Popular reviews

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  Review by Colin the dude ★★★½ 6

  In just the five year period between 1989 and 1994, Nick Nolte worked with John Milius, George Miller, Walter Hill, Robert Altman, William Friedkin, Martin Scorsese (twice), Barbara Streisand, James L. Brooks, Sidney Lumet, and was People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. Put some respect on this man's name.

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  Review by Rafael "Parker!!" Jovine ★★★½ 10

  Action! - Lumet/Pollack: The Fight of the Century

  After Serpico and Prince of the City, Lumet continues to explore the intricate world of corruption and once more shows how many within strives to remain clean in this sewer. In terms of plot and direction, the film reminds me a lot of the film starring Treat Williams, albeit with more moving pieces. We also have this additional feature that enables Lumet to examine how racism and prejudice frequently play a role in the whole affair.

  Knowing something about Nolte's personal life and his run-ins with the law, it's no wonder that he excels as this most unscrupulous lieutenant who abuses his position. Hutton, on the other hand, does an excellent job…

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  Review by Matt Singer ★★★

  [whispering to date while watching Q & A when Charles S. Dutton as Detective Sam “Chappie” Chapman first appears on the screen] That’s Chappie

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  Review by Adam Nayman ★★★ 2

  Nick Nolte is a force of nature in this movie: even when Lumet films him at a distance, he seems to magnetize the camera, and one reason the ensemble acting is so good is because he gives everyone around him something to react to or against (or else his overwhelming presence accounts for their self-effacement). An entire movie centred on this performance would probably be unwatchable, so even though the stuff with Timothy Hutton in crisis-of-conscience mode is a lot weaker, it's a relief and a necessity.

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  Review by Filipe Furtado ★★★½

  One of those movies that would probably blow up if it got put on the Criterion Channel. An ambitious look at the ways New York law enforcement is dominated by multiple forms of tribalism. Nick Nolte plays one bad lieutenant who unravels when a murder he commits gets more seriously investigated than expected. Timothy Hutton is the ADA on the case, a mostly well-intentioned liberal type with a few big skeletons in his past, the movie sets itself as much as an investigation on his bland good guy persona as on Nolte's evil, although it is a little less successful at that (despite some of Lumet's attempts to play the two of them together being more interesting than giving credit).…

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  Review by Jay D 's Watching ★★★½ 4

  There seems to be a modern argument that's developed in the corners of the internet where I lurk and frequent that the bulk of police thrillers, or dramas, or any movie that's set in a precinct say, and features police and/or justice department officials (IA or DEA, FBI etc) as main characters is 'copaganda', right down to the X-Files. Sort of a current variation about Truffaut's argument about war films, if you will, and even with a couple of questionable outliers that might seem to dodge the trap falling under suspicion ("Bad Lieutenant? Okay, what about all the GOOD Lieutenants?")

  I mention this because this film is the counter-example that proves the rule, so to speak, with Sidney Lumet methodically,…

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  Review by DallasFrance ★★★ 2

  Nick Nolte’s character in 48 Hours would be offended by how racist Nick Nolte’s character is in Q & A.

  
  Sidney Lumet Ranked

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  Review by Hmel ★★½ 2

  While the grittier texture and the embracing of the various seedier plot elements felt reminiscent of some of Lumet's more well known work, I could never really get into this generic cat and mouse game between a corrupt cop and the assistant DA trying to catch him.

  Although this was released in 1990, this film felt pure 1980s to me and featured the trio of Nolte, Hutton, and Assante to reinforce this vibe throughout. I actually did appreciate the conclusion as well and while definitely not the worst film, I still never really felt any stake in the outcome. 5.5/10

  Sidney Lumet Ranked boxd.it/gpC38

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  Review by Ian Curran ★★★★ 2

  Following a post-shooting Q and A session with legendary Detective Michael Brennan (Nolte), a young district attorney (Hutton) finds himself caught up in the grime that greases the wheels of the New York justice system.

  Can’t say I full understood the plot, but when you have characters and settings as gripping as this, who cares? Understanding the plot is what rewatches are for. Reninded me a lot of Carlitos Way in that respect: a movie that grows into its understanding courtesy of multiple rewatches.

  I really enjoyed this despite some bloated and confusing subplots. It has a nasty streak to it that feels refreshing but also outdated. They really don’t make movies like this anymore.

  Sidenote: has there ever been a better onscreen racist than Nick Nolte? Between this and 48hrs he has to have the crown (hood), right?

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  Review by Jamelle Bouie ★★★½ 1

  Nick Nolte should of won an Oscar for playing the most disgusting person in New York.

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  Review by Richard Harris ★★★★½

  Completely slept on. Would make a great double with Mamet's HOMICIDE and feels like a predecessor to both ZODIAC and WE OWN THE NIGHT. Obviously Nolte's the MVP but second prize goes to Armand Assante's mullet.

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  Review by Karl ★★★★ 2

  Lumet excelled at showing the hate that can fester within families in "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead". In "Q & A" a film that no doubt couldn't be made today, he and writer Edwin Torres do not hold back on exposing the racism and homophobia rampant in the NYPD, particularly from corrupt police officer, Mike Brennan, played by Nick Nolte in an appropriately repugnant performance and one of his best.

  At times the film walks a fine line from showing hate and exploiting it. Hence why some modern audiences (Film Twitter) might have difficulty separating portrayal from endorsement. Lumet's biracial daughter, Jenny Lumet impresses as a woman caught between the legal and drug world, both equally vile and corrupt. She…