Black and White (1999) / Drama

MPAA Rated: R for strong sexuality, graphic language, some violence and drug use (cut)
Running Time: 97 min.

Cast: Gina Gershon, Rory Cochrane, Alison Eastwood, Ron Silver
Director: Yuri Zeltser
Screenplay: Yuri Zeltser, Leon Zeltser
Review published November 30, 1999

A rookie police officer is assigned to be partners with a sexy, tough female partner (a sort of "Dirty Harriet"). The police are hunting for a serial killer, and evidence points to her. Now Internal Affairs wants the rookie to keep an eye on his partner, but he may have gotten too close when the two begin an affair.

It's a ludicrous plot that is only made somewhat watchable by the quality cast of actors. Gina Gershon has a following for being sexy in films (BOUND, SHOWGIRLS), but her appearance is rather plain here, so much so that it's often funny when she feels everyone on the force wants to have sex with her. Somewhere amid the tedium of the derivative plot (DIRTY HARRY meets BASIC INSTINCT), there are a couple of fine moments, mostly delivered by Cochrane with his religious Catholic guilt for what he is doing. Although it's nice to see the real Dirty Harry's daughter in the film, it's another nail in the coffin of Ron Silver's once distinguished career.

Qwipster's rating:

©1999 Vince Leo