Shakedown (1988 film)
Encyclopedia
Shakedown, also known as Blue Jean Cop, is a 1988
crime drama/action movie starring Peter Weller
and Sam Elliott
. The movie is about an idealistic lawyer
teaming with a veteran cop
to find out the truth in a possible police corruption scandal.
, his last case before leaving legal aid is crack
dealer Michael Jones (Richard Brooks
), accused of shooting to death police officer Patrick O'Leary in Central Park
. According to Jones, the shooting was in self-defence and that officer O'Leary was a' Blue Jean Cop' (an opportunistic police officer who robs drug dealers).
Being a 'creature of habit', Dalton seeks the truth to his mysterious case and looks to Richie Marks (Sam Elliott
), a renegade loner NYPD narcotics agent
. In a Times Square movie theatre, Dalton presses Richie Marks on the O'Leary case. "Go to his house. Cops don't know shit about hiding money", says Marks.
The following night, and doing just that, Dalton breaks into Officer O'Leary's garage to find "a brand new bright red Porsche
Cabriolet Turbo". Both Roland Dalton and Richie Marks are starting to suspect the same: a large NYPD corruption scandal involving many fellow officers, protection money and drug baron Nicky Carr (Antonio Fargas
).
In a twist, Dalton realizes the prosecutor
in his last case is a former love interest, the smart and sexy Susan Cantrell (Patricia Charbonneau
). Throughout the trial Roland rekindles this former affair with Susan unbeknown to his fiancée Gail (Blanche Baker
).
Meanwhile, Richie Marks is frustrated by fellow cops on the take and an apparent incompetent justice system (Nicky Carr surprises the judge
by pulling USD $1,000,000 cash bail out of a suitcase at five minutes to midnight). Outside, Dalton is harassed by New York beat cops.
Roland is caught in a daring break-in of the police evidence room in search of an audio tape. The audio tape which could possibly exonerate Michael Jones was part of the opening scene of the film: before shooting O'Leary, Jones puts down his boom box (ghetto blaster) - it was evident to a watchful eye that Jones also hits the RECORD button. But the opening scene leaves the audience guessing as to what happened... It is only now revealed when three NYPD play the tape with Roland Dalton that the recording (a conversation between Jones and O'Leary) exonerates Jones.
The three NYPD officers order Roland's immediate execution after the fire alarm is pulled. He is saved by friend Richie Marks who shoots all of them during the confusing scene. Bad cop Rydel pulls the fire alarm and escapes the melee. In a daylight NYC chase scene, Dalton rushes late to court in a taxi with police following. The judge, however, disallows this new evidence. Richie Marks also is nearly killed at Coney Island
, ordered by fellow officer and Rydel (Larry Joshua
). "I'll take care of Marks personally...", says Carr.
Roland is also torn between his new future with Wall Street and his commitment to legal aid. Referring to his poverty Dalton asks Susan, "Why do you think its manifest destiny for me to be picking shit with the chickens the rest of my life." She answers, "Because you love it to death and of all the things you do, its what you do best".
Roland in his closing arguments states that "Officer O'Leary was after Michael Jones for his drug money and Officer O'Leary did not identify himself as a police officer and Officer O'Leary shot Michael Jones first." Roland wins his case and Michael Jones is exonerated by jury
. As the courtroom celebrates, Roland receives a private message from Richie Marks.
Waiting at the steps of the courthouse, Dalton and Marks use O'Leary's Porsche to chase Carr and bad cop Rydel, who are making a getaway to the airport. Before the plane takes off, Richie Marks manages to climb onto the landing gear, shoots out the hydraulics, and throws a grenade into the plane in mid-air. As the plane taxis back onto the runway, the plane blows up. Both Nikki Carr and Rydel are killed. Richie Marks escapes death by jumping into the river.
Having cleared Michael Jones, re-falling in love with Susan and forging a new friendship with Richie Marks, Dalton breaks up with fiancée Gail at a family function and resumes his old job with legal aid.
