Above the Law
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Above the Law
Plot
Martial arts hero Steven Seagal developed, co-wrote, co-produced, choreographed, and debuted in this thrill ride -- a cop film with more attitude, and more plot, than its star had duties on the set. Seagal is Nico Toscani, an Italian immigrant, American patriot, ex-CIA agent, aikido specialist, and unorthodox Chicago policeman. He is as committed to his job as he is to his personalized brand of justice: expert and thorough bone-crushing. When the FBI orders his squad to ignore the mysterious shipment of military explosives they seized from a notorious narcotics dealer, Nico defiantly pursues his own investigation. With the help of his partner Jax (Pam Grier), he sifts through a tangled web of Catholic priests, illegal immigrants, and trained assassins to uncover a drug cartel run directly out of the CIA by an official named Zagon Henry Silva. Nico remembers the man from his CIA days in Vietnam, when Zagon used the agency (and the war) as a front for smuggling opium. At the time, Nico was too outranked to thwart him, but he will no longer let Zagon abuse his position to remain immune from prosecution -- especially now that the official has plans to murder a U.S. senator. Zagon may be above the law of most men, but he is certainly not above Nico's. ~ Aubry Anne D'Arminio, RoviReview
Hollywood heavyweight Michael Ovitz hoped to prove that he could make anyone a star by arranging a meeting between Warner Bros. and his aikido instructor, Steven Seagal. In fact, at 6'4", with a sixth degree black belt and an ego to match, the reasonably handsome Seagal already easily possessed the makings of a bankable action hero. Above the Law is the first movie to result from the actor's contract to make martial arts films for Warner Bros., its success setting the tone for a decade of Seagal flicks. Playing Chicago cop Nico Toscani, Seagal begins his reign as the skilled vigilante -- a man with the competence and the arrogance to defy rules in order to abolish crime. This is the motivation for each quick and impressive fight scene, as the actor swiftly pummels his way through the city's injustice. Above the Law also begins to outline Seagal's political and moral agendas -- exploring Vietnam, drugs, immigration, corruption, and spirituality. Such a broad plot makes the action film even more superficial, but it also allows for a large supporting cast to complement its star. Veteran actors Pam Grier and Henry Silva, along with a younger Sharon Stone, provide support and chemistry for the neophyte Seagal -- letting his heroic persona shine without too many theatrical slip-ups. ~ Aubry Anne D'Arminio, RoviCast
- Steven Seagal - Nico Toscani
- Pam Grier - Delores Jackson
- Henry Silva - Zagon
- Ron Dean - Lukich
- Daniel Faraldo - Salvano
Credit
Ned Parsons - Art Director, Billy DaMota - Casting, Andrew Davis - Co-producer, Steven Seagal - Co-producer, John G. Wilson - Co-producer, Andrew Davis - Director, Michael Brown - Editor, Robert Solo - Executive Producer, Steven Seagal - Fights Choreographer, David Michael Frank - Composer (Music Score), Randall Robinson - Camera Operator, Maher Ahmad - Production Designer, Robert Steadman - Cinematographer, Bill Arnold - Set Designer, Ed McDonald - Set Designer, Arthur Brewer - Special Effects, R.J. Hohman - Special Effects, Leonard Solis - Special Effects, Gene S. Cantamessa - Sound Mixer, Scott D. Smith - Sound Recordist, Andrew Davis - Screen Story, Steven Seagal - Screen Story, Andrew Davis - Screenwriter, John Eskow - Screenwriter, Steven Pressfield - Screenwriter, Steven Seagal - Screenwriter, Ronald Shusett - Screenwriter, Andrew Davis - Second Unit Director Of Photography| Above the Clouds (1934 Film), Above and Beyond (2006 Film) | |
| Above the Rim (1994 Film), Abracadabra (1992 Film) |
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Above the Law
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Above the Law (film)
| Above the Law | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Andrew Davis |
| Produced by | Steven Seagal Andrew Davis |
| Screenplay by | Steven Pressfield Ronald Shusett Andrew Davis |
| Story by | Steven Seagal Andrew Davis |
| Starring | Steven Seagal Pam Grier Sharon Stone Daniel Faraldo Henry Silva |
| Music by | David M. Frank |
| Cinematography | Robert Steadman |
| Editing by | Michael Brown |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | April 8, 1988 |
| Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | United States Hong Kong |
| Language | English Spanish |
| Budget | $7,500,000[1] |
| Box office | $18,869,631 |
Above the Law (also known as Nico: Above The Law, or simply Nico) 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.[2]
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Contents
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Plot
Sergeant Nicolo "Nico" Toscani (Steven Seagal) 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 (
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.
Cast
- Steven Seagal as Det. Sgt. Nico Toscani[3]
- Sharon Stone as Sara Toscani
- Pam Grier as Det. Delores “Jacks” Jackson
- Henry Silva as Kurt Zagon
- Chelcie Ross as Nelson Fox
- Michael Rooker as Man in Bar #1
Production
It has been reported that Seagal was asked to make the film by his former aikido pupil, agent Michael Ovitz, who believed he could make anyone a movie star.[4]
Reception
The film received generally positive reviews. Roger Ebert 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.”[5] Rotten Tomatoes rates it at 57%,. However, Hal Hinson of the Washington Post criticized it as “woefully short on originality.”[6][7]
Box office
It grossed $18,869,631 in the U.S.[8]
References
- ^ Goldstein, Patrick (1988-02-14). "Steven Seagal Gets a Shot at Stardom". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1988-02-14/entertainment/ca-42829_1_steven-seagal. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (1988-04-08). "Review/Film; 'Above the Law,' a Detective's Battle". The New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=940DE7D91E3CF93BA35757C0A96E948260. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
- ^ "Movie Action Hero Steven Seagal's Law: 'I'm Not Superman'". Morning Call. http://articles.mcall.com/1988-04-09/entertainment/2636872_1_martial-arts-steven-seagal-new-action-hero. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
- ^ Perfect People Biography
- ^ "Above the Law". Chicago Sun Times. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19880408/REVIEWS/804080302/1023. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
- ^ "Above the Law". Washington Post. 1988-04-09. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/abovethelawrhinson_a0c903.htm. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (1988-04-08). "Review/Film; 'Above the Law,' a Detective's Battle". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1988/04/08/movies/review-film-above-the-law-a-detective-s-battle.html. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
- ^ "ABOVE THE LAW". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 19 December 2009. http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=abovethelaw.htm. Retrieved November 22, 2009.
External links
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