Bayliss admits to murdering Luke Ryland, the infamous "Internet Killer" who had been released on a technicality in the final episode of the series. This puts Pembleton in the difficult position of having to choose between his friendship with Bayliss and his own highly developed sense of moral justice.

At the end of the film, the entire Homicide unit—police, medical examiners, and the like—gather at the Waterfront bar to celebrate Giardello's expected recovery. However, Brodie arrives to announce that Giardello has died.

In the epilogue, Giardello finds himself in a slightly otherworldly version of the squad room. He sees Adena Watson (whose murder occurred in the first episode of the series) and encounters the spirits of Beau Felton

Beau Felton

Det. Beauregard D. 'Beau' Felton is a fictional character on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by Daniel Baldwin for seasons 1-3. He was loosely based on Det...

 (who had died in the line of duty) and Steve Crosetti

Steve Crosetti

Det. Steve Crosetti is a fictional character on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by actor Jon Polito for the show's first two seasons. He is believed to be based on Baltimore Police Department Det...

 (who had committed suicide at some point between Seasons 2 and 3). Crosetti and Felton reveal that while the afterlife may physically resemble Earth, it lacks the worry that comes with living. Giardello joins Crosetti and Felton for a game of poker, but has one last worry when they inform him that the fourth, unoccupied chair is for the next casualty from the Homicide unit. Giardello asks if the chair is intended for his son, but Crosetti and Felton tell him that there is no way of knowing who the chair is for.

This final scene has led some fans to refer to the movie as Homicide: Life Everlasting. However, the official title is merely Homicide: The Movie.

Cultural References

Giardello's doctor is played by Ed Begley, Jr.

Ed Begley, Jr.

Edward James "Ed" Begley, Jr. is an American actor and environmentalist. Begley has appeared in hundreds of films, television shows, and stage performances. He is best known for his role as Dr. Victor Ehrlich, on the television series St...

, who also played a doctor in the series St. Elsewhere

St. Elsewhere

St. Elsewhere is an American medical drama television series that originally ran on NBC from October 26, 1982 to May 25, 1988. The series is set at fictional St. Eligius, a decaying urban teaching hospital in Boston's South End neighborhood...

; the closing credits confirm that Begley is in fact reprising his St. Elsewhere character.

