One Good Cop
Encyclopedia
One Good Cop is a 1991 American crime film written and directed by Heywood Gould
and starring Michael Keaton
, Rene Russo
, Anthony LaPaglia
and Benjamin Bratt
.
) is an NYPD detective who believes in his work, loves his wife Rita (Rene Russo
), and stands by his partner Stevie Diroma (Anthony LaPaglia
). After a hard, violent day at work Artie and Stevie reassure each other that, though battered and bruised, they are "still alive".
Stevie is a widower with 3 young daughters. Stevie is killed in the line of duty by Mickey Garrett (David Barry Gray) during a hostage situation. Stevie's three young daughters Marian (Grace Johnston), Barbara (Rhea Silver-Smith), and Carol (Blair Swanson) are left orphans with no relatives to turn to.
Artie and Rita take them in and want to adopt them, but the Child Welfare Service decides that their apartment is too small for three children, and Barbara is a diabetic who needs two insulin shots per day.
Artie needs to buy a house, and the house he has chosen requires a $25,000 down payment that he doesn't have. Desperate, Artie grabs his gun and robs drug kingpin Beniamino Rios (Tony Plana
), who was, in a way, involved in Stevie's death.
Artie uses most of the take to buy the house, and he gives the rest to Father Wills (Vondie Curtis-Hall
), who runs a local makeshift shelter. However, Beniamino's girlfriend Grace De Feliz (Rachel Ticotin
) is actually an undercover narcotics agent who suspects Artie, but his chief defends him as one of his best officers, and no action is taken against Artie.
The junkie who tipped Artie off to where Beniamino kept his money breaks down under questioning and gives Artie up to the druglords. Beniamino kidnaps Artie and tortures him to try to find out what Artie did with his money. Knowing Artie will not talk and will soon be killed, Grace decides blow her own cover and help him. Together they are forced to kill Beniamino and his colleagues. Artie's co-workers make up the $25,000 he stole, Grace refuses to testify against him and the government walks away from the case to avoid compromising their agents in the field. Artie's boss, Lieutenant Danny Quinn (Kevin Conway
), understanding Artie's motives, short-staffed for good detectives and out of loyalty to Artie's slain partner, whose kids will be homeless if Artie goes to jail, tells Artie that no charges will be filed against him and allows him to remain on the force.
Artie calls Rita to tell her they and the girls are "still alive".
Heywood Gould
Heywood Gould is an American screenwriter, journalist, novelist and film director. He has penned screenplays for such films as Rolling Thunder, The Boys from Brazil, Fort Apache the Bronx, Streets of Gold, Cocktail and directed such films as One Good Cop, Trial by Jury, Mistrial and Double...
and starring Michael Keaton
Michael Keaton
Michael John Douglas , better known by the stage name Michael Keaton, is an American actor known for his early comedic roles, most notably his performance as the title character of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice . Keaton is also famous for his dramatic portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Tim Burton's...
, Rene Russo
Rene Russo
- Early life :Russo was born in Burbank, California, the daughter of Shirley , a factory worker and barmaid, and Nino Russo, a sculptor and car mechanic who left the family when Rene was two. Her father and maternal grandfather were of Italian descent. Russo grew up with her sister, Toni, and their...
, Anthony LaPaglia
Anthony LaPaglia
Anthony M. LaPaglia is an Australian actor. He is known for his role as FBI agent Jack Malone on the American TV series Without a Trace, for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama...
and Benjamin Bratt
Benjamin Bratt
Benjamin Bratt is an American actor. He is most famous for his role as Rey Curtis on the TV series Law & Order; and his appearances in the movies Blood in Blood Out, Miss Congeniality, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Traffic, and Piñero.-Early life:Bratt was born in San Francisco, California,...
.
Plot
Artie Lewis (Michael KeatonMichael Keaton
Michael John Douglas , better known by the stage name Michael Keaton, is an American actor known for his early comedic roles, most notably his performance as the title character of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice . Keaton is also famous for his dramatic portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Tim Burton's...
) is an NYPD detective who believes in his work, loves his wife Rita (Rene Russo
Rene Russo
- Early life :Russo was born in Burbank, California, the daughter of Shirley , a factory worker and barmaid, and Nino Russo, a sculptor and car mechanic who left the family when Rene was two. Her father and maternal grandfather were of Italian descent. Russo grew up with her sister, Toni, and their...
), and stands by his partner Stevie Diroma (Anthony LaPaglia
Anthony LaPaglia
Anthony M. LaPaglia is an Australian actor. He is known for his role as FBI agent Jack Malone on the American TV series Without a Trace, for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama...
). After a hard, violent day at work Artie and Stevie reassure each other that, though battered and bruised, they are "still alive".
Stevie is a widower with 3 young daughters. Stevie is killed in the line of duty by Mickey Garrett (David Barry Gray) during a hostage situation. Stevie's three young daughters Marian (Grace Johnston), Barbara (Rhea Silver-Smith), and Carol (Blair Swanson) are left orphans with no relatives to turn to.
