Movie Type: Detective Film, Post-Noir (Modern Noir)
Themes: Private Eyes, Out For Revenge, All Washed Up
Main Cast: Michael Rooker, Tobin Bell, Selma Blair, Jack Conley, Kevin Corrigan
Release Year: 1998
Country: US
Run Time: 104 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Based on a novel by acclaimed crime writer James Ellroy, this film stars Michael Rooker as Fritz Brown, a former L.A.P.D. detective who was kicked off the force due to his drinking. Now struggling to remain sober, Brown works as a private eye when he can, but he makes most of his money repossessing cars. One day, Brown is offered some detective work by Freddie "Fat Dog" Baker (William Sasso), a golf caddy who has some severe reservations about his younger sister, Jane (Selma Blair) and her relationship with Solly (Harold Gould), a wealthy businessman with mob connections who is old enough to be Jane's grandfather. Brown isn't interested at first, but when "Fat Dog" starts flashing an impressive bankroll, he decides to take the case. Brown's investigation of Solly causes him to cross paths with Cathcart (Brion James), the head of L.A.P.D. internal affairs who was responsible for Brown losing his job. Soon Brown runs afoul of a group of hired thugs and several key figures wind up dead as Brown tries to find out the truth about Solly and Jane. Ellroy wrote Brown's Requiem, his first novel, while he was still supporting himself as a golf caddy and breaking himself of a decade-long addiction to drugs and alcohol. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Michael V. Islas - Art Director, Michael Rooker - Associate Producer, Kit Jennings - Associate Producer, Scott J. Jones - Associate Producer, Erik Kritzer - Associate Producer, Matt Radecki - Associate Producer, Joseph Middleton - Casting, Mimi Melgaard - Costume Designer, George Bamber - First Assistant Director, Jason Freeland - Director, Toby Yates - Editor, Marc Ezralow - Executive Producer, John J. McDonnell III - Executive Producer, Theodore J. Farnsworth III - Executive Producer, Cynthia Millar - Composer (Music Score), Marc Rizzo - Production Designer, Sead Mutarevic - Cinematographer, David Scott Rubin - Producer, Tim Youd - Producer, B.J. Lehn - Sound/Sound Designer, Jason Freeland - Screenwriter, James Ellroy - Book Author
Fritz Brown is a disgraced former LAPD officer now working as a Private Investigator and part-time repo man. Fritz is hired by an obese caddy named Fat Dog, supposedly to keep tabs on Fat Dog's sister, Jane. In the course of his investigation, Fritz learns that Jane is indeed living with an elderly millionaire named Solly, and that their relationship is odd at best. Fritz follows Solly and witnesses a transaction between Solly and Cathcart, the Internal Affairs Chief who disgraced Fritz and had him expelled from the police force. Fritz soon finds himself thrown into a complicated plot involving crooks, hit men, corrupt police and murder.
Reactions
The film received mixed reviews upon its release; some critics dubbed the film a pale imitation of Chinatown (1974 movie), while others applauded it as a modern film noir masterpiece which remained true to James Ellroy's original novel.
The film garnered writer/director Jason Freeland the Prize of the City of Grândola at the Festróia-Tróia International Film Festival, and also received the Jury Award for Best Premiere at the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival.