1988 in film
-Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:* Act of Piracy* Action Jackson, starring Carl Weathers, Craig T. Nelson, Vanity, Sharon Stone* The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* Akira* Alice...
crime drama/action movie starring Peter Weller
Peter Weller
Peter Frederick Weller is an American film and stage actor, director and lecturer.He is best known for his roles as the title character in the first two RoboCop films and Buckaroo Banzai in the cult classic The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension...
and Sam Elliott
Sam Elliott
Samuel Pack "Sam" Elliott is an American actor. His rangy physique, thick horseshoe moustache, and deep, resonant voice match the iconic image of a cowboy or rancher, and he has often been cast in such roles.-Early life:Sam Elliott was born in Sacramento, California, to a physical training...
. The movie is about an idealistic lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
teaming with a veteran cop
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
to find out the truth in a possible police corruption scandal.
Plot
Roland Dalton (Weller), burned-out, mild-mannered Manhattan public defenderPublic defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
, his last case before leaving legal aid is crack
Crack cocaine
Crack cocaine is the freebase form of cocaine that can be smoked. It may also be termed rock, hard, iron, cavvy, base, or just crack; it is the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack rocks offer a short but intense high to smokers...
dealer Michael Jones (Richard Brooks
Richard Brooks (actor)
Richard L. Brooks is an African-American actor, singer, and director. He is best known for his role as Assistant District Attorney Paul Robinette during the first three seasons of the NBC TV drama Law & Order .Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Brooks studied acting, dance, and voice work at...
), accused of shooting to death police officer Patrick O'Leary in Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
. According to Jones, the shooting was in self-defence and that officer O'Leary was a
Being a 'creature of habit', Dalton seeks the truth to his mysterious case and looks to Richie Marks (Sam Elliott
Sam Elliott
Samuel Pack "Sam" Elliott is an American actor. His rangy physique, thick horseshoe moustache, and deep, resonant voice match the iconic image of a cowboy or rancher, and he has often been cast in such roles.-Early life:Sam Elliott was born in Sacramento, California, to a physical training...
), a renegade loner NYPD narcotics agent
Special agent
Special agent is usually the title for a detective or investigator for a state, county, municipal, federal or tribal government. An agent is a worker for any federal agency, and a secret agent is one who works for an intelligence agency....
. In a Times Square movie theatre, Dalton presses Richie Marks on the O'Leary case. "Go to his house. Cops don't know shit about hiding money", says Marks.
The following night, and doing just that, Dalton breaks into Officer O'Leary's garage to find "a brand new bright red Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
Cabriolet Turbo". Both Roland Dalton and Richie Marks are starting to suspect the same: a large NYPD corruption scandal involving many fellow officers, protection money and drug baron Nicky Carr (Antonio Fargas
Antonio Fargas
Antonio Juan Fargas is an American actor famous for his roles in 1970s blaxploitation movies, as well as his portrayal of Huggy Bear in the 1970s TV series Starsky and Hutch.-Biography:...
).
In a twist, Dalton realizes the prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
in his last case is a former love interest, the smart and sexy Susan Cantrell (Patricia Charbonneau
Patricia Charbonneau
Patricia Charbonneau is an American actress, probably best known for playing the part of Cay Rivvers in Desert Hearts, her first film role.Charbonneau was born in Valley Stream, New York on Long Island...
). Throughout the trial Roland rekindles this former affair with Susan unbeknown to his fiancée Gail (Blanche Baker
Blanche Baker
-Personal life:Born Blanche Garfein in New York City, she is the daughter of actress Carroll Baker and director Jack Garfein. She attended Wellesley College from 1974 until 1976.-Career:...
).
Meanwhile, Richie Marks is frustrated by fellow cops on the take and an apparent incompetent justice system (Nicky Carr surprises the judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
by pulling USD $1,000,000 cash bail out of a suitcase at five minutes to midnight). Outside, Dalton is harassed by New York beat cops.
Roland is caught in a daring break-in of the police evidence room in search of an audio tape. The audio tape which could possibly exonerate Michael Jones was part of the opening scene of the film: before shooting O'Leary, Jones puts down his boom box (ghetto blaster) - it was evident to a watchful eye that Jones also hits the RECORD button. But the opening scene leaves the audience guessing as to what happened... It is only now revealed when three NYPD play the tape with Roland Dalton that the recording (a conversation between Jones and O'Leary) exonerates Jones.
