Director: Andrew Davis
Starring: Steven Seagal, Sharon Stone, Pam Grier, Henry Silva
Running Time: 99 minutes
Synopsis: Martial arts expert Nico Toscani (Steven Seagal) is now a Chicago police detective, having turned his back on the CIA after witnessing the agency's corruption in the Vietnam War jungles. Nico is married to Sara (Sharon Stone) and father to a newborn baby, while his partner Jacks (Pam Grier) is about to be promoted. He receives a tip about an illegal explosives shipment, but FBI agents arrive to sideline his investigation. Nico persists, and uncovers a conspiracy involving an assassination plot, illegal immigrants hiding in a church basement, and his former CIA colleagues.
What Works Well: In his screen debut, stone-faced and soft-spoken Steven Seagal carries undeniable swagger and immediately establishes himself as an upright action hero. His one-against-many martial arts battles almost rescue the movie, while Henry Silva as the main antagonist matches Seagal in the duel of single-expression faces.
What Does Not Work As Well: In the routine gallop from one flat action scene to the next, the plot is complicated to the point of incomprehension, the threads of multiple conspiracies tangled into a bundle of distraction. Too many samey set-pieces feature screeching car tires and undefined bad guys emptying their weapons at the indestructible hero, and the acting talent on display across the cast is rudimentary.
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