Movie Type: Action Thriller, Police Detective Film
Themes: Out For Revenge, Race Against Time, Rogue Cops
Main Cast: Steven Seagal, William Forsythe, Jerry Orbach, Jo Champa, Shareen J. Mitchell
Release Year: 1991
Country: US
Run Time: 91 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Steven Seagal plays a good if troubled man living in a corrupt world (sound familiar yet?) in this action drama. Gino Felino (Seagal) is a cop who grew up in a tough Brooklyn neighborhood, and while many of his old friends now live on the other side of the law, he retains a fierce loyalty to the community. When his partner, a friend since childhood, is murdered -- in broad daylight, and in clear view of his wife and children -- Gino is assigned to investigate, and he soon learns that the shooter was Richie Madano (William Forsythe), his life-long nemesis and now a low-level wise guy with an addiction to crack. Gino swings into action to bring Richie to justice, though he discovers that he's not the first in line -- the Don who oversees Richie's crew is appalled by this crime, and Gino has to bring Richie in before the Mafia can put a bullet in his head. Out for Justice also features Jerry Orbach, Jo Champa, and Gina Gershon; keep an eye peeled for John Leguizamo and Julianna Margulies in small roles. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
Out for Justice joins Above the Law, Hard to Kill, and Marked for Death to complete the gaggle of three-word titles that began Steven Seagal's career. The actor's first return to screenwriting since Above the Law, Out for Justice wholly resembles its predecessor -- both films feature Seagal as an Italian-American police detective who is devoted to his urban community, his anti-drug/anti-crime message, and his belief in vigilante justice. Such an attitude allows Seagal to guiltlessly pummel scores of thugs, dumbfounding the audience with flawlessly executed violence and unfathomable stamina. Yet, the mark of Seagal's better films is the combination of his heroics with the skills of established actors -- Pam Grier and Henry Silva in Above the Law, Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey in Under Siege. Out for Justice is his faltering attempt to stand alone. Veteran actors Jerry Orbach and William Forsythe perform nonexistent or stereotypical roles. Attractive up-and-comers Gina Gershon and Julianna Margulies are foolishly underutilized. As a result, Seagal is front and center with his impressive stunts, but also with his faltering Brooklyn accent, vain posturing, and self-indulgent speeches. Out for Justice has a bigger budget than all of Seagal's previous efforts, but it feels the cheapest; it is a fun film, and a violent film, but not a good film. ~ Aubry Anne D'Arminio, All Movie Guide
Sal Richards - Frankie; Gina Gershon - Patti Madano; Jay Acovone - Bobby Arms; Pamela Baker; John Toles-Bey - King; Dominic Chianese - Mr. Madono; Carl Ciarfalio - Paulie; Nicky Corello - Joey Dogs; Raymond Cruz - Hector; Anthony de Sando - Vinnie Madono; Nick Dimitri - Bartender; Thomas F. Duffy - O'Kelly; Jorge Gil - Chas the Chair; Robert La Sardo - Bochi; Joe Lala - Vermeer; John Leguizamo - Boy in Alley; Vera Lockwood - Mrs. Madono; Julianna Margulies - Rico; Craig Pinkard; Larry Romano - Sales Clerk; Gianni Russo - Sammy; Joe Spataro - Bobby Lupo; Julie Strain - Roxanne Ford; Jerry Strivelli - Frankie's Bodyguard; Shannon Whirry - Terry Malloy; Diane Peterson - Woman in Car; Sue Swan; Charles Guardino - Waiter
Credit
Patricia Woodbridge - Art Director, Jacqueline George - Associate Producer, Pamela Basker - Casting, Sue Swan - Casting, Peter Macgregor-Scott - Co-producer, Richard Bruno - Costume Designer, John Flynn - Director, Don Brochu - Editor, Robert A. Ferretti - Editor, Julius R. Nasso - Executive Producer, David Michael Frank - Composer (Music Score), Stephen Myles Berger - Production Designer, Gene Rudolf - Production Designer, Ric Waite - Cinematographer, Arnold Kopelson - Producer, Steven Seagal - Producer, Gary Moreno - Set Designer, Elaine O'Donnell - Set Designer, Dale Martin - Special Effects, Peter Antico - Stunts, Chuck Picerni, Jr. - Stunts, Mario Roberts - Stunts, David Lee Henry - Screenwriter, Steven Seagal - Screenwriter
Out for Justice is a 1991action film directed by John Flynn and starring Steven Seagal. It was rated R by the MPAA for "strong violence and language, and for sensuality and drug use".
Gino Felino (Steven Seagal) is an NYPD detective from Brooklyn who has strong ties within his neighborhood. So much so that he has an understanding with the local Mob that neither will harm the other.
In the opening scene of the movie, Gino and his partner Bobby are waiting to bust up a multi-million dollar drug deal. However, Gino sees a pimp beating up a woman and intervenes. Shortly afterward, film's main antagonist, Richie Madano (William Forsythe), murders Gino's partner, Bobby Lupo, on 18th Avenue in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn in broad daylight in front of his wife, Laurie, and his two kids. Everyone knows that the killer is Richie, a crack addict who has been Gino's and Bobby's enemy since childhood.
