Internal Affairs (1990) User Reviews (101)

Internal Affairs: A tense, fearless police thriller and a showcase for Richard Gere.

[livinitup2589 · 7/10 · 30 April 2006]

Internal Affairs is a thriller with a lot of nerve. It takes risks, presenting the audience with a grim and violent story of police corruption. It doesn't care if you like it or hate it, just that it does its job of getting under your skin. The main reason the movie is so effective is because of Richard Gere's powerhouse performance. It caught me off guard, since before I saw it I'd always seen him as the hero or love interest, far from the territory he's in here. I'll get more into Gere's performance later, just let me clear up the plot.

Gere is Dennis Peck, respected vice cop, father and husband, determined to do the job. Oh, he's also the dirtiest cop on the force. He plants evidence, shoots suspects, sets up his fellow officers, doing it all without a shed of remorse. The hero of the movie is Raymond Avila (Andy Garcia), newly assigned to the Internal Affairs division of the LAPD and a friend of Peck's partner, Van Stretch (Stephen Baldwin). When Stretch introduces Peck and Avila it's obvious they don't like each other. Not getting along becomes an understatement as Avila starts to uncover Peck's corrupt behavior and looks to put a stop to it. But Peck won't go down without a fight, and he'll do whatever he can to keep Internal Affairs off his back.

As far as police thrillers go, Internal Affairs is one of the meaner kind. Rather than put us into the normal day of a cop it decides to put us into the normal day of bad cop, a really bad cop. This is a guy who would kill a man for stepping on his shoe. He'd probably kill his family too, and laugh while he was doing it. Think I'm exaggerating? Not so much. Peck is the embodiment of all the bad guys in police thrillers and none of the cops in them.

Of all of the actors you could find to play a guy like this, who would have guessed that a likable actor like Richard Gere would ever fit the bill. Does he ever. He gives that kind of against type performance we see a lot from normally good guy actors. We've seen it from Denzel Washington (Training Day), Tom Cruise (Collateral), and Robin Williams (Insomnia) in the past few years. Each of these guys have given performances that have altogether changed how we see them as actors. Gere is no exception here. He seems to be having a blast too, chewing the scenery every chance he gets.

He's surrounded by some good supporting work. Andy Garcia gives Avila a kind of determination you'd expect from a guy who's life has been wrecked by a guy like Peck. As his partner, Laurie Metcalf is likable and isn't as wasted as she could have been.

But when it all comes down to it, this is Gere's show, and he shines in his only truly villainous role to date. He probably had enough of playing the villain by the time he was done with this movie. That would make sense. After playing a guy like Dennis Peck, any actor would need time off from playing the bad guy. I'd like to see Gere play the bad guy again though, and give us another surprising and terrifically evil performance.

A cop 'outside'. I.A.D. on the case.

[buzznzipp1995 · 8/10 · 20 January 2007]

This is sort of a slow starter, but once moving it goes quite nicely. Wouldn't matter anyway, I'm not really that impatient when it comes to a story I want to see.

Figgis, directs this internal-power struggle police story, with a candid view. Mike does a good job of building suspense, then,"BOOM!" It explodes in your face. This was also, between the actors, Garcia,(Raymond Avilla) and Gear's Officer Dennis Peck, an odd but interesting match-up. I think that the perfect cat and mouse game was this stories 'pearl'. These two shined along with others that rounded out the casting. There was a certain hatred between both characters that was just right, for the story-liner. It shows, in the story cops relating to spouses and family in stress produced situations as well as the other civil servants that we don't see on a public basis.

I thought that the way, this was set and brought to a scorching climax was well met by those that saw the movie. I think that Figgis set out and accomplished what he was looking for here. (***) Well Done.

Probably Richard Gere's best-ever performance.

[AlabamaWorley1971 · 8/10 · 15 October 2000]

Meet Dennis Peck, a real live sociopath. And he's got a badge and a gun. This character might be one of the most truly evil creations in the movies. On the surface, he seems like a terrific guy, a wonderful dad who plays with his kids on his days off. Even his ex-wives like him. But he's used his influence and his skill at manipulating people to create a virtual empire of wealth and power. Andy Garcia is excellent as Raymond Avila, who stumbles across this web and begins to dismantle it. The level of supporting actors is fantastic, much better than most movies. Standouts include Nancy Travis as Andy's wife, Laurie ("Roseanne") Metcalf as his partner, and a young William Baldwin as Peck's partner. I rate this movie 8 out of 10.

