Exiled (1998)

This was like fan fiction. Same characters we all know and love but none of the quality of the television show. The dialog was flat, several scenes were repetitive and didn't further the plot in any way, and the cinematography was not at all like any of the other Law & Order shows. Even edited down to one hour this would have been one of the most lame Law & Order episodes ever. I have to wonder if the writer had even seen the show before churning out this drivel. The actors did the best they could with what they had, but this was a stinker from the very first scene. It does not follow the traditional L&O format- no incident before the opening credits, no whump whump, no investigation then trial and the music isn't even the same. Very disappointing.

"Exiled" (1998) feels like a decent episode that has been made into a movie. It follows the annals of Chris Noth (as Detective Mike Logan) who left the show in 1995. After last being seen demoted in the L&O episode "Pride" (1995) he now seeks to solve the murder of a prostitute to try to regain his old job in Manhatten. As we follow him along, we get welcome cameos by L&O regulars the late Jerry Orbach as Detective Lennie Briscoe, Benjamin Bratt as Detective Rey Curtis, Sam Waterston as Executive D.A. John 'Jack' McCoy, and S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. The use of music is done by L&O regular, Mike Post. His score is okay compared to what we hear in the series, but it's nice for continuity to be heard here. A 7 out of 10.

My wife and I are rabid Law and Order fans, so when they reran this the other week on my day off, I was excited to see it for the first time. I think the series is generally as good as ever overall (some ups and downs), but I agree with several other reviewers here that the classic years were those with Chris Noth and Jill Hennessy.I have to say, having skipped it when it premiered, I really enjoyed the film. I thought it was a fantastic opportunity to see the familiar settings with a new pair of eyes (Noth's), to the point that I could forgive it some character inconsistencies (e.g., I had a hard time recognizing Lenny Briscoe). It also explained for me where Profaci went (other than over to the Sopranos).Some remarks on comments by other viewers:1) The latina maidThe numerous cast changes this series has undergone has given ample opportunity to show that cops don't like having to work with new partners. Logan didn't know there would be a spanish-speaking maid, and he didn't know Rey, so why would he bring him along?Also, I can't speak for New York, which I wouldn't be surprised to find has a realistic policy for dealing with multilingualism, but we must remember that the L&O franchise is overseen by Dick Wolf from Los Angeles. Here in Occupied Mexico, a shocking number of the non-latino minority (particularly cops) display what I can only describe as clueless pride in knowing NO spanish whatsoever.2) Staten IslandHaving never been there, I can't speak to the endless disdain other New Yorkers express toward S.I. as a boring backwater. It's immaterial to the plot, however. From early on in the movie, it's made clear that the reason Logan is working petty crimes is that in his banishment, HE WAS NOT ASSIGNED TO HOMICIDE. 'Kay?If you are a huge Law & Order fan, I recommend catching this film when it comes around again. Otherwise, I don't know what your interest would be.

I've been a Chris Noth Fan for a long time, and was very upset when he left LAW & ORDER. Mike Logan was a quirky, individualistic character who always left you wanting more. What a treat that Mr. Noth and co-writer Charles Kipps finally told us what happened to Logan after he was banished to Staten Island. In addition to being an enjoyable, fast moving mystery, there was always the underlying angst of Logan's boredom. I'm reminded of the phrase "Be Careful What You Wish For...You May Get It." Logan got what he wished for: He returned to the 2-7, and the Homicide work that he loved, only to find out that you can't go back again.I'd enjoy seeing a sequel, to find out how the character resolves this.Good Work, Chris Noth!