Night Falls On Manhattan is a 1997 film written and directed by Sidney Lumet, about a newly appointed DA who is eager to stamp out corruption within the New York Police Department. It stars Andy Garcia, Lena Olin, Richard Dreyfuss, Ian Holm and James Gandolfini.
Plot
At an inauguration for a new class of Manhattan assistant district attorneys in New York, a lecturer gives a dull and uninspiring speech. He knows these ADAs regard their jobs only as a stepping stone to a higher paying job in finance, corporate or family ("society") law.
The new class includes Sean Casey, a former NYPD cop who went to law school at night. He plods through cases prosecuting thieves, drug addicts and lunatics, discovering that the system is overburdened, the judges apathetic and the cops see court testimony mainly as overtime. Sean truly believes in the law and even tries to help the perpetrators resolve their troubles.
NYPD partners Liam Casey and Joey Allegretto are hot on the trail of the violent, notorious drug dealer Jordan Washington. On a tip from a snitch, they venture into a decrepit tenement building. (Joey calls for heavy backup in spite of Liam's insistence to keep it quiet.) Washington preemptively fires a submachine gun and Liam Casey is severely wounded. Reinforecements arrive and swarm the building, but Washington executes a cunning escape in a NYPD squad car after shooting two young NYPD cops at point blank range. The raid is an utter disaster.
District Attorney "Morgy" Morganstern is enraged. He issues a blanket call to arms and asks Sean Casey to his office. In a surprising move, Morganstern offers him an opportunity to prosecute Washington, passing over longtime executive assistant Harrison, who threatens to resign. Morganstern is well aware of Harrison's intent to oppose him in the upcoming elections. He deliberately picked Sean, whose father Liam was the officer wounded by Washington.
Eminent attorney Sam Vigoda agrees to defend Washington. He stages a media ploy to peacefully deliver Washington directly to the authorities. Overzealous NYPD officers assail the car as it turns down Center Street and drag Washington into custody. The event is captured on television and is used to discredit Morganstern.
During the trial, Vigoda does not dispute the basic facts. He does point out how an "overwhelming" amount of backup, particularly from precincts that were not involved in the case, had arrived on the scene. He postulates that NYPD officers were specifically looking to kill Washington, who corroborates this theory by revealing that he had been paying off certain cops, including one named Kleinhoff. When a rival drug dealer offered the cops more money, Washington refused to match it, thus becoming a target.
Although inexperienced in court, Sean Casey mounts a sound defense driven by his devotion to his father and his passion for the law. He wins the case. Washington is sentenced to consecutive life terms without parole.
Morganstern is pleased, but suffers a sudden heart attack on the eve of his re-election announcement. Party officials convene and suggest they run Sean, the hero of the Washington case whom Morgy personally discovered.
Sean runs a passionate campaign (against Harrison) and wins. He also begins a romantic involvement with Peggy Lindstrom, a member of Vigoda's staff.
The body of Kleinhoff washes up on the West Side. A book is found that names several officers on Washington's payoff list. Vigoda, in a private meeting, persuades Sean to pursue it no matter how many NYPD friends are involved. Sean turns to the convalescing Morganstern for advice. He is warned that everyone wants a piece of a new DA and there will be a "thousand little deals" to make.
Sean forges ahead with the investigation. He discovers a technicality in Washington's arrest -- the warrant had expired the day before. He confronts his recovering father to ascertain that Liam and Joey were clean. Liam swears his innocence, but Joey reveals his own involvement in the plot to assassinate Washington. Berated for having lied at the trial and unable to stand the shame, Joey kills himself.
Liam goes to the trial's judge and confesses the mistake with the warrant, which could gain Washington freedom or a new trial. The sapient judge fills out a new warrant and obviates the technicality. He also suggests to Sean that he destroy the proof of the invalid warrant. This becomes the first "deal" of his administration, Sean running the original warrant through a shredder.
The story ends with Sean Casey giving the introductory lecture for the new ADAs. He urges them to approach their job with faith, diligence and enthusiasm and welcomes them to their new profession.
Cast
Reception
The film received mixed reviews with a 65 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes as of May 27, 2008. [1]
In his review for the Los Angeles Times, critic Kevin Thomas wrote, "It's surprising that Paramount did not release 'Night Falls' when it was ready last autumn, since it is the kind of expertly crafted prestige item often held for year-end release for the Oscar race. However, as an intelligent and mature major American film, "Night Falls on Manhattan," while hardly what one would call a summer movie, opens virtually without competition." [2] Meanwhile in his review of the film for USA Today, Mike Clark stated, "Lumet (who also wrote the script) seems to feed on lousy cop-precinct furniture, political showboating and confrontations between street-savvy adversaries played by synergic actors." [3] Andy Klein of the Dallas Observer wrote, "As satisfying as much of the film is, there are a few missteps, large and small, that may require indulgence on the part of viewers." [4]
Nomination
ALMA Awards (1998)
- Nominated, "Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film" - Andy Garcia
Trivia
After the scene in which Sean Casey confronts his father at his mother's grave about dirty cops, a brief shot is shown of him speaking to the Internal Affairs officer over the phone in his office. In the background, a poster can be clearly seen featuring John Doman. This alumni page - [1] -states that he appeared as the governor, but presumably had his scenes cut.
References
External links
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