Figgis blurs the lines between good and bad in this dark thriller

[bob the moo · 4 February 2002]

Dennis Peck is a street cop who seems happy to stay at that level, and yet he spends significantly more money than he makes on his cops' pay. When IA officers investigate Peck's partner Van Stretch for planting drugs on a suspect and using unnecessary force, they decide to look into Peck more. However Peck knows how to exploit weakness in those around him and begins to clear up the loose links around him while pushing all Raymond Avila's buttons.

This was Figgis' first American film and he made an excellent start. The dark plot is pretty simple in terms of beginning, middle, start. What makes it so much more than that is the characters are so well drawn. Peck and Avila both become like each other the more we know about them, their methods, their thoughts and their weaknesses are all similar. It makes it harder to fit everyone into the mould of good guys and bad guys and keeps everything more interesting. The various twists don't always make sense but the film is forceful enough to keep everything moving.

Gere is on best form here, playing a character against type he is the embodiment of corruption, deceit and murder. Garcia is also excellent as Raymond, who blends his actions well from good into bad. Metcalfe is excellent as Garcia's partner who may or may not be motivated by the hatred of Gere's macho personae. It's also good to see Baldwin, Travis and Xander Berkley have good roles.

Overall this is a dark thriller that blends characters into one mess of corruption in the police. It is an excellent film with great characters.

Richard Gere plays against type in the interesting thriller

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 21 May 2012]

'Internal Affairs' has two protagonists; Dennis Peck, an LA street cop who is highly regarded and has opted to stay on the streets rather than climb the promotion ladder and Raymond Avilla and cop who has just joined the Internal Affairs Division. Avilla's first case involves Peck's partner Van Stretch, a man accused of planting drugs on a suspect... and an old friend of Avilla's. After a run in with Peck, Avilla has a feeling that he may be dirty too, the more he hears the more convinced he is but he will need far more evidence if he is to go up against the force's poster boy. With plenty of evidence against Stretch he offers him a deal if he will name other dirty cops. He says no but later tells his wife he is going to take the deal; a mistake since she was with Peck at the time. Peck arranges for Stretch to be killed; there is still no evidence against him though. As the investigation continues Peck starts to goad Avilla, insinuating that he has slept with his wife... a suggestion that gets just the reaction Peck wanted. The closer the investigation gets to Peck the more dangerous it gets for Avilla and his partner as Peck is owed favours by a lot of people.

This was a fine thriller; Richard Gere did a fine job playing against type as the corrupt cop Peck; the more we got to know the character the more evil he seemed; playing opposite him Andy Garcia is as good playing honest cop Avilla; a character who could self destruct if he continues to let Peck get under his skin. Other notable performances come from Laurie Metcalf, who plays Avilla's partner Amy Wallace and William Baldwin as Van Stretch. Director Mike Figgis did a fine job keeping things tense throughout the film; I also liked how some questions remained unanswered; notably whether or not a key character would survive after being seriously wounded. I'd certainly recommend this film to fans of Gere and Garcia as well as to anybody who likes a decent crime thriller.

A top-of-the-line Gere performance.

[gridoon · 7/10 · 28 May 2001]

The subject here (police corruption) is banal, but it gains extra value and weight by Figgis' atmospheric direction and, especially, by Richard Gere's powerful performance in perhaps his most atypical role (and as far as I know, his only truly villainous one). After watching him in this film, I don't know how some people can still doubt that he's a talented actor as well an attractive star. The rest of the cast is also good. The finale, however, is somewhat disappointing. (**1/2)

One Amoral Cop

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 20 May 2010]

In Internal Affairs LAPD cop Andy Garcia finds himself transferred there and finds out despite the snow job given him, it's quite true nobody likes these people in the department. He's going to be even less popular because his first assignment with new partner Laurie Metcalf is to investigate William Baldwin, a guy he went through the Academy with.

Baldwin's got a load of brutality complaints against him. He suspects his wife Faye Grant of being unfaithful which turns out to be the case. However Garcia's and Metcalf's investigation of Baldwin leads to uncovering a hole host of illegal activities linked to his partner Richard Gere.

Gere in this film has one of the most amoral characters ever put on celluloid. His corruption goes way beyond just taking a few dollars to fix parking tickets. In fact he's corrupted a whole slew of his fellow officers without a bit of remorse.

Garcia also has a lot of issues and might not be the best guy in the world to take Gere down. Gere presses a lot of Andy's buttons, one of the things that makes him so dangerous is that he is a master psychologist without a degree.

Although Internal Affairs gets a bit too melodramatic at times, the cast performs well in their roles and fans of Richard Gere and Andy Garcia should definitely see this.