Main

Character	Portrayed by	Character Role
Al Giardello Al Giardello Alphonse Michael Giardello, Sr. is a fictional character from the television drama Homicide: Life on the Street. The character was played by Yaphet Kotto...	Yaphet Kotto Yaphet Kotto Yaphet Frederick Kotto is an African-American actor, known for numerous film roles , and his starring role in the NBC television series Homicide: Life on the Street .-Early life:Kotto was born in New York City, the son of Gladys Marie, a...	Mayoral Candidate
Kay Howard Kay Howard Kay Howard is a fictional homicide detective from Homicide: Life on the Street. She was played by actress Melissa Leo. In the first two seasons of the show her character was the only female detective or member of the main cast. This was in keeping with the book and the actual Homicide unit in...	Melissa Leo Melissa Leo Melissa Chessington Leo , is an American actress. After appearing on several television shows and films in the late '80s, her breakthrough role came in 1993 as Det. Sgt. Kay Howard on the television series Homicide: Life on the Street for the show's first five seasons from 1993 – 1997...	BPD Sergeant
Tim Bayliss Tim Bayliss Timothy Bayliss is a fictional detective on Homicide: Life on the Street. He was a primary character, and was played by Kyle Secor. He was loosely based on the real-life Det...	Kyle Secor Kyle Secor Kyle Ivan Secor is an American television and movie actor, best known for his role as Detective Tim Bayliss on the crime drama Homicide: Life on the Street.-Early years:...	BPD Detective
Meldrick Lewis Meldrick Lewis Meldrick Lewis is a fictional character on the television series Homicide: Life on the Street played by Clark Johnson. The character was in the series for its full run and had the very first and last lines of the series...	Clark Johnson Clark Johnson Clark Johnson , sometimes credited as Clark 'Slappy' Jackson, Clarque Johnson, and J. Clark Johnson, is an American actor and director who has worked in both television and film.-Early years:...	BPD Detective
John Munch John Munch Sergeant John Munch is a fictional character played by actor Richard Belzer. Munch first appeared on Homicide: Life on the Street. Upon that series' cancellation, the character was transplanted to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the first spin-off of the Law & Order franchise...	Richard Belzer Richard Belzer Richard Jay Belzer is an American stand-up comedian, author, and actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as John Munch, which he has portrayed as a regular cast member on the NBC police drama series Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as in guest...	NYPD Detective
Frank Pembleton Frank Pembleton Francis Xavier "Frank" Pembleton is a fictional homicide detective on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by Emmy Award winning actor Andre Braugher. He is a primary character of the show through the first six seasons...	Andre Braugher Andre Braugher Andre Braugher is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Thomas Searles in the film Glory, as the fiery detective Frank Pembleton on Homicide: Life on the Street from 1993 to 1998 and again in the 2000 made-for-TV film Homicide: Life on the Street, and as Owen Thoreau Jr...	Teacher
Stanley Bolander Stanley Bolander Stanley Bolander is a fictional character in the American crime drama / police procedural Homicide: Life on the Street. He is portrayed by Ned Beatty and appears in the first three seasons and Homicide: The Movie.-Character overview:...	Ned Beatty Ned Beatty Ned Thomas Beatty is an American actor who has appeared in more than 100 films and has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain and a Golden Globe Award; won a Drama Desk Award....	Retired
Mike Kellerman Mike Kellerman Detective Michael Scott Kellerman is a fictional character on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by Reed Diamond. He is a main character from seasons 4-6, 1995-1998.-Biography:...	Reed Diamond Reed Diamond Reed Edward Diamond is an American actor. He is best known for the role of Det. Mike Kellerman on Homicide: Life on the Street and the role of recurring character Laurence Dominic on Dollhouse...	P.I.
Megan Russert Megan Russert Detective Megan Russert is a fictional character on Homicide: Life on the Street played by Isabella Hofmann. At the time of her introduction in the premiere episode of the third season, she is a lieutenant who takes charge of the homicide unit's second shift after the previous commander's retirement...	Isabella Hofmann Isabella Hofmann Isabella Hofmann is an American actress, born in Chicago, Illinois. She is best known for her lead role on Homicide: Life on the Street as Lt. / Capt. / Det...	wife of a French diplomat
Stuart Gharty Stuart Gharty Stuart Gharty is a fictional character played by Peter Gerety in the television series Homicide: Life on the Street.He is introduced in the season four one-shot episode "Scene of the Crime", as a cowardly patrolman who allows two drug dealers to murder each other rather than venture into a housing...	Peter Gerety Peter Gerety Peter Gerety is an American actor.Gerety began acting while a student at Boston University, participating in productions at the Charles Playhouse. In 1965, he joined the Trinity Square Repertory Company, a resident theater company in Providence, Rhode Island where he appeared in over 125...	BPD Lieutenant
Paul Falsone Paul Falsone Paul Falsone is a fictional police detective of the Baltimore Police Department on Homicide: Life on the Street. He was played by Jon Seda. Born on January 6, 1969, Falsone was introduced as a long-time member of the Auto Squad at the end of Season 5, where his natural talents proved useful in...	Jon Seda Jon Seda Jonathan Seda is an American actor, possibly best known for his role as Detective Paul Falsone on NBC's: Homicide: Life on the Street....	BPD Detective
