Internal Affairs (1990)

88% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
56% of users liked it
(7,392 ratings)

In this glossy L.A. crime drama by Mike Figgis, Andy Garcia stars as Sgt. Raymond Avila, a cop who just joined the Internal Affairs division of the L.A.P.D. An investigation into police corruption has led Avila and his partner, Sgt. Amy Wallace (Laurie Metcalf), to Officer Dennis Peck (Richard… More In this glossy L.A. crime drama by Mike Figgis, Andy Garcia stars as Sgt. Raymond Avila, a cop who just joined the Internal Affairs division of the L.A.P.D. An investigation into police corruption has led Avila and his partner, Sgt. Amy Wallace (Laurie Metcalf), to Officer Dennis Peck (Richard Gere). Avila suspects something about Peck from the beginning; his influence and dominance over others seems to extend further than the reach of his badge. When officers who wish to testify against Peck start dying, the depth of his corruption becomes increasingly clear; at his disposal, he has an army of cops and criminals alike. He even agrees to assassinate a sleazy businessman's own parents, and humiliates the businessman while they make the deal. In his drive to dominate others, Peck attempts to seduce almost every woman around him and is obsessed with children and fatherhood. Peck is most dangerous when the investigation threatens his territory and his extended family; he stalks Avila and turns him against his wife (Nancy Travis). ~ Jonathan E. Laxamana, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 54 min.
Directed By: Mike Figgis
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Jan 12, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Mar 9, 1999
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
Gere is hypnotic, writer Henry Bean's construction is entertainingly intricate, and director Mike Figgis knows how to turn on a subtle, authentic erotic heat.
Variety Staff, Variety
Figgis never lets the pace slow long enough to expose the story's thinness despite, in retrospect, a moderate amount of action.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Internal Affairs delivers what it promises, and perhaps a little more. There's less action but more menace, and the pulse quickens as the plot drives relentlessly toward a conclusion that, in retrospect, can be seen as inevitable.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Internal Affairs is, for the dim movie season that is traditionally January, an unusually bright light.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
[A] cliched catchall, which wastes a fine cast.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Those with strange axes to grind, or too much time, or demented senses of humor, and you know who you are, may just have a fun time of this.
Angie Errigo, Empire Magazine
A lurid, lightweight throw-together of cheap psycho-thrills which tries to dress itself up as something more substantial.
, Film4
The conflict between Gere and Garcia is what carries the movie; deep beneath the macho brutality there's an almost homoerotic tint to their relationship. It makes for compelling stuff.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Yet another goofy credit in Gere's already overloaded resume of embarrassment -- although some may consider this one of those movies that's so silly it's good.
, Time Out
Dark, dangerous and disturbing.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
A tense, memorable motion picture...Gere is at the top of his game
James Rocchi, Netflix
A very, very good thriller.
Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Internal Affairs is all stylish visuals and no substance whatsoever. That may be an attempt to hide the silliness of Henry Bean's first-time screenplay, but it doesn't work.

Read all 13 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

♥Robyn

Internal Affairs is a nasty little suspense thriller!!!and it was hard to see Richard Gere playing such an evil person..
Khris N

Ahhh, the infamous Internal Affairs. The 1990's, with bad hair, fashion and shameless sex. XD!! Well, it is a classic in my opinion. Two of the coolest actors in my opinion of their time, Gere and Garcia, play off against each other in this cop drama which is actually pretty… More
Ahhh, the infamous Internal Affairs. The 1990's, with bad hair, fashion and shameless sex. XD!! Well, it is a classic in my opinion. Two of the coolest actors in my opinion of their time, Gere and Garcia, play off against each other in this cop drama which is actually pretty good. Gere as the dirtiest cop around is actually one of his best roles he's ever played, he is one of my favorite male leads. Of course, back in the 1990's, thrillers were all mixed up with the above mentioned negatives, along with dodgy synthesized music and production wasn't really 100%. I guess you just have to see it for the performances and the psychological war between the two leads, it may just be worth it. Dont expect a twisty edge of your seat climax like The Departed, its a straight up story between good cop and bad cop, and a "noir" ending which leaves you wondering what happened after. Not for everyone really.
Dean M

This film is so brutal, sexually charged thriller. The unrelenting tension mounts as the pursuit of justice becomes a very personal vendetta.
xGary X

This cop thriller revolving around corrupt officer Richard Gere was lauded over at the time, but Gere is badly miscast at the borderline psychotic peeler and basically sleepwalks through the movie. Garcia is better, but the whole thing reeks of contrived melodrama and is frankly… More
This cop thriller revolving around corrupt officer Richard Gere was lauded over at the time, but Gere is badly miscast at the borderline psychotic peeler and basically sleepwalks through the movie. Garcia is better, but the whole thing reeks of contrived melodrama and is frankly unbelievable.
Jeffrey M

Richard Gere is fantastic and Andy Garcia showed depth I didn't think he had. An excellent first two acts, followed by a weaker and messy last act. Still, a very good thriller overall, with Michael Mann-esque direction.
Timothy O

Not a bad film, but as I recall, it was just a so so film.

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Richard Gere as Dennis Peck

            Andy Garcia as Sgt. Raymond Avilla

            Nancy Travis as Kathleen Avila

            Laurie Metcalf as Sgt. Amy Wallace

            William Baldwin as Van Stretch

            Richard Bradford as Lt. Sgt. Grieb

            Annabella Sciorra as Heather Peck

            Michael Beach as Dorian Fletcher

            Faye Grant as Penny Stretch

            Katherine Borowitz as Tova Arrocas

            Xander Berkeley as Rudy Mohr

            John Capodice as Chief Healy

            Pamella D'Pella as Cheryl

            Victoria Dillard as Kee

            Susan Forristal as Lolly

            John Getz as Teeters

            Allan Havey as Judson

            Lew Hopson as Buster

            John Kapelos as Steven Arrocas

            Tyde Kierney as Sgt. Trafficante

            Joseph Mazzello
            
            Julio Oscar Mechoso as Cousin Gregory

            Billie Neal as Dorian's Wife

            Marco Rodriguez as Demetrio

            Arlen Dean Snyder as Capt. Riordan

            Ron Vawter as Jaegar

            Valerie Wildman as May

            Elijah Wood as Sean

            Justin Derosa as Latino Driver

            Brian Johnson as Busboy

            Waldemar Kalinowski as Surgeon #2

            Deryn Warren as TV Reporter

            Richard Whitaker as Marksman

            Heather Lauren Olsen as Megan

            Helen Lin as Dina

            Scott Lincoln as Freddy

            Harry Murphy as Surgeon

            Jimmy Ortega as Oscar

            Shani Ginsberg
            
            Carrie Frazier
            
            Dinah Lenney as Newscaster
See full cast