Above the Law (film)
Encyclopedia
Above the Law is a 1988 action film
directed by Andrew Davis
, probably best-known for being the film debut of Steven Seagal
. This came about after a successful screen test, financed by Michael Ovitz
, led to Seagal being offered a contract by Warner Bros.
Set in Chicago
, the film was rated R by the MPAA
.
) is a detective in the Chicago Police Department
’s vice squad. Born in Palermo, Italy, he and his family immigrated to Chicago
when he was seven. Early on, he developed an interest in martial arts, and soon moved to Japan
to study from the masters.
In 1969, Nico was recruited into the CIA
by CIA Special Agent Nelson Fox (Chelcie Ross
) and served a tour with a CIA Special Ops. group serving in Vietnam and Cambodia in 1973, and Nico was involved in some covert operations on the Vietnamese-Cambodian border during the Vietnam War
.
There, he became disgusted with Kurt Zagon (Henry Silva), one of his superiors, who used the Vietnam war as an opportunity to get into the money-making business of smuggling drugs. Nico left the CIA. Upon returning, Nico returned to Chicago and joined the Chicago Police Department. He was soon promoted to Detective, and assumed his current role. Nico has a wife named Sara (Sharon Stone
).
Nico and his new partner, soon-to-leave-the-force Detective Delores "Jacks" Jackson (Pam Grier
) are now investigating a drug ring, and after busting two of the dealers, including Salvadorian drug dealer Tony Salvano (Daniel Faraldo), Nico finds C4 explosives.
Shortly afterward, in a twist of events, everyone that Nico and Jacks arrested is suddenly let go at the request of Federal officials, and Nico is asked to stand down, not to mention the fact that the priest of Nico’s parish is killed in an explosion as a Mass is ending. Fox calls Nico and tells him to move his family to a safer location, concluding that Nico is in danger.
Soon enough, Nico has police searching his house and is asked to turn in his badge. Nico eventually finds that the dealers he busted are linked to Zagon, who is still with the CIA. Zagon wants to use drug money to fund an invasion of Nicaragua
, and Senator Ernest Harrison (Joe D. Lauck) puts the heat on Zagon and his group to reveal their undercover operations.
When Nico finds out that the priest’s death was of Zagon’s making, and that Zagon is planning to kill Harrison, Nico seeks to bring down Zagon and all involved with him to justice. Nico has a confrontation with Fox, who is himself corrupt, and who tries to take Nico hostage. Nico is eventually captured by Zagon, who kills Fox for not bringing Nico in.
Nico breaks free after being held in the kitchen of a hotel during a campaign party in which Harrison is attending. Before Zagon can kill Harrison, Nico breaks free, although drugged, and kills all of Zagon's men, including Zagon himself by breaking his neck.
After that, Nico is seen by Jacks and Harrison as he is now sure to make a full testimony on corrupcy, next to his wife and child.
pupil, agent Michael Ovitz, who believed he could make anyone a movie star.
of the Chicago Sun-Times
stated “It contains 50 percent more plot than it needs, but that allows it room to grow in areas not ordinarily covered in action thrillers.” Rotten Tomatoes
rates it at 57%,. However, Hal Hinson of the Washington Post criticized it as “woefully short on originality.”
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
directed by Andrew Davis
Andrew Davis (film director)
Andrew Davis is an American film director, producer and cinematographer, noted for the action films Code of Silence, The Fugitive, Chain Reaction, Collateral Damage, Above the Law, The Guardian and Under Siege.-Biography:Born on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, Davis has directed several films...
, probably best-known for being the film debut of Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal
Steven Frederic Seagal is an American action film star, producer, writer, martial artist, guitarist and reserve deputy sheriff. A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan...
. This came about after a successful screen test, financed by Michael Ovitz
Michael Ovitz
Michael S. Ovitz is an American talent agent who co-founded Creative Artists Agency in 1975 and served as its chairman until 1995. Ovitz later served as President of the Walt Disney Company from October 1995 to January 1997....
, led to Seagal being offered a contract by Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
Set in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, the film was rated R by the MPAA
Motion Picture Association of America
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. , originally the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America , was founded in 1922 and is designed to advance the business interests of its members...
.
Plot
Sergeant Nicolo "Nico" Toscani (Steven SeagalSteven Seagal
Steven Frederic Seagal is an American action film star, producer, writer, martial artist, guitarist and reserve deputy sheriff. A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan...
) is a detective in the Chicago Police Department
Chicago Police Department
The Chicago Police Department, also known as the CPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chicago. It is the largest police department in the Midwest and the second largest local law enforcement agency in the...
’s vice squad. Born in Palermo, Italy, he and his family immigrated to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
when he was seven. Early on, he developed an interest in martial arts, and soon moved to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
to study from the masters.
In 1969, Nico was recruited into the CIA
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
by CIA Special Agent Nelson Fox (Chelcie Ross
Chelcie Ross
Chelcie Claude Ross is an American character actor. He served in Vietnam as an officer in the United States Air Force, and earned an MFA from the Dallas Theater Center.-Filmography:*Skokie *On the Right Track...
