Love this film but the hackneyed subplot of the ex-girlfriend stops it being 10/10 for me. Still watch it every time it's on. Perhaps it's because they've not broadcast the Alan Smithee version in the UK.
"I know it looked like I fell... but it was all part of my plan!"
You are right.
shareI agree, had it focused on Nolte and Assante more I feel this could have been a riveting film as there performances were incredible, there’s a great story in there and some great individual scenes but on the whole I was underwhelmed by the film, I also felt the same way about Prince of the City.
I’ve heard the book of this film is better.
Yes i hated that subplot. Jenny Lumet and Timothy Hutton give the weakest performances in this.
shareI always felt that subplot was put there to give Timothy Hutton's Reilly a sort of happy ending, after everything in the case gets buried and his career he fought hard to achieve was a total waste of time and he's fighting a losing battle. I don't think the romance quite works as Jenny Lumet isn't good in the role and her and Hutton have zero chemistry. Even with a better actress in that role, it still would have been a struggle to make it interesting.
I think if you cut that out of the film, I do think it would have made the film a lot stronger even though you would have given Hutton's character a downbeat ending. I think the scene when he trashes the office would have been a perfect ending.
I think overall as a film it's one of Sidney Lumet's most underrated films. Worth it alone for the amazing Nick Nolte performances, it's weird looking back on the film and how little he's actually in it. Armand Assante is also very good in it.