Gere makes off with this movie like a thief in the night

[Mr-Fusion · 7/10 · 24 April 2013]

"Internal Affairs" is a solid cop thriller with a great cast; not only the two leads, but also with notable performances from Nancy Travis and Laurie Metcalf. It's a wicked game of psychological warfare as I.A. detective Andy Garcia goes up against corrupt LAPD cop Richard Gere. But Gere isn't the usual bribe-taking sort of dirty. No-ho-ho, he's the kind of villainous monster that plays mind-games, manipulates and torments his enemies.

And he's got that face that just knows how to sway between smarmy and vindictive prick with ease. It's not the larger-than-life performance of, say, Denzel Washington in "Training Day", but it is the kind you see in your nightmares. The wolf in sheep's clothing you don't see coming. You just want to punch the teeth out of this guy. It's a sick and twisted brand of villainy that allows Gere to steal the show.

Good movie. Slow burn, but not boring.

7/10

Mind games. Manipulation. Corruption. Welcome to the world of Dennis Peck.

[baumer · 9/10 · 28 June 1999]

I have never quite seen a movie like this before. In it, Richard Gere plays his most sinister role and I think his best character in years. There are many disturbing elements in this film and most of them are perpetrated by Richard Gere's Dennis Peck. He knows how to manipulate people to get what he wants and if that doesn't work he uses other measures.

The story goes like this: Richard Gere plays a cop that everyone owes a favour to. He is everyone's friend and everyone's silent worst enemy. He also lives a little above his income should allow him too and this is why he is being investigated by internal affairs. Enter Andy Garcia as Raymond, in a mesmerizing performance. These two know they are going to square off in the film and Peck has fun tormenting him.

Peck is a charismatic, good looking, wealthy play boy. He knows how to use what he has to his advantage, and that eventually means playing with Raymond's head to make him think that he is sleeping with his wife. Did I mention that he is intuitive? And this is established so brilliantly in one of their first meetings together that it makes you cringe.

Peck introduces himself to Raymond and at first he seems very co-operative assuring Raymond that he realizes Ray has a job to do just like he does. But the conversation takes an abrupt turn when Peck begins to hit too close to home when he begins to question how good Raymond's love life is right now. He knows he spends too much time at the office and that he has a beautiful, young wife that may be neglected. The scene works beautifully and sets up the psychological battle that takes place between the two as the film goes on. The next scene they have with each other is enough to make every man cringe at the cruelty of it.

Internal Affairs is a character study at it's finest. There are few films out there that can compare to this one and that can be attributed to the director, Mike Figgis. He hits every note perfectly and the performances he gets from his cast is such a joy to watch. I am surprised that Andy Garcia hasn't gone on to be bigger than he is because he was outstanding here.

This is an absolute must see for anyone that hasn't had the pleasure of doing so yet. But beware, there are some scenes that will get under your skin, especially if you spend too much time at the office and you have a beautiful woman waiting for you at home. What is she doing right now? Who is she with? Are you paranoid or are your concerns real? This film has fun with that paranoia.

Nothing great but a recommended watch

[mailtoby · 7/10 · 10 February 2004]

i read loads of reviews on this film before going out and renting it. And i was pleasantly surprised, given my avg expectations from this film. Given the year when this was made, this film is a good gripping tale. The last 10 mins does throw it away a lil bit but the movie is worth watching. Gere, as the suave corrupt cop and Garcia as the IAD investigator are great.William Baldwin as a troubled wife beater was good too. The movie does have its gripping moments which are a bit superficial to be brutally frank but all the same its a decent 2 hours spent. Note the climax for Gere's dialogue delivery.

Nothing great but Recommended watching.

It held my interest on the weirdness factor alone...

[AlsExGal · 5/10 · 19 September 2010]

... but I don't think I'd care to see it again. This is a weird one with so many preposterous premises that it could almost be a strange kind of fantasy if it was not for all of the mental and physical cruelty going on. In that way, it reminds me of a film from the year before - 1989 - called "Blue Steel". As ridiculous as the plot is, you can see the end, and about everything in between, coming at you a mile away.

Raymond Avilla (Andy Garcia) is an officer in the LAPD in the Internal Affairs Division. In one of his first assignments, Garcia and his partner Amy Wallace (Laurie Metcalf) are investigating officer Van Stretch (William Baldwin). Avilla also suspects Stretch's partner, Dennis Peck (Richard Gere), since he finds it hard to believe that Stretch's partner would be blind to his illegal activity. He also believes that Stretch does not have the intelligence or the independence to be pulling off all of the drug dealing on his own.

