Report to the Commissioner

I had forgotten how good some of those dusty old 70's New York Noir cop dramas really were. Take all the old NYPD Blue type of police drama's, get dead serious, add some excellent vintage, polluted NYC scenery, some clean, tight, direction, a great human-drama script, and some fantastic actors giving their all back in the day when their hair had color, and what have you got? The 1978's Movie, A Report To The Commissioner. Simply an engrossing, well written, finely acted film to enjoy; but only if you love cop shows. PS: I won't tell when or where, but keep your eyes out for a very young Richard Gere!

Based on the low IMDb score I didn't have high expectations, but this film is a pretty good example of the gritty, urban crime films prevalent in the seventies that no one (except maybe HBO) makes anymore. The whole idea of a police force more obsessed with PR than the truth rings as true today as it did forty five years ago. All the roles are magnificently casted and acted. Kind of a shame that Michael Moriarty was doomed to a career of TV police procedurals, because this guy was incredible.

This is a superb movie that has never received its due praise and attention. It is on the surface a story about police detectives in New York City. But deeper down it is really about what happens when idealistic people eager and intent in doing a good job run headlong into the complex and unforeseen reality of the career they've chosen. In the case of a police detective, the results can be life-shattering. The cast is excellent all around, with Yaphet Kotto being a standout as the idealistic, young main character's older, world weary partner and would-be mentor. The gritty details and story are rare in major movies. The sobering ending, which packs a real wallop, is even rarer still. You won't forget it.

I had read this book many years ago, and was captivated by the story based on true events. The story was exceptional, and told a tragic story of corruption and dishonesty within the New York Police Force. The movie, however, thoroughly disappointed me. The decision to cast Michael Moriarty as the young, out-of-his-element cop was a mistake. His over-the-top whining, childish character totally ruined this for me. I couldn't believe this guy would have ever been allowed out of the police academy. A decent opportunity to portray a gripping, true-life episode, goes down the drain with a very questionnable casting decision. What made this doubly disappointing was the excellent performances from the rest of the cast, and the gritty, realistic look of a grimy New York, and the slimy characters slithering around under the surface.

I was one of the many bystanders who witnessed part of the major scene which took place on location in front of and inside Sak's 5th Avenue in Manhattan, a lunch hour that turned into two. I believe it was based on a true event and is documented in the NYPD files.As for the movie it was one of the best and well acted movies of the seventies in my opinion. I have been trying to get a copy of it for years.The movies involves a screw-up that leaves a female undercover cop dead because the brass feel asleep and later looked for and found a scapegoat, sound familiar? As I mentioned the acting was great, all of the cast acted as if they been NY City cops at some point in their lives.

Here we have yet ANOTHER case of an extremely underrated film. is everyone out of their minds?? Whats with all the mediocre reviews/comments? And here we go with the "it isn't as good as the book" comments. I thought I cleared that up when I reviewed "Slaughterhouse Five" A great cast in a fascinating gritty 70's crime thriller, VISUALLY much in the vein of French Connection, Taking of Pelham 1,2 3 or Panic in Needle Park. The sequence with Bob Balaban as the maniac amputee was brilliant, Susan Blakely is beautiful, story is fascinating. Thank god I had the chance to see this on film (as a pristine 16mm print) I'm looking forward to seeing the 2nd reel.