简介：Russell Stevens, having witnessed his father's death at the hands of a drug addict, grows up to become a police officer determined to make a difference. When he accepts an undercover assignment from Gerald Carver, he starts cultivating a relationship with David Jason to infiltrate the drug trade. However, as he is compelled to engage in illicit activities and resort to violence to maintain his cover, the distinction between law enforcement and criminal behavior begins to blur. Is he a policeman who has become a drug dealer, or a dealer who has masqueraded as a cop?
Bill Duke's direction effectively captures a gritty atmosphere, with notable visual flourishes that enhance the film's tension. While the narrative initially presents a familiar story of a cop's moral decline during undercover work, it gains complexity through its examination of the United States' contradictory stance on drug policy and the murky connections between street-level dealers and influential political figures. The plot eventually reverts to a conventional structure, but even in this form, it sustains its effectiveness as a suspenseful thriller.
Fishburne delivers a compelling performance, embodying a simmering rage that anchors the film's thematic depth. Though Goldblum's portrayal of a yuppie-turned-criminal occasionally veers into over-the-top excess, his performance benefits from strong supporting roles by Smith and Victoria Dillard, who brings a refreshing presence to the narrative. However, the film's handling of race-related themes remains contentious—both white characters are depicted with problematic racial undertones, raising questions about the representation of racial dynamics in the story.