Peck is supporting several ex-wives, his current pregnant wife, and eight children - on a policeman's salary?. He's also sleeping with just about every woman that becomes his target of opportunity, including his own partner's wife. Metcalf's character is the only woman in this film not being sexually targeted and/or abused by Peck. However, this film attributes this more to her sexual orientation than to the possibility that she might actually have standards. Also, Peck is so involved in so many blatant dirty dealings that Frank Drebbin of Police Squad would have had to be chief of Internal Affairs to not notice what's been going on up to this point, especially given Peck's high rolling lifestyle and his harem. Peck is a politician extraordinaire, and his picture should be next to the phrase "quid pro quo" in the dictionary. This has kept him out of the line of fire of the other regular cops on the force. Whenever Peck calls in a favor, his cop friends don't seem to mind that the favors often involve felonies. Peck is also ultra-psychotic and murders his so-called best friend and partner, the unfortunate officer Stretch, to keep him from talking to internal affairs and exposing Peck's comfy criminal arrangements.

I have to wonder why such a good actor as Richard Gere would have taken on such a two-dimensional role as Dennis Peck. Peck seems to have taken on the profession of rogue cop more because he enjoys performing acts of violence, murder, and mayhem than the reason that he gives in the film - that he would do anything to support his kids. What does shooting Laurie Metcalf's character with a smile on his face have to do with supporting his kids? What does all of the mental cruelty that he generously portions out and treating every woman that he meets as a piece of meat got to do with supporting his kids? Andy Garcia and Laurie Metcalf seemed rather wooden in their performances. In fact, it seems that only the villains in this film seem to come alive on screen. I get the feeling that all of the lead actors and actresses in this film just did not have proper direction during their performances on top of a script that does not make sense. This film has no brilliant twists, no lessons learned, and no complex characters. My recommendation is really not one at all because it is truly a toss-up as to whether or not this one is worth your time.

A superlative, obsessive and seductive cat-and-mouse thriller

[Afracious · 10/10 · 15 February 2000]

Richard Gere and Andy Garcia are the two conflicting lead characters in this superlative cop thriller. Garcia plays Raymond Avilla, an Internal Affairs officer who has just started in a new precinct to work with his new partner, Amy Wallace (Laurie Metcalf). His first case leads him to suspect another officer, Dennis Peck (a committed, nasty and brilliant performance form Gere, who has never been better), is involved in illegal activities. Soon after, Peck realises that Avilla is on his trail, and starts to confront him with boasts of how he his going to take his wife, and Avilla punches him. These scenes are great. Avilla is the clean-cut guy and Peck is immoral without any remorse. You really get to despise Peck in the film, he even kills people on the side for money and protects hookers. The film rolls along with a seductive and sensuous flair as Peck meets Avilla's beautiful wife, Kathleen (Nancy Travis), and Avilla thinks she has slept with him. The scene after this where Avilla confronts her in the restaurant is a classic. The film then builds to a gripping final showdown scene. The motif on the video for this movie is ''charming, seductive and deadly'', and I have to agree. It is a gripping, classy and entertaining thriller.

Stylish, but ultimately average thriller!!!

[flicklover · 6/10 · 27 March 2005]

This film was tailor made for Richard Gere. I have always thought that even though he's a decent actor, he is at his best when he plays cold, evil characters. Basically, Andy Garcia plays an ambitious IAD cop that is out to get Gere who is a dirty cop. This would be a spoiler but since the trailers already gave this up I find no problem in revealing it!!! I wouldn't really call it a thriller because there is no mystery as to who Gere is. The movie is really a study of the 2 cops. Gere is the obvious villain, but he fancies himself as a loving family man who loves children. On the other hand Garcia is married , with no children and seems to be cold and self-centered. Even though the movie puts him as the quote hero, he really isn't a likable guy, he neglects his wife, he is also presented as a Latin macho guy. I guess that Mike Figgis wanted the "2 sides of the same coin" thing between Gere and Garcia. It works to a point, but there comes a point in the film where it all gets a little too ridiculous to be really effective. Gere gets to a point that he is so bad that you would think that all he would need is to grow horns!!! It is more style than substance. The movie is never boring, it keeps your attention , but is not truly engaging. The saving grace is Laurie Metcalf, she plays the ONLY likable character in the film. It isn't great, but it is entertaining on a sleazy soap opera level.

Grade: C+

good cast in a mediocre story

[gina1177 · 5/10 · 15 January 2008]

Pictures are not the real life, but a thriller should at least have a plausible story. Unfortunately, Internal Affairs provides too many logical gaps, e.g.