The three NYPD officers order Roland's immediate execution after the fire alarm is pulled. He is saved by friend Richie Marks who shoots all of them during the confusing scene. Bad cop Rydel pulls the fire alarm and escapes the melee. In a daylight NYC chase scene, Dalton rushes late to court in a taxi with police following. The judge, however, disallows this new evidence. Richie Marks also is nearly killed at Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
, ordered by fellow officer and Rydel (Larry Joshua
Larry Joshua
Larry Joshua is an American actor who has appeared in over 50 productions since 1981.Some of his more famous films include The Burning , Sea of Love , Quick Change , A Midnight Clear , Romeo is Bleeding , The X Files , For Love of the Game and Spider-Man...
). "I'll take care of Marks personally...", says Carr.
Roland is also torn between his new future with Wall Street and his commitment to legal aid. Referring to his poverty Dalton asks Susan, "Why do you think its manifest destiny for me to be picking shit with the chickens the rest of my life." She answers, "Because you love it to death and of all the things you do, its what you do best".
Roland in his closing arguments states that "Officer O'Leary was after Michael Jones for his drug money and Officer O'Leary did not identify himself as a police officer and Officer O'Leary shot Michael Jones first." Roland wins his case and Michael Jones is exonerated by jury
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
. As the courtroom celebrates, Roland receives a private message from Richie Marks.
Waiting at the steps of the courthouse, Dalton and Marks use O'Leary's Porsche to chase Carr and bad cop Rydel, who are making a getaway to the airport. Before the plane takes off, Richie Marks manages to climb onto the landing gear, shoots out the hydraulics, and throws a grenade into the plane in mid-air. As the plane taxis back onto the runway, the plane blows up. Both Nikki Carr and Rydel are killed. Richie Marks escapes death by jumping into the river.
Having cleared Michael Jones, re-falling in love with Susan and forging a new friendship with Richie Marks, Dalton breaks up with fiancée Gail at a family function and resumes his old job with legal aid.
Selected cast
- Peter WellerPeter WellerPeter Frederick Weller is an American film and stage actor, director and lecturer.He is best known for his roles as the title character in the first two RoboCop films and Buckaroo Banzai in the cult classic The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension...
- Roland Dalton - Sam ElliottSam ElliottSamuel Pack "Sam" Elliott is an American actor. His rangy physique, thick horseshoe moustache, and deep, resonant voice match the iconic image of a cowboy or rancher, and he has often been cast in such roles.-Early life:Sam Elliott was born in Sacramento, California, to a physical training...
- Richie Marks - Patricia CharbonneauPatricia CharbonneauPatricia Charbonneau is an American actress, probably best known for playing the part of Cay Rivvers in Desert Hearts, her first film role.Charbonneau was born in Valley Stream, New York on Long Island...
- Susan Cantrell - Blanche BakerBlanche Baker-Personal life:Born Blanche Garfein in New York City, she is the daughter of actress Carroll Baker and director Jack Garfein. She attended Wellesley College from 1974 until 1976.-Career:...
- Gail Feinberger - Antonio FargasAntonio FargasAntonio Juan Fargas is an American actor famous for his roles in 1970s blaxploitation movies, as well as his portrayal of Huggy Bear in the 1970s TV series Starsky and Hutch.-Biography:...
- Nicky Carr - Richard BrooksRichard Brooks (actor)Richard L. Brooks is an African-American actor, singer, and director. He is best known for his role as Assistant District Attorney Paul Robinette during the first three seasons of the NBC TV drama Law & Order .Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Brooks studied acting, dance, and voice work at...
- Michael Jones - Leland J. Eller - 1st Officer
- George Loros - Officer Varelli
- Thomas G. WaitesThomas G. WaitesThomas G. Waites is an American actor and acting instructor born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Waites runs an acting studio in New York City which is named for him. He has been a member of the Actor's Studio since 1984....
- Officer Kelly - Daryl Edwards - Dr. Watson
- Jos Laniado - Ruben
- Larry JoshuaLarry JoshuaLarry Joshua is an American actor who has appeared in over 50 productions since 1981.Some of his more famous films include The Burning , Sea of Love , Quick Change , A Midnight Clear , Romeo is Bleeding , The X Files , For Love of the Game and Spider-Man...
- Rydel