Above the Law (film)

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Above the Law
Directed by Andrew Davis
Produced by Andrew Davis,
Steven Seagal
Written by Andrew Davis,
Steven Pressfield,
Steven Seagal
Starring Steven Seagal,
Pam Grier,
Sharon Stone
Daniel Faraldo
and Henry Silva
Music by David M. Frank
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date(s) April 8, 1988
Running time 99 min.
Language English
Budget $N/A
IMDb profile

Above the Law (also known as Nico: Above The Law, or simply Nico[1]) is a 1988 action film directed by Andrew Davis, probably best-known for being the film debut of Steven Seagal. This came about after a successful screen test, financed by Michael Ovitz, led to Seagal being offered a contract by Warner Bros. It was rated R by the MPAA.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Nico Toscani (Seagal) is a cop in Chicago's vice squad. Born in Palermo, he and his family emigrated to Chicago when he was seven. It was also early on that he developed an interest in martial arts, and soon he moved to Japan. From there, in 1969, he was recruited into the CIA, and after a brief tour in Vietnam, he came back to Chicago to assume his current role.

Nico and his partner Jax (Pam Grier) are now investigating a drug ring, and after busting two of the dealers, he discovers plastic explosives. Shortly afterward, in a twist of events, everyone Nico arrested is suddenly let go, and Nico is asked to stand down, not to mention the fact that the priest of Nico's parish is killed in an explosion as a mass is ending. Then, soon enough, Nico has police searching his house and is asked to turn in his badge. Nico eventually finds out the dealers he busted are linked to a corrupt CIA agent named Zagon (Henry Silva), who tried to fund an invasion of Nicaragua, and was under heat from Congress to reveal his undercover operations. When he finds out the priest's death was of Zagon's making, and with one particular senator who is trying to bring him down as his next target, Nico seeks to bring down Zagon and all involved with him at any cost. Nico eventually kills Zagon when he snaps his arm and then breaks his neck.

[edit] Principal cast

  • Steven Seagal.... Det. Sgt. Nico Toscani
  • Sharon Stone.... Sara Toscani
  • Pam Grier.... Det. Delores 'Jax' Jackson
  • Henry Silva.... Kurt Zagon
  • Ron Dean.... Det. Lukich
  • Daniel Faraldo.... Tony Salvano
  • Miguel Nino.... Chi Chi Ramon
  • Nicholas Kusenko.... FBI Agent Neely
  • Joe Greco.... Father Joseph Gennaro
  • Chelcie Ross.... Nelson Fox
  • Michael Rooker.... Bar Patron

[edit] Reception

It has generally been given positive reviews, although it did receive some negative reviews dismissing it as "woefully short on originality" (Hal Hinson from the Washington Post). Some others praised "[i]t contains 50 percent more plot than it needs, but that allows it room to grow in areas not ordinarily covered in action thrillers" (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times). Rotten Tomatoes rates it at 62%, one of few Seagal films with a fresh rating (60% or greater).

[edit] References

  1. ^ IMDb Search

[edit] External links