• The supervisors turn down Ray and Amy's investigation concerning Dennis Peck, because there is no probable cause for an accusal. But there still remain several questions (e.g. how Van Stretch and Peck could afford their lifestyles) leading to sufficient reason to carry on the investigation until there either is probable cause or the suspicion is clearly incapable of proof. Reasonably, the supervisors would be interested in finding the truth before deciding if there is probable cause for an accusal.

• When Ray, Amy and Dorian try to get the Latino guy a SWAT-team shows up and shoots Dorian. Firstly, I wonder that it takes no more than a call from P2-Cop Dennis Peck to start such an operation. Secondly, police forces are legally required to at least try to arrest people alive and not just shoot around with machine guns. Thirdly, why do they shoot Dorian and Amy? Even if the SWAT guys did not hear them shouting that they were police officers, these two would not have been objects of the operation anyway.

• Every woman in his personal environment falling for Dennis Peck (wife, ex-wife, his partner's wife, Arroca's wife, the black hooker) is just over the top. Okay, Richard Gere is a cutie, but sorry, I cannot believe that they don't even care about being part of a harem and in part still remain sort of friends. Quite a tacky view of women, I have to say.

• The end was disappointing. It would have been so much more satisfying if Peck had been convicted instead of being shot by Ray (like Peck apparently preferred himself - why else would he show up at his apartment?). Again, Ray would have been obligated to try to arrest him and thus aiming at Peck's feet or something before shooting his chest (twice!).

An unintentional funny moment is the "dirty talk" between Kathleen and Ray in the museum (using the words "brush" and "to paint" for ... well, you figure out yourself). I am aware of the late 80's/ early 90's style and can go for it - but, come on!

In spite of everything, it remains an ordinarily entertaining police thriller, as Gere's and Garcia's performance apparently cannot be ruined by a bad script.

A sexual and psychological battle is set by Figgis.

[ary · 18 August 1999]

This intelligent and well-directed thriller has some brutal, extremely violent scenes, but what makes you really come closer to the tension created by this original and realistic plot is the psychological confrontation among the two main characters, and Mike Figgis works out on it,settling the battle in the sexual and physical aspects,what is evident in the second meeting of Garcia and Gere:Raymond Avila (Andy Garcia, who develops his role in a silent, but extremely lowering form) is a correct, honest Internal Affairs' agent, and he receives the mission to investigate Dennis Peck (Richard Gere, in what can be easily pointed as his best career's performance), a corrupt,charming and cruel cop who has a lot of ex-wives and sons.The moment in which Peck and Avila are together breaks out an explosive hostility: Peck starts to talk about family, and suddenly touches in a sensitive issue, Avila's wife.Avila doesn't like Peck's provocation, and hits him.The battle is set.This scene is very thrilling and memorable.The sound track and the photography contribute to build a hot and agile rhythm. Internal Affairs is an entertaining and interesting movie, and if you liked Q&A and The French Connection, you will enjoy it!

Richard Gere terrific villain

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 15 March 2016]

Veteran beat cop Dennis Peck (Richard Gere) plants a weapon after rookie Dorian Fletcher shoots an unarmed man. Peck's partner Van Stretch (William Baldwin) is unstable with family troubles and drug abuse. Peck is cheating with Van's wife Penny. Raymond Avilla (Andy Garcia) is new to Internal Affairs at the LAPD. With his training officer Amy Wallace (Laurie Metcalf), they start investigating Peck and Van Stretch. Raymond's wife Kathy (Nancy Travis) runs a modern art gallery. Their relationship is under pressure.

Richard Gere plays a great villain. It's good that he's not a cartoon character. Like all great villains, he thinks he's the good guy. Andy Garcia has his intensity. I don't really like the turn in his relationship with his wife. His irrational jealousy should be set up better. It's not enough for Peck to show up with her panties. He could be a jealous husband right from the start. Nevertheless, he's a good foil to Gere.

Gere vs Garcia in the Seedier Side of Tinsel Town : An Enjoyable Cop Thriller that Never lets Up

[classicalsteve · 7/10 · 12 April 2009]

Just when you think you know where this movie is headed, it does a U-turn. Thumbs up for the screen writing which is sharp, caustic, and true to the characters. The premise is actually more complex than simply good cop versus bad cop. Richard Gere plays, or better stated, is infiltrated by Dennis Peck, a kind of Godfather-equivalent of a leading police officer in Los Angeles law enforcement. He not only takes bribes from wealthy white collar businessmen but most of his younger underlings on the force are completely beholden to him and his will. Only as the story unfolds do we learn why and how Gere is able to manipulate his fellow police officers like a puppet-master. Gere plays the different sides of Peck very effectively, first showing an amiable demeanor which cloaks a much more sinister and heinous interior that begins to give-way about half-way through the movie.

