Rush (1991)

70% of critics liked it
(27 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(7,879 ratings)

Based on a gritty, semi-autobiographical novel by author Kim Wozencraft, this crime thriller was adapted for the screen by noir novelist Pete Dexter and marked the directorial debut of producer Lili Fini Zanuck. Jennifer Jason Leigh stars as Kristen Cates, a rookie police officer recruited to… More Based on a gritty, semi-autobiographical novel by author Kim Wozencraft, this crime thriller was adapted for the screen by noir novelist Pete Dexter and marked the directorial debut of producer Lili Fini Zanuck. Jennifer Jason Leigh stars as Kristen Cates, a rookie police officer recruited to partner with Jim Raynor (Jason Patric), an undercover Texas cop trying to infiltrate the criminal ring of major drug dealer Will Gaines (Gregg Allman) in the 1970s. What Kristen isn't told is that, as part of his deep cover masquerade, Jim must take drugs in order to be convincing and, unsurprisingly, has become an addict. Although this dangerous practice is not acceptable police procedure, Jim and Kristen's zealous superiors Larry Dodd (Sam Elliott) and Donald Nettle (Tony Frank) are obsessed with taking Gaines down because he has corrupted the daughter of a prominent local citizen. Jim and Kristen, who fall in love and move in together, befriend a petty car thief, Walker (Max Perlich), who has ties to Gaines. Since they both become drug addicts, Jim and Kristen's case makes little progress, until they clean up and convince Walker to turn on Gaines. Their investigation becomes tainted, however, when they are pressured from above to manufacture false evidence against their target. The soundtrack for Rushcontained the hit song "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr.
Directed By: Lili Fini Zanuck
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Dec 3, 2002
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Head-swiveling directorial debut of Lili Fini Zanuck lays out a tough masculine scenario [based on Kim Wozencraft's book] in a way that is always emotionally riveting.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Leigh is effective as always, but has little to chew on; Patric has even less.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Mr. Patric and Ms. Leigh are able to make Jim and Kristen as grimly memorable as the drug culture that threatens to engulf them both.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Despite the false notes and grinding bleakness, the film's insider savvy makes for pungent drama.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie depends on two strong performances for its effects, and gets them from Jason Patric and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
It peaks way before the movie's over. You're caught in a slow but steady decline, an unwanted comedown.
, Film4
Neither glamorising nor moralising, Rush deserves plaudits for its gritty, no-holds-barred take on drugs. The intelligent performances are the icing on the cake.
Angie Errigo, Empire Magazine
To be really powerful or tragic they need to be a lot less hackneyed and directed with more inspiration than this merely adequate effort.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A melodramatic, if gritty, Hollywood muddle.
, Time Out
Zanuck's debut feature fails to keep its dramatic sightlines clear.

Read all 10 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

Eric S

I liked this film when it came out in '91, and it holds up. Jason Patric and Jennifer Jason Leigh star in this tale of two undercover cops(narcotics agents) who get caught up in the lifestyle as they are in pursuit of a shady bar owner who may very well be the biggest drug… More
I liked this film when it came out in '91, and it holds up. Jason Patric and Jennifer Jason Leigh star in this tale of two undercover cops(narcotics agents) who get caught up in the lifestyle as they are in pursuit of a shady bar owner who may very well be the biggest drug pusher in the area, as well as other dealers with the help of a friend and user. The performances by Patric and Leigh are brilliant in this dim film based on true events of two narcotics agents in 1974 rural Texas who literally take their work home with them which is clearly nothing but trouble in many ways. Eric Clapton's bluesy score adds to the time and tone of the film as well.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Rush" takes place in 1975. Vice cop, Jim Raynor(Jason Patric), recruits rookie policewoman, Kristen Cates(Jennifer Jason Leigh, great as always), to go undercover with him to buy drugs to be used in evidence against drug dealers in Katterly, Texas.… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Rush" takes place in 1975. Vice cop, Jim Raynor(Jason Patric), recruits rookie policewoman, Kristen Cates(Jennifer Jason Leigh, great as always), to go undercover with him to buy drugs to be used in evidence against drug dealers in Katterly, Texas. Needless to say, they get in over their heads as the line is crossed...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Rush" is a quietly suspenseful and completely believable film that casts a very skeptical eye on the war on drugs. Max Perlich nearly steals the movie playing a minor drug dealer with a penchant for grand theft auto. And Gregg Allman has a very commanding presence.[/font]
Jeffrey M