) and served a tour with a CIA Special Ops. group serving in Vietnam and Cambodia in 1973, and Nico was involved in some covert operations on the Vietnamese-Cambodian border during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
There, he became disgusted with Kurt Zagon (Henry Silva), one of his superiors, who used the Vietnam war as an opportunity to get into the money-making business of smuggling drugs. Nico left the CIA. Upon returning, Nico returned to Chicago and joined the Chicago Police Department. He was soon promoted to Detective, and assumed his current role. Nico has a wife named Sara (Sharon Stone
Sharon Stone
Sharon Vonne Stone is an American actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She achieved international recognition for her role in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct...
).
Nico and his new partner, soon-to-leave-the-force Detective Delores "Jacks" Jackson (Pam Grier
Pam Grier
Pamela Suzette "Pam" Grier is an American actress. She became famous in the early 1970s, after starring in a string of moderately successful women in prison and blaxploitation films such as 1974's Foxy Brown. Her career was revitalized in 1997 after her appearance in Quentin Tarantino's film...
) are now investigating a drug ring, and after busting two of the dealers, including Salvadorian drug dealer Tony Salvano (Daniel Faraldo), Nico finds C4 explosives.
Shortly afterward, in a twist of events, everyone that Nico and Jacks arrested is suddenly let go at the request of Federal officials, and Nico is asked to stand down, not to mention the fact that the priest of Nico’s parish is killed in an explosion as a Mass is ending. Fox calls Nico and tells him to move his family to a safer location, concluding that Nico is in danger.
Soon enough, Nico has police searching his house and is asked to turn in his badge. Nico eventually finds that the dealers he busted are linked to Zagon, who is still with the CIA. Zagon wants to use drug money to fund an invasion of Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, and Senator Ernest Harrison (Joe D. Lauck) puts the heat on Zagon and his group to reveal their undercover operations.
When Nico finds out that the priest’s death was of Zagon’s making, and that Zagon is planning to kill Harrison, Nico seeks to bring down Zagon and all involved with him to justice. Nico has a confrontation with Fox, who is himself corrupt, and who tries to take Nico hostage. Nico is eventually captured by Zagon, who kills Fox for not bringing Nico in.
Nico breaks free after being held in the kitchen of a hotel during a campaign party in which Harrison is attending. Before Zagon can kill Harrison, Nico breaks free, although drugged, and kills all of Zagon's men, including Zagon himself by breaking his neck.
After that, Nico is seen by Jacks and Harrison as he is now sure to make a full testimony on corrupcy, next to his wife and child.
Cast
- Steven SeagalSteven SeagalSteven Frederic Seagal is an American action film star, producer, writer, martial artist, guitarist and reserve deputy sheriff. A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan...
as Det. Sgt. Nico Toscani - Sharon StoneSharon StoneSharon Vonne Stone is an American actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She achieved international recognition for her role in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct...
as Sara Toscani - Pam GrierPam GrierPamela Suzette "Pam" Grier is an American actress. She became famous in the early 1970s, after starring in a string of moderately successful women in prison and blaxploitation films such as 1974's Foxy Brown. Her career was revitalized in 1997 after her appearance in Quentin Tarantino's film...
as Det. Delores “Jacks” Jackson - Henry Silva as Kurt Zagon
- Ron DeanRon DeanRon Dean is an American film and television actor. He appeared in such movies as Risky Business, The Breakfast Club, Cocktail, The Babe, The Fugitive, The Client, and The Dark Knight. He also appeared on the U.S. TV show Early Edition as Det...
as Det. Lukich - Daniel Faraldo as Tony Salvano
- Miguel Nino as Chi Chi Ramon
- Nicholas Kusenko as FBI Agent Neeley
- Joe Greco as Father Joseph Gennaro (as Joe V. Greco)
- Chelcie RossChelcie RossChelcie Claude Ross is an American character actor. He served in Vietnam as an officer in the United States Air Force, and earned an MFA from the Dallas Theater Center.-Filmography:*Skokie *On the Right Track...
as Nelson Fox - Michael RookerMichael RookerMichael Rooker is an American actor.-Early life:Rooker, who has eight brothers and sisters, was born in Jasper, Alabama and studied at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, where he moved with his mother and siblings at the age of thirteen, after his parents divorced.-Movie career:He made his...
as Man in Bar #1 - Dale Payne as Man in Bar #2
- Joe D. Lauck as Senator Ernest Harrison
- Henry Godinez as Father Tomasino
Production
It has been reported that Seagal was asked to make the film by his former aikidoAikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
pupil, agent Michael Ovitz, who believed he could make anyone a movie star.
Reception
The film received generally positive reviews. Roger EbertRoger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
of the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
stated “It contains 50 percent more plot than it needs, but that allows it room to grow in areas not ordinarily covered in action thrillers.” Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
rates it at 57%,. However, Hal Hinson of the Washington Post criticized it as “woefully short on originality.”