Andy Garcia plays the new kid on the block, Raymond Avilla, an internal affairs investigator, a kind of detective for cops. He teams with a fellow investigator who happens to be a lesbian and both begin to uncover circumstantial evidence that there is corruption amidst some of the cops in terms of how they treat suspects, especially African-Americans. Offsides, unnecessary roughness, late hits, etc. There is also evidence that some of this traces back to Peck, but the cops are clamming up about it. Either they are fiercely loyal to him or he has something on them, or maybe a combination of the two. But when Peck realizes Avilla is on his trail, he starts to make references to Garcia's wife--to his face. The word "affair" starts to take on a double meaning...

A good script with superb acting by the leads with absolutely nothing romantic about either. They constantly use the f-word to refer to romantic liaisons. Gere is wonderful as the maniacal bad cop who has a bad habit of engaging in blatant criminal activity. He seems worse than someone like Al Capone since he is supposed to set an example for his community. Garcia is equally good and reminds me of the young Al Pacino of the 1970's, soft-spoken most of the time with the ability to explode into unexpected fits of rage and even violence when provoked. Both the actors and the script are unpredictable enough to keep you on the edge of your seat all the way.

A taut, gripping thriller.

[Rockwell_Cronenberg · 7/10 · 31 March 2012]

I've long been a fan of Richard Gere, with his strong jaw, gorgeous eyes and winning smile, so watching him play the dirty cop Dennis Peck was a startling experience. I love when actors like him play against type, taking their incredibly likable charm and turning it on it's head, making you regret falling for them when they turn out to be as bad as the dirtiest villain. Internal Affairs is a tight crime thriller that pits him against IAD officer Raymond Avilla (Andy Garcia), as the two engage in a roller coaster of hits and misses to bring the other down.

Avilla goes after Peck's finances and the cops he takes care of, trying to turn them against their intimidating leader, while Peck goes after Avilla's wife to try to rip him apart from the inside. Peck is one of those guy who is always in control, or always appears to be even when his house of cards is crumbling down. Gere gives one of his finest performances, making Peck the kind of man who draws you in and then throws you out when he doesn't need you. He's a slick, calculated, incredibly intelligent villain in blue and he utilizes every skill he has an actor. Garcia counters perfectly as the more emotional Avilla, a man whose pride won't allow him to let Peck get off clean and whose temper often gets the better of him.

Mike Figgis directs Internal Affairs with a solid vision, knowing when to key up the dramatics and when to slow things down properly. There's nothing particularly new about this cop thriller, but it does all of the old tricks right. The showdown between the two of them is intense, building to a great climax, and there are several action sequences throughout that get the blood pumping. This is a solid thriller in every way, highlighted by two very fine performances.

A Bit Embarrassing at Times but a Sleazy Thriller that Sizzles

[LeonLouisRicci · 7/10 · 23 November 2015]

This Isn't So Much About the Internal Affairs Division, It's More About the Internal Sexual Affairs of the Cops Involved in This Steamy, Sultry, Sleazy Thriller.

Richard Gere and Andy Garcia are Well Cast as the Two Bulls, Both with Testosterone Issues and the "Good Cop-Bad Cop" Characters are Fleshed Out in a Slightly Over the Top Display of the Foul Mouthed and Utterly Amoral Gere and the Affection, but Hot Latin Love of Garcia that He Displays to His Faithful Wife.

The Film Takes a Hard Look at Gere's Lech and His Unbridled Manipulation of Women and His Seductive Powers with a Nineties Disregard for Subtlety. Garcia, On the Other Hand is Being Push-Buttoned by Gere's Form of Evil and the Film Makes the Most of the Two Attractive Leads.

Overall, it's a Neo-Noir Worth Checking Out for Gere's Against Type Take on His Type of Leading Man Appeal. Garcia, Shows His Sensitive Side Well, but is Allowed Melodramatic Emoting too Often. However, the Director Manages to Make it Work Most of the Time.

The Only Thing More on Display than the Run Rampant Sexual Activity is the Amount of Female Hair that Dominates the Frame Routinely. But that Was the Reality and Not a Stylization of the Makeup Department.

