Conflict of Interest (1993)

I can't abide this movie's low rating here. a 6, maybe a 5, but a 3? Cmon, no way.Christopher McDonald, of memorable face, but unmemorable name, plays the boilerplate on-the-edge cop, Mickey Flannery (granted, cheesy Irish name for a cop) who is introduced as he loses his wife in a shooting related to a car-theft ring, which their child son, Jason, witnesses.McDonald, of Happy Gilmore fame as an insufferable dweeb, is likable, committed and tough here, the hero of the film. After the opening, the film moves forward in time to Jason being a young adult (at least 15 years older, though McDonald much at all, and is back on the force.Jason gets wrapped up with a criminal ring run by Judd Nelson's Gideon, the most compelling character of the movie. I'm not a big fan of Nelson in many other roles, but here, he's a real threat, and wears his mascara and LA-grunge post-hair-metal wear well. The film is almost a micro fashion document of 1993, with lots of grunge wear, with an LA angle. The pirate shirt does appear once, and it's stunning when it does, but Nelson is young and scary enough to make it work. Allysa Milano, is of course, ludicrously attractive in her apparel, which is a sequence of riot grrrl Gothic, and grunge outfits. She also acts well in her part. The club they habitate is also a good example of the raves/industrial parties that existed from the mid-80s into the mid-90s.McDonald is the other anchor to the film, constantly trying to maintain his composure while his son is increasingly drawn into a very personally threatening situation (while the son and dad are just trying to re-establish contact)and he's returned to the police force after a long absence. The audience knows McDonald/Flannery is right in his suspicions that Judd/Gideon is a lowlife murderer, but no one else believes him. It's a common plot device, but used very effectively over a long arc in this film. Then, at the end, we find that not only was McDonald right, but he was set up from the start, not just on one level, but multiple levels to the very start years earlier.My one biggest complaint with the plot would be why would a smart operator like Gideon attract so much police attention by killing two young women? Framing son and father is at least sort of a plausible explanation that the film stays true to and follows through on, in some surprising and visually exciting action scenes.It's not a masterpiece by any means, and it's title assures it remain in obscurity, but it's a totally competent cop yarn with strong family and dept corruption subtexts. Like many low budget films, it turns out to be an excellent period piece, shot from its current reality.

OK people, I'm going to honest with you. I have seen half an hour of this movie, and not from the beginning. Furthermore, by the time I caught this movie (at 1 am), I was drunk and half asleep, so I don't know how much I got from this film. What I saw was Judd Nelson as a tough villain dressed like Gothic pirate and "Shooter McGavin" (from Happy Glimore) as no-nonsense cop with a grudge against Nelson. Also, there was a young man played by someone I don't know, who happened to be the cop's son. Anyway, to make it short,in the part of the movie which I saw, the cop's son went to a metal bar owned by the goth pirate, who introduced a red hot smoking blonde to the cop's son, who later on supposedly killed that hot smoking blonde.Then, there was scene at the metal club where Nelson tells McGavin he is going to murder his son and after that I completely fall asleep.I know this review is a bit useless, but I wanted to write it because the movie looked to me as a strange thing, o perhaps I was hammered. Anyway, see this movie for yourselves (if you can find it). A piece of advice, don't watch it while being drunk or half asleep, for it's going to confuse you a bit more. Cheers

Not because I want to preserve the integrity of this masterwork, but because I stopped watching it about half-way through.First, the good: Alyssa Milano and Dey Young look beautiful in this film. Second, there are several hot heavy-metal-looking chicks in the movie, as well. Third, Zia Harris has the mullet for the ages -- he actually looks he could be the twin brother of Kim Richards from "Tuff Turf." I caught this movie on late-night cable just last week and my immediate thought was: Wow, "Happy Gilmore" aside, Christopher McDonald simply cannot act. Script was filled with any number of clichés: Mom killed in opening scene; boy estranged from his father, who hit the bottle hard after his wife's death. Cop who plays by his own rule but (I'm only guessing, not spoiling) is ultimately redeemed. Wacky, over-the-top evil villain (the always execrable Judd Nelson, rocking some impressive mutton-chop sideburns, like a twisted Elvis impersonator) ... you name it, it's in there. Zia Harris' rebel son character is given "depth" by having him spout a haiku to Alyssa Milano, so that's a bonus. Also, interminable opening credits showing the L.A. working waterfront. Yawn.Quite simply, one of the worst movies I've seen in recent memory, and I've seen both "Pieces" and "The Incredible Melting Man."

OK...we've got Christopher Macdonald as a hardboiled cop (Mickey Flannery - ha!)and a pirate-shirted, eyeliner wearing Judd Nelson as a murderous crime lord (Gideon - hahahaha!). Laughing yet? I still laugh until I cry watching this one. Macdonald is totally hapless in such a serious role (he REALLY acts his heart out too) and Judd Nelson's wardrobe is enough to slay anyone. The film also contains the always amusing titular line. One of the characters actually exclaims "Conflict of Interest!" There's plenty of silly action and dialog to go around. This movie is way out of print, but if you love cheese, you should hunt down a copy.