Gino knows Richie is not going to leave the neighborhood and he tells his captain (Jerry Orbach) that all he needs is an unmarked police car and a 12-gauge shotgun. His Captain gives him the clearance, providing Gino with a Remington 870 pump action shotgun and a brand new 1988 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 from the Brooklyn 65th precinct. Gino visits his mob connection Frankie and his boss Don Vittorio to tell them that he is going to find Richie, while they want their own revenge on him for killing a cop on their streets. Shortly after beginning the hunt, he is driving behind a car with a "Kill 'em all, let God sort them out" bumper sticker. The driver throws a paper bag out the window. Seeing that the bag is moving, Gino stops, and finds that it contains a puppy, which he decides to keep.
Gino starts the hunt for Richie at a bar run by Richie's brother Vinnie Madano. Vinnie and his friends all refuse to provide information, so Gino assaults all of them until they (including the local legend known as "Sticks") are all left bloodied on the floor. He still doesn't know where Richie is, but their attitude problem has been taken care of. This scene is also known for its use of the Sicilian terms "Fanocch" (short for fanocchio, meaning faggot) and "Minchia" (dick) several times. Furthermore, Seagal also utters the movie's most famous and dramatic line with "Anybody seen Richie? Anybody know why Richie did Bobby Lupo?" Another one of the movies most famous lines comes from this scene as Gino utters violently to the people at the bar "whose hot dog is this".
After visiting a number of local hangouts and establishments trying to find information, Gino eventually discovers that the reason why Richie killed Bobby is because Bobby was having an affair with two women - Richie's girlfriend, Roxanne Ford (Julie Strain), and a waitress named Terry Malloy (Shannon Whirry). When Gino goes to Roxanne's home, he finds Roxanne dead. Gino believes that Richie killed Roxanne before killing Bobby. Gino goes to Laurie's house and tells the widow what's going on. In Laurie's purse, Gino finds the picture that Richie dropped on Bobby's body after killing Bobby. It turns out that Bobby was a corrupt cop who had wanted a money-making lifestyle like Richie's, and Laurie knew Bobby was corrupt. Laurie had found a picture of Bobby and Roxanne naked. She had given Richie the picture out of jealousy, never expecting Richie to kill Bobby for sleeping with Roxanne. Laurie took the picture away from where Richie dropped it on Bobby because she wanted to protect Bobby.
Gino attempts to get Richie out of hiding by arresting his sister Pattie (Gina Gershon) and by visiting his elderly parents. But because Richie is in a drug-fueled rage and basically intent on going down in a blaze of glory, there is little Gino can do except confront him. Following a tip from his local snitch Picolino, Gino eventually finds Richie in a house in the old neighborhood having a party with his goons. Gino kills all of Richie's men (while suffering a gunshot wound in the process) and has a bloody showdown with Richie. Gino beats Richie senseless and then finally kills him by stabbing him in the forehead with a corkscrew. The mobsters arrive soon after, also intent on killing Richie. Gino uses the lead mobster's gun to shoot the already-dead Richie several times, then tells him to return to his capo and take the credit for Richie's death.
Shortly after, Gino, his wife, and the puppy are walking along the pier when they encounter the "tough guy" who threw the bag into traffic. Gino accosts him, and the man attacks him in response. Gino kicks him in the groin, causing him to collapse on the ground in agony. The puppy goes up to the fallen man and pees on him.
Main cast
Steven Seagal....Detective Gino Felino (Tactical Narcotics Division)
Originally titled The Price of Our Blood, a line spoken in the film.
John Leguizamo has a very brief appearance in the movie. He is credited as 'Boy in Alley'.
Several cuts were made for the film's release overseas. In the United Kingdom in particular, several of the gruesome action scenes were trimmed, cutting the duration by 54 seconds, it has later been released uncut for DVD.
This was the third straight Seagal movie to make number 1 at the U.S. box office on its opening weekend. In the United States the film grossed $40 million, falling short of the box office receipts of his last release, Marked for Death.
Out for Justice featured one original song, Don't Stand in My Way, performed by Greg Allman. It was written by Steven Seagal and David Michael Frank.
Movie was originally rated NC-17 for its brutal and graphic violence.
Filmed over the course of 30 days in October, 1990
The Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran FuryNYPD RMP's seen through the film were authentic NYPD patrol cars (noted by the matching powder blue body color rims compared to movie mock up cars whose rims were painted black). Most notable in the film was car 8248, a 1988 Dodge Diplomat, and car 8041, a 1983 Plymouth Gran Fury, with at least one coming from Brooklyn's 65th Precinct.
Steven Seagal's unmarked tactical police cruiser was a 1988 Chevrolet Caprice with a 9C1 Police package. The car was brand new and yet to be fitted with undercover flashing lights. The car was part of the fleet of Brooklyn's 65th Precinct.