Internal Affairs

[Scarecrow-88 · 9/10 · 4 August 2013]

Right before Pretty Woman (1990), Gere played smarmy, womanizing, multi-divorced, prick LA street cop, Dennis Peck, taking money from the likes of pimps and drug-dealers in order to provide for his four wives and nine (!) kids. Peck likes to spread the seed around. He's in for a rude awakening when young Hispanic Internal Affairs agent, Raymond Avilla (Andy Garcia) investigates Peck's partner, Van Stretch (William Baldwyn), prone to violent outbursts and other criminal activities. Avilla wants Peck and hopes to get Van to turn on him. Peck not only takes money for prostitution and drugs but also negotiates executions, as is the case with a businessman's parents! Peck isn't about to not only take money and arrange gangbangers to execute the businessman's parents but feels free to bang the guy's wife as well! When Peck realizes the threat to his livelihood, he makes it a mission to torment Avilla, provoking his jealousy in regards to a wife (a smokin' Nancy Travis; I'm telling you, Travis has never been this foxy!) needing some lovin' (knowing Peck's reputation as a womanizer, Avilla does feel a sense of uncertainty because his overworking nature to find evidence against the smart-aleck, no-good cop leaves little time for a wife wanting affection and attention from her husband) and removing anyone that might point a finger at his direction.

Considering the possible notoriety behind the scenes between Gere and Garcia's inability to get along, their time on screen benefits significantly from the intensity, animosity, and hostility shared between the two characters, Peck and Avilla. Gere fires on all cylinders in this performance, full of swagger and aggression, with a character that would easily dupe you into believing he's on your side, while all the while setting up your execution. Seemingly no conscience (except when with his children) or compassion exists in this man, and Peck has built enough bad juju for punishment to visit upon him with violent and swift justice. I like how the film establishes that Avilla's obsessions (like getting a cop associated with Peck, Dorian (Michael Beach), on Homicide) are turning him into Peck. There's a really volatile scene where Avilla confronts his wife in a restaurant about her possible involvement with Peck that registers off-the-charts; Avilla even smacks her upside the jaw, dropping panties, stolen by Peck from her room, at her face! Laurie Metcalf (Roseanne; The Big Bang Theory) has a nifty supporting part as Avilla's lesbian partner, Amy Wallace. Where Internal Affairs feels conventional is in the partner getting hurt and the wife being threatened by the villain. The inevitable showdown doesn't quite match the earlier macho exchanges, eliciting plenty of fireworks, between the opposing cops. Gere dominates his scenes—every last one of them—while Garcia can stare down those associates of Avilla with a moral compass blazing a trail from his eyes that leaves them really uncomfortable and on edge (a great example is the wife of Van, played by Faye Grant, who has a disdain for the IA but cannot look Avilla in the eyes; she had been screwing around with Peck behind Van's back). Annabella Sciorra has limited involvement in the film as Peck's newest wife, eventually helping Avilla take down her sleazy husband (it was either her children or Peck, with few options available to her, as Avilla forces her hand). Baldwin's demise thanks to Gere is hard to watch because it is coming and Van doesn't have a clue he's about to take a shotgun blast to the chest. Not quite dying, Peck assists with a choke hold strangling the remaining life from him. This, along with the discovery of the parents under the giant Hollywood sign, just illustrates fully how evil he really is. He, at the end, uses his children's welfare as an excuse for all of his activities; Gere's whole purpose is to make us despise his character and in that he succeeds.

Gere as you've never seen him before

[neil_mc · 6/10 · 27 May 2003]

SPOILERS HEREIN

The film begins very well, we get into it at a fast pace and the characters all seem to have depths and hidden agendas, especially Dennis Peck. But I feel the film just becomes very unbelievable as it progresses. The character transformation that Peck undertakes throughout this film seems to be quite unrealistic. In the beginning he seems like a nice family-man who does a few dodgy deals here and there and a bit of small-time fraud. But all of a sudden he changes from this to a serial killer, seemingly overnight. Organised killing of van Stretch, the shooting of Garcia's partner, that lift scene is pure brutality(well directed by the way, I thought I was watching a Scorsese film for a minute) - his list of misdemeanours during the last 30 minutes stretches as long as your arm.

I, for one, found the final moments of the film to be a big disappointment, but maybe I am being unfair. I have read numerous comments that really did believe the character and the subsequent events that led to his downfall, and I certainly wouldn't mind a second viewing. 6/10

A mixed bag

[Idocamstuf · 5/10 · 26 July 2003]

This movie is not too good, but on the other hand, its not awful. The main problem is the poor pacing, too much time is spent on useless things that dont neccessarilly pay off in the end. But, it is sometimes interesting, and its nice to see Richard Gere make a comeback after several real turkeys. Andy Garcia is good, but not great, he was a little too soft. Overall, its not the worst movie you can find, "Pacific Heights" with Melanie Griffith and Mathew Modine was released at the same time, and this is certainly much better. Dont put it on your must-see list though. My user rating: 5.8/10

Gere's Brilliant As A Truly Exceptional Villain

[seymourblack-1 · 8/10 · 9 December 2011]

On the face of it, "Internal Affairs" is a routine crime drama about an investigation into the activities of an LAPD cop who's suspected of being corrupt. What elevates this movie to another level, however, is a sensational performance by Richard Gere as an extremely memorable villain who's not only corrupt, cruel and complex but also extremely manipulative and murderous.

