Movie
The Rookie (1990)
Clint Eastwood transitioned from playing cowboys to cowboy cops in the 1970s when he starred as the iconic Dirty Harry. His five movie stint as Inspector Callahan ended with The Dead Pool in 1988, but his character Nick Pulovski in The Rookie is practically identical in all but name. The film title refers to Pulovski’s new partner David Ackerman (Charlie Sheen), who starts out as a suited, by the book detective but soon learns the ropes from his veteran colleague.
The buddy cop theme and Los Angeles setting are familiar, but instead of the usual drug dealers or serial killers the opposition is Strom (Raul Julia) and his exotic car theft ring. The main villain is a bit too hammy, but his tough girl companion Liesl offers some welcome variety. Everything is fairly standard to begin with: the murder of Nick’s partner, an initially frosty relationship with the replacement that softens over time, and a whole slew of wise cracks. The film oversuses “repeat scenarios” where Ackerman finds himself in the same situation as Nick did earlier and speaks the same exact dialogue. This is just about humourous enough to not feel tired.
The plot takes an unusual diversion part way through when Nick is captured by the villains and held for ransom, largely because of his earlier actions to sabotage Strom’s operation. This means Ackerman gets to play the hero cop while Nick is literally tied up at the villainess’ mercy. During the third act the rookie is truly badass and takes down a bar full of goons all by himself. His wife doesn’t appreciate the change in personality until she herself is rescued from a henchman by the motorcycle-riding tough guy she hardly recognises.
There are attempts at character development around Ackerman, which mainly involve flashbacks to a childhood accident that killed his brother, and his wealthy father’s lack of support for his career choice. These are all secondary to the action, however. Memorable scenes include a trailer truck chase in the prologue, an unlikely escape by driving a car through a high window to escape an explosion, and a climatic shootout at an airport terminal. Braga’s bad girl lasts the distance, so there’s plenty for female villain afficiandos to enjoy.
Villainess
Liesl (Sonia Braga)
For the early part of the film, Liesl is a silent partner to Strom and could be mistaken for a minor character. This is highlighted by her introductory scene where Pulovski and his (soon to be dead) partner come across Liesl driving an expensive car and make quips, with no idea she’s part of the villainous crew they’re investigating. Liesl is often in the background while Strom conducts shady business, though her hardened features, muscular tattooed arms and overall body language hint at what’s to come.
It’s about forty minutes into the film before Liesl finally gets some action. By then Nick has used strong arm tactics to enlist the help of two lower rung thugs in Strom’s operation and “persuade” them to be snitches. That shortens their life expectancy quite a bit, and when Strom starts to lose money, he soon identifies the mole. The villainess kickboxes the man into submission and puts a bullet in his head, though we only see her aim the pistol with the shot itself off-screen.
With the urgent need to make money, Strom and his crew raid a casino vault. However, Nick and Ackerman are waiting thanks to a listening device planted by the unforunate snitch. The arrest at gunpoint is going well until Liesl challenges Ackerman by walking towards him. Too honourable for his own good, the rookie cop refuses to shoot an unarmed woman. A scuffle follows, before the villainess pulls out a backup weapon, calls Ackerman an amateur, and puts three slugs in him. Fortunately the rookie is wearing a bulletproof vest, but that doesn’t prevent Polovski being taken hostage.
While Ackerman is busy busting heads and following leads, Liesl decides to show her dominance by raping Nick. This is a full on sexual assault that goes on for five minutes, with Liesl threating to cut off Nick’s private parts with a razor blade before forcing herself onto him. She videotapes the whole thing as a momento. Nick looks decidedly uncomfortable, an experience that will likely be shared by many viewers. Sonia Braga comes across as a nasty piece of work, and seems to be the only person enjoying herself.
Strom isn’t happy to discover Liesl’s side activities, but she’s still by his side for the climax. Now Ackerman has rescued Nick, the two cops pursue their quarry to an airport. It’s here Liesl goes trigger happy with a sub machine gun and the villains separate. Nick goes after the main man – eventually killing him on a baggage corousel – while Ackerman gets the opportunity for revenge against Liesl. After a chase through the concourse, Ackerman confronts the villainess and turns the tables by surprising her from behind. The viewer might be expecting a fight scene given both Liesl and Ackerman have been established as capable fighters, but instead the rookie simply calls her an amateur before pulling the trigger.
Video Review
Honourable Mentions (Unranked)
The Enforcer (1976) – Wanda (Samantha Doane)
By the third movie in the Dirty Harry series, the audience largely knew what to expect: a tough talking hero with a .44 magnum and disregard for authority, shootouts with criminal scum, and partners with short life expectancies. To emphasise the last point, Inspector Callahan actually gets two partners this time – and both get to share their final moments with him. Notably the second partner is the female Inspector Moore, played by Tyne Daly (later one half of TV cop duo Cagney & Lacey), and their initially adverserial relationship matures into respect. That old chestnut again, but this franchise is most effective when it sticks to formula.
Striking further blows for gender equality, there are two female antagonists. Pity the villains in this movie are the weakest in the series, a bunch of wannabe fake terrorists called the People’s Revolutionary Strike Force (PRSF) on a campaign of violence. Villainess #1 is a blonde beauty who lures two men into a trap, only to inexplicably vanish while the main baddie takes care of them. This female then takes part in a raid on a munitions depot, only to get shot. Barely a half hour into a ninety minute movie, her contribution is already over.
Wanda – a bandana-wearing brunette – survives a lot longer. Her main actions are threatening a guard into raising a bridge (and killing the guy afterward, but this is off screen) and attempting to bump off Harry while disguised as a nun. Thankfully Inspector Moore is on hand to save the hero’s ass, and gets to prove her capability in the Alcatraz-set climax that follows. That’s before her name gets added to the high body count.
Sudden Impact (1983) – Jennifer Spencer (Sondra Locke)
The main villainess in the fourth Dirty Harry movie is arguably an anti-heroine given her targets are a bunch of sadistic psychos who raped her and put her traumatised sister in a care home. By the film’s climax Harry comes to sympathise with Jennifer and even sees the vigilante artist as a reflection of himself in some ways. San Francisco’s mafia hoodlums and teen gang bangers are so ticked off with Callahan they’ve gone on the offensive, so the brass decide to send Harry to the small town of San Paulo to investigate a murder – which happens to be Jennifer’s handiwork.
Things were never going to stay quiet with Harry around, so San Paulo becomes his new hunting ground as Jennifer’s killing spree continues. Sondra Locke offers the best series antagonist since Scorpio, the deranged sniper in the original. Jennifer is a woman with a cause who relentlessly executes those responsible by shooting them twice – once in the genitals, then the head. She shows no mercy or remorse, but remains a sympathetic character since the men – and one lesbian – she murders are so unpleasant she’s doing the town a favour.
Harry’s friend shows up to assist him in the investigation, but suffers the same fate as many other partners when he gets ambushed by the gang leader. The villains attempt to kill Harry, but really should have made sure he was dead before going after Jennifer. The grand finale takes place at a carnival where the silhouetted hero arrives to save the girl and dispatch his own brand of justice. Once the baddies have been dealt with, Harry forgives Jennifer and covers for her crimes. Maybe these two aren’t so different.
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