This is a thriller that is highly regarded by some, but I really don’t know what to make of it. On the one hand, it’s such an 80s film, with its synth music, fashion styles, lazy tropes and all, that it’s hard to take seriously. Yet it takes such a cynical view of the police to the extent that I don’t think we’re supposed to be sympathetic to the main characters at all. Plus the plot takes some odd, unexpected tangents here and there. On balance I have to say that I was disappointed, as this was made by William Friedkin who established his reputation with The French Connection.

Richard Chance is a US Secret Service agent who is determined to nab counterfeiter Rick Masters by any means possible when his partner who was on the verge of retirement is killed while investigating a warehouse suspected of being used by Masters to print counterfeit cash bills. With his new partner John Vulkovich, they nab one of Masters’ runner but he refuses to give them any information. Chance also extorts a woman, Ruth, who is a parolee for tips. Eventually Masters own lawyer helps them set up a meet to pose as buyers for the counterfeit money. However Masters demand a large money of real money up front as a deposit and the two are unable to convince their superior to provide the cash. Chance is so desperate that he decides to resort to kidnapping a buyer of stolen diamonds based on a tip from Ruth to get the money and he all but shames Vulkovich to go along with his plan.

Films about dirty cops are not uncommon but I think this is the first time I’ve seen one in which the protagonist cop is so awful that you’re actually rooting for the bad guy instead. Masters even has a more interesting backstory as a failed artist who decided to turn his skills towards printing fake money. There’s no doubt whatsoever that he is a vicious criminal but he at least seems to treat his associates fairly and has a healthy relationship with his girlfriend. Chance on the other hand is just an asshole hiding behind his badge. He blatantly extorts Ruth for sex and information by threatening to throw her back into prison, has no qualms whatsoever about actually respecting the law and doesn’t care about putting civilians in order to get his way. Vulkovich seems like a decent guy at first but loyalty to the thin blue line pushes him towards not ratting out on Chance. The film ends by suggesting that he eventually becomes another Chance, so I guess the overriding lesson to be learnt is that all police are bad,

The film does look good, with a great sense of color balance and strong cinematography. The scene where Masters perfects his technique for printing counterfeit bills is astonishingly detailed. Apparently they called in a real expert to do it though the scene only helps establish Masters as being more professional. The extended car chase scene is impressive but it’s ridiculous how Chance expects to get away with that much carnage. But too many characters behave in ways that are too dumb to be believed. How could the two cops possibly believe that they could trust Masters’ lawyer? Why would Masters go along with meeting the two, knowing that it’s a trap? Vulkovich actually asks a reasonable question of Chance at one point: given all that he’s willing to do to get Masters, why doesn’t he just walk up to him and shoot him? It’s not like they don’t know where he is and as Vulkovich states, that’s what he really wants to do anyway.

Anyway while this is a technically proficient film, it’s not one that I like at all. Everyone in it is bad and has selfish motivations. I suppose I have the most sympathy for Ruth who is trying to get out from under Chance’s control but it’s awful how no other character even so much as acknowledges her problem. In the end, the film doesn’t even answer the question of why Chance’s previous partner put himself in danger by wanting to investigate Masters on his own. It’s probably because he was evil in some way as well.