Dennis Peck (Richard Gere) is a street cop who's popular and respected by his superiors. He's a married man with three ex-wives and 8 kids and enjoys good relationships with all of them. Over the years he's been helpful to many of his fellow officers and his ability to call in favours from them whenever needed has provided him with a power-base which he effectively used to operate his criminal activities.

Peck comes to the attention of a newly appointed LAPD Internal Affairs investigator called Raymond Avila (Andy Garcia), after the conduct of his partner Van Stretch (William Baldwin) gives cause for concern. Avila and another investigator called Amy Wallace (Laurie Metcalf) interview the young cop and it quickly becomes clear that he's a drug addicted racist who's prone to outbursts of unprovoked violence. Subsequent checks into Stretch's financial status and Peck's extra curricular activities then start to raise certain suspicions.

A short time later, Stretch is killed on duty and the body of his killer is found nearby. Peck explains that he shot the murderer but doesn't disclose that the killer was actually a hit-man employed by him. Avila suspects this and soon elicits the confirmation he needs from one of the hit-man's associates before going on to discreetly keep Peck under surveillance.

Peck is adept at identifying people's weaknesses and exploiting them for his own purposes and so arranges a confidential meeting with Avila's neglected wife Kathleen (Nancy Travis). He asks her some questions which he infers he's authorised to do but his real purpose is to unsettle Avila who he knows will see his meeting with Kathleen and become uncontrollably jealous.

Peck's plan works well and Avila becomes so unhinged that he embarrasses and beats his wife in public at her workplace. Despite this spectacular loss of control, Avila and Wallace are later able to continue their determined investigation to its conclusion although there is a significant price to be paid for what they achieve.

The tense atmosphere which runs through this movie is predominantly generated by its brooding score and the intensity of the conflict between Avila and Peck who are both tough, uncompromising and remarkably similar in certain ways. The threat of extreme violence is also ever present as Stretch and Avila are both volatile men who can't control their tempers and also beat their wives.

Avila appears to be cold, confident and conventional when he's first appointed to his new job but as events proceed it becomes clear that he's very ambitious, has problems with his marriage and also has a darker side to his personality which is brought out when Peck pushes the right buttons. Andy Garcia does well as he portrays the range of behaviours of his character who lacks any real warmth or the ability to empathize with others.

Peck is a charming psychopath and an inveterate womaniser and Richard Gere's magnificent as he shows brilliantly his ability to be equally convincing whether he's playing the helpful colleague, a calculating manipulator of other people or a vicious killer.

"Internal Affairs" is ultimately a surprisingly enjoyable movie with some strong characters and an exceptional villain.

Flawed, but worth checking out

[smatysia · 7/10 · 1 March 2005]

A vehicle for Richard Gere where he gets to play the heavy. He does it quite well. He is able to exude that sense of menace with small gestures and expressions. Andy Garcia plays his role earnest, earnest, earnest. He's pretty good here, too. I really liked Nancy Travis. She does very well with a supporting role, and of course, is absolute eye-candy. She had a lot of big roles around this time, and seems to have faded away. Too bad. I'd like to see more of her.

I liked this movie pretty well, in spite of some fairly large plot holes, and characters behaving, well, uncharacteristically. If you look beyond the flaws, there are things to like here.

atmospheric, empty cop show

[mjneu59 · 4/10 · 28 November 2010]

Andy Garcia is an LAPD Internal Affairs operative investigating crooked cop Richard Gere, who may be an officer but is certainly no gentleman in this violent neo-noir thriller. Gere isn't merely rotten; he's corrupt to the core, and his dangerous charisma is reflected in the seductive visual style of director Mike Figgis, up to a point at any rate. The script goes totally haywire after Garcia's investigation becomes, predictably, a one-on-one duel outside the law, with a resolution better suited to a Chuck Bronson Deathwish scenario. Screenwriter Harry Bean obviously knows his police procedure, but is a little less confident with domestic melodrama, and his motivation for Gere's dirty dealings is anti-climactic, to say the least. It all adds up to a moody but messy and inconclusive bloodbath, with another strictly cosmetic role for its star, who perhaps should invite his agent along on his next soul-searching expedition into the Himalayas.