Laura Ballard Laura Ballard Laura Ballard is a fictional police detective of the Baltimore Police Department on Homicide: Life on the Street. She was played by Callie Thorne. Ballard was born on November 20, 1968 and first appeared in Season 6 after changing police departments from Seattle...	Callie Thorne Callie Thorne Calliope "Callie" Thorne is an American actress known for her current role as Dr. Dani Santino on the USA Network series Necessary Roughness...	BPD Deetctive
Julianna Cox Julianna Cox Julianna Cox is a fictional chief medical examiner in the TV show Homicide: Life on the Street for seasons 5-6, played by actress Michelle Forbes....	Michelle Forbes Michelle Forbes Michelle Renee Forbes Guajardo , known professionally as Michelle Forbes, is an American actress who has built a career of work in television and independent film and has acted in productions in both the United States and in the United Kingdom...	Doctor
Terri Stivers Terri Stivers Terri Stivers is a fictional police detective of the Baltimore Police Department on Homicide: Life on the Street. She was played by actress Toni Lewis....	Toni Lewis Toni Lewis Toni Lewis is an actress best known for playing Terri Stivers on Homicide: Life on the Street. The role led to her receiving a nomination for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series...	BPD Detective
Rene Sheppard Rene Sheppard Rene Sheppard is a fictional police detective of the Baltimore Police Department on Homicide: Life on the Street, played by Michael Michele. At 29, Sheppard first appeared in Season 7. Rene was Miss Anne Arundel County sometime prior to joining the Baltimore Police Department...	Michael Michele Michael Michele Michael Michele is an American film and television actress. She played Dr. Cleo Finch on the medical drama ER and Det. Rene Sheppard on the police procedural Homicide: Life on the Street...	BPD Detective
Michael Giardello	Giancarlo Esposito Giancarlo Esposito Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito is a Danish-born American film and television actor and director.-Early life:Esposito was born in Copenhagen, Denmark to an Italian father and African-American mother. His mother was an opera and nightclub singer from Alabama, who once appeared on the same...	BPD Officer
J. H. Brodie J. H. Brodie J.H. Brodie is a fictional character in the television series Homicide: Life on the Street. He appeared in a recurring role in the show's fourth season and was a regular in the show's fifth season, after becoming an official crime scene recorder....	Max Perlich Max Perlich -Biography:He was born in Cleveland, Ohio. His mother was a teacher and his father, Martin Perlich, a writer and radio programming director and announcer, worked for a time with the Cleveland Orchestra. The Perlich family moved to Los Angeles, California when Max was four...	Videographer
Steve Crosetti Steve Crosetti Det. Steve Crosetti is a fictional character on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by actor Jon Polito for the show's first two seasons. He is believed to be based on Baltimore Police Department Det...	Jon Polito Jon Polito Jon Polito is an American actor and voice artist, who is known for working with the Coen Brothers, most notably in the major supporting role of Italian gangster Johnny Caspar in Miller's Crossing. He also appeared in the first two seasons of Homicide: Life on the Street and on the first season of...	Deceased
Beau Felton Beau Felton Det. Beauregard D. 'Beau' Felton is a fictional character on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by Daniel Baldwin for seasons 1-3. He was loosely based on Det...	Daniel Baldwin Daniel Baldwin Daniel Leroy Baldwin is an American actor, producer and director. He is the second oldest of the four Baldwin brothers, all of whom are actors. Daniel Baldwin is known for his role as Detective Beau Felton in the popular NBC TV series Homicide: Life on the Street...	Deceased
Ed Danvers Ed Danvers Ed Danvers is a fictional character played by Željko Ivanek in the television series Homicide: Life on the Street.-Character profile:A recurring character, Danvers is usually shown only in his professional capacity as an Assistant State's Attorney , although the series did delve into his personal...	Zeljko Ivanek Željko Ivanek Željko Ivanek is an Emmy award-winning Slovenian American actor best known for his role as Ray Fiske on Damages. He is also known for playing Blake Sterling on short-lived NBC series The Event and Emile Danko on Heroes....	Asst. States Attorney

Guest / Supporting Roles

• Clayton LeBouef
  Clayton LeBouef
  Clayton LeBouef is an African American actor, best known for his recurring role as Colonel George Barnfather in Homicide: Life on the Street...
  
   as Colonel George Barnfather
  George Barnfather
  George Barnfather is a fictional Deputy Commissioner in the Baltimore Police Department on Homicide: Life on the Street, played by Clayton LeBouef.Barnfather first appeared in the series as a Captain whose command was over the Homicide Section...
  
  
• Walt MacPherson
  Walt MacPherson
  - Film:*Tin Men *The Exorcist III *In the Line of Fire *Serial Mom *Donnie Brasco *The Jackal *Message in a Bottle *Waking the Dead *Thirteen Conversations About One Thing -Television:...
  
   as Captain Roger Gaffney
  Roger Gaffney
  Roger Gaffney is a fictional police officer of the Baltimore Police Department on Homicide: Life on the Street. He was played by Walt MacPherson....