Movies:
Homicide
- Rating:
- Genre: Drama
- Movie Type: Police Drama, Psychological Drama
- Themes: Crisis of Conscience, Discovering One's Heritage, Murder Investigations
- Director: David Mamet
- Main Cast: Joe Mantegna, William H. Macy, Natalia Nogulich, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Pidgeon
- Release Year: 1991
- Country: US
- Run Time: 100 minutes
- MPAA Rating: R
Plot
The third film written and directed by playwright David Mamet, this combination of crime drama and character study stars several of Mamet's stock players. Joe Mantegna stars as Bobby Gold, a detective with a gift for negotiation who, along with his partner Tim Sullivan (William H. Macy), accidentally stumbles upon a crime scene -- the murder of an elderly Jewish woman in her corner store. When it turns out that the victim was politically well-connected and Jewish, Bobby's superiors assign him the case because he's also Jewish. The problem is that Bobby isn't very religious and he resents being taken off a higher profile drug investigation involving a dealer, Randolph (Ving Rhames). Bobby's also highly skeptical when the murdered woman's family claims that her death was not a simple robbery but an anti-Semitic hate crime. As he gets deeper into his case, however, Bobby discovers that a larger conspiracy may be afoot, and he begins to question his own ethnic roots. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie GuideReview
Homicide is writer/director David Mamet's exploration of self-identity in a modern society. Using police detective Joe Mantegna's murder investigation as a framework, Mamet focuses on the psychology of his main characters, and in the process offers up ample amounts of pitch-perfect dialogue. Though the procedural elements of the detective genre are present, Homicide is much richer than a standard genre film, with ample opportunity for sterling performances from Mantegna and supporting cast members William H. Macy and Ving Rhames. Despite its low budget, the film has the look of a more expensive production, thanks largely to Roger Deakins's superb cinematography. There's a considerable amount of detail that becomes increasingly important as the film progresses; though its plot may challenge some viewers, Homicide proves to be a thoroughly rewarding experience. ~ Richard Gilliam, All Movie GuideCast
- Joe Mantegna - Bobby Gold
- William H. Macy - Tim Sullivan
- Natalia Nogulich - Chava
- Ving Rhames - Randolph
- Rebecca Pidgeon - Miss Klein
Vincent Guastaferro - Lieutenant Senna; Lionel Mark Smith - Charlie Olcott; Jack Wallace - Frank; J.S. Block - Dr. Klein; Yuri Alexis - Reporter; Elmer Aulton - S.W.A.T. Team; Robert Bella - Bodyguard; Adam Bitterman - Young Bodyguard; Anthony Boer - S.W.A.T. Team; Leo Burns - Officer Arraigning Wells; Paul Butler - Commissioner Walker; Ron Butler - Rookie; Charles Chessler; Theo Cohan - Young Woman with Dog; Lee Cohn - Officer Escorting Mr. Klein; Roberta Custer - Cathy Bates; Jim Frangione - Police Officer; Erica Gimpel - Woman with Randolph; Steve Goldstein - Librarian; Jim Grace - B.A.T.F. Agent; Jerrold Graff - Officer in Elevator; Bernard Gray - James; Michael Hammond - S.W.A.T. Team; George Harvey - Officer Transporting Wells; Willo Hausman - Juvenile Officer; Paul Hjelmervik - B.A.T.F. Agent; Len Hodera - Koli; Ricky Jay - Aaron; Mary Jefferson - Randolphs Mother; Guy Johnson - S.W.A.T. Team; Keith Johnson - Captains Driver; J.J. Johnston - Jilly Curran; Lou Kaitz - Leo; Chris Kaldor; Jonathan Katz - Undertaker; Linda Kimbrough - Sergeant Green; Larry Kipp; Marge Kotlisky - Mrs. Klein; Jordan Lage - F.B.I. Team Leader; G. Roy Levin - Barry; Adolph Mall - Benjamin; Bernard Mamet - Marv; Tony Mamet - Officer Ferro; Purnell McFadden - First Kid; Cliff McMullen - Officer at the Variety Store, Night; Ted Monte - Bodyguard with Thompson Gun; Bob Moore - Police Captain; Wesly Nelson; Neil Pepe - Young Man with Dog; Alan Polonsky - Scholar; Charlotte Potok - Assistant Librarian; Jonathan Ridgely; Gail Silver - Lily, The Kleins Maid; Alan Soule - Crime Scene Technician; Robin Spielberg - Records Officer; Colin Stinton - Walter B. Wells; Charles Stranski - Doug Brown; Darrell Taylor - Willie Sims; Andy Waters; Emily Weisberg - Young Girl in Library; Lynn Weisberg; Scott Zigler - Passport Clerk; James Potter - Shoemaker; Rick Washburne - Officer in Elevator; Andy Potok - Library Technician; Steve Anderson; George Rogers - S.W.A.T. Team
