Q & A

An unjustly neglected film of Lumet film making that is rich in high-quality elements. The movie is centered on corruption. Not only the material one, when someone takes a thick envelope for doing someone a favor, but above all the pragmatic one, when the superiors know that if they put some efforts they would also reveal the favor, but why would they do that if it brings no results. And where there are results, there are no questions. And so the whole system is becoming corrupt step by step and even more because Nolte's character sees how eyes are being closed so he begins to misuse the already corrupt system. n top of that it provides an insight into how it goes with the daily routine on the streets, non-violently (and even more impressively) incorporated socio-racial overlap and well-written and played (especially Assante) characters (the author of the original also wrote Carlito's Way), when fortunately the protagonist is not typical a naive nice guy losing panic illusions, but a former cop who just wants to be clean and wants the system to be clean too. Although this has already been leveled up in the department of series, in terms of films (at least until the upcoming adaptation of Winslow's masterpiece "The Force") it is currently hard to find a better unadorned image of the daily routine of dirty cops than Lumet's duo Prince of the City / Q & A. In addition, Lumet captivatingly captures the genius loci of the western Harlem nightclubs and is also good at showing a tangled intertwining of interacting street prostitutes, patrolmen, squealer, drug dealers, middle management (police, mafia, and gangs) to lots of top circles. It does not seem excessive or unfinished, but complex and thoughtful. The only minor problem for many will be the slower pace of the movie, but you will get used to it. It´s the part of it, but not for everyone thought. (06.09.2017)