Artie and Rita take them in and want to adopt them, but the Child Welfare Service decides that their apartment is too small for three children, and Barbara is a diabetic who needs two insulin shots per day.
Artie needs to buy a house, and the house he has chosen requires a $25,000 down payment that he doesn't have. Desperate, Artie grabs his gun and robs drug kingpin Beniamino Rios (Tony Plana
Tony Plana
Tony Plana is a Cuban-American actor and director. He is well known for playing Betty Suarez's father, Ignacio Suarez, on the ABC show Ugly Betty.-Personal life:...
), who was, in a way, involved in Stevie's death.
Artie uses most of the take to buy the house, and he gives the rest to Father Wills (Vondie Curtis-Hall
Vondie Curtis-Hall
Vondie Curtis-Hall is an American actor and film director.As an actor, he is best known for his role as Dr. Dennis Hancock on the CBS medical drama Chicago Hope created by David E. Kelley.-Early life:...
), who runs a local makeshift shelter. However, Beniamino's girlfriend Grace De Feliz (Rachel Ticotin
Rachel Ticotin
Rachel Ticotin is an American film and television actress.-Early life:Ticotin was born in Bronx, New York, the daughter of Iris Torres, a Puerto Rican educator, and Abe Ticotin, a Russian Jewish used car salesman. Her brother, Sahaj, is a musician and the lead singer for his rock group, Ra...
) is actually an undercover narcotics agent who suspects Artie, but his chief defends him as one of his best officers, and no action is taken against Artie.
The junkie who tipped Artie off to where Beniamino kept his money breaks down under questioning and gives Artie up to the druglords. Beniamino kidnaps Artie and tortures him to try to find out what Artie did with his money. Knowing Artie will not talk and will soon be killed, Grace decides blow her own cover and help him. Together they are forced to kill Beniamino and his colleagues. Artie's co-workers make up the $25,000 he stole, Grace refuses to testify against him and the government walks away from the case to avoid compromising their agents in the field. Artie's boss, Lieutenant Danny Quinn (Kevin Conway
Kevin Conway
Kevin Conway is an American actor and film director.-Early life:Conway was born in New York City, the son of Helen Margaret , a sales representative, and James John Conway, a mechanic...
), understanding Artie's motives, short-staffed for good detectives and out of loyalty to Artie's slain partner, whose kids will be homeless if Artie goes to jail, tells Artie that no charges will be filed against him and allows him to remain on the force.
Artie calls Rita to tell her they and the girls are "still alive".
Cast
- Michael KeatonMichael KeatonMichael John Douglas , better known by the stage name Michael Keaton, is an American actor known for his early comedic roles, most notably his performance as the title character of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice . Keaton is also famous for his dramatic portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Tim Burton's...
as Artie Lewis - Rene RussoRene Russo- Early life :Russo was born in Burbank, California, the daughter of Shirley , a factory worker and barmaid, and Nino Russo, a sculptor and car mechanic who left the family when Rene was two. Her father and maternal grandfather were of Italian descent. Russo grew up with her sister, Toni, and their...
as Rita Lewis - Anthony LaPagliaAnthony LaPagliaAnthony M. LaPaglia is an Australian actor. He is known for his role as FBI agent Jack Malone on the American TV series Without a Trace, for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama...
as Stevie Diroma - Benjamin BrattBenjamin BrattBenjamin Bratt is an American actor. He is most famous for his role as Rey Curtis on the TV series Law & Order; and his appearances in the movies Blood in Blood Out, Miss Congeniality, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Traffic, and Piñero.-Early life:Bratt was born in San Francisco, California,...
as Felix - Rachel TicotinRachel TicotinRachel Ticotin is an American film and television actress.-Early life:Ticotin was born in Bronx, New York, the daughter of Iris Torres, a Puerto Rican educator, and Abe Ticotin, a Russian Jewish used car salesman. Her brother, Sahaj, is a musician and the lead singer for his rock group, Ra...
as Grace - Kevin ConwayKevin ConwayKevin Conway is an American actor and film director.-Early life:Conway was born in New York City, the son of Helen Margaret , a sales representative, and James John Conway, a mechanic...
as Lieutenant Danny Quinn - Tony PlanaTony PlanaTony Plana is a Cuban-American actor and director. He is well known for playing Betty Suarez's father, Ignacio Suarez, on the ABC show Ugly Betty.-Personal life:...
as Beniamano - Charlayne WoodardCharlayne WoodardCharlaine "Charlayne" Woodard is an American film, stage and television actress and playwright. She has written four plays, titled Pretty Fire, Neat, In Real Life, which she starred in, and "Flight"....
as Cheryl Clark - Kevin CorriganKevin CorriganKevin Fitzgerald Corrigan is an American actor who has appeared mostly in independent films and television since the 1990s.-Life and career:Corrigan was born in The Bronx, New York to an Irish-American father and a Puerto Rican mother...
as Clifford - Vondie Curtis-HallVondie Curtis-HallVondie Curtis-Hall is an American actor and film director.As an actor, he is best known for his role as Dr. Dennis Hancock on the CBS medical drama Chicago Hope created by David E. Kelley.-Early life:...
as Father Wills