A truly excellent, authentic, engrossing, and relentlessly dark depiction of drugs and the criminal justice system. There are no true "good guys" to be found, and the bad guys are found on both sides, moral ambiguity is rampant. The film does a fantastic job of showing how… More
A truly excellent, authentic, engrossing, and relentlessly dark depiction of drugs and the criminal justice system. There are no true "good guys" to be found, and the bad guys are found on both sides, moral ambiguity is rampant. The film does a fantastic job of showing how fine the line often is, and how, in the name of moral relativity, it's often crossed. The film captures a fantastic tone throughout, and is powerfully acted by both Jason Patric and Jennifer Jason Leigh, who have a gripping chemistry together. The script is intelligent, being based on a semi-autobiographical novel, and offers poignant insight. One of the best "in too deep" films out there. 4.5/5 Stars
Fascade F

Critically insane story of an Texas undercover narcotics police sergeant Jim Raynor (Jason Patric) that recruits a fresh young police rookie Kristen Cates (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to infiltrate and take down a suspected drug dealing crime boss (Gregg Allman). Between getting strung out… More
Critically insane story of an Texas undercover narcotics police sergeant Jim Raynor (Jason Patric) that recruits a fresh young police rookie Kristen Cates (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to infiltrate and take down a suspected drug dealing crime boss (Gregg Allman). Between getting strung out and collecting evidence against the crime boss...the pressure escalates on the pair to manufacture fictitious evidence to get this crime boss off the streets. As the pressure increases the assistance of their superior (Sam Elliot) and his higher ups...becomes more evident that manufacturing police evidence against a suspect, is against police protocol...the heat gets turned up on whether the crime boss will go behind bars but what will be the cost of the risky effort? This fairly slow moving drama will rock you to the edge of your seat and suspense you with with a rolling sound track...see it!
Deb S

RUSH is a film about two undercover narcotics investigators (Jason Patric and Jennifer Jason Leigh) who cross the line and becomes enmeshed in the dangerous but intoxicating underbelly of the drug world while trying to bring a drug dealer to justice. As their relationship intensifies… More
RUSH is a film about two undercover narcotics investigators (Jason Patric and Jennifer Jason Leigh) who cross the line and becomes enmeshed in the dangerous but intoxicating underbelly of the drug world while trying to bring a drug dealer to justice. As their relationship intensifies and their drug use turns to abuse, the fine line between the good guys and the bad guys becomes as blurry as their drug-induced vision. <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=5wxsuf" target="_blank"><img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/5wxsuf.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> The action here doesn't involve guns or chases but rather a subtle ride through the desperation and paranoia of drug addiction; It was gritty and realistic and Patric and Leigh make for a very intense duo with Patric delivering a compelling performance as a dark, hardened cop who has obviously stayed undercover far too long. <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=2zfprgx" target="_blank"><img src="http://i53.tinypic.com/2zfprgx.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> Gregg Allman did an amazing job, too, as the elusive Gaines who doesn't really say a lot yet gives a very convincing portrayal of a menacing local crime kingpin and the little twist at the end was a nice way to finish. <a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=eg7pjp" target="_blank"><img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/eg7pjp.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>
Stephen E

What "Rush" ultimately suffers from is a weak script with thinly drawn characters and a poor ending. Both Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jason Patric are good, but only as good as the script allows for them to be. Other than this flaw, the film is mostly entertaining and… More
What "Rush" ultimately suffers from is a weak script with thinly drawn characters and a poor ending. Both Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jason Patric are good, but only as good as the script allows for them to be. Other than this flaw, the film is mostly entertaining and enjoyable, and there are many cleverly choreographed sequences. Plus, the cinematography holds up quite nicely.
Leo L

A great movie!

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Jason Patric as Jim Raynor

            Jennifer Jason Leigh as Kristen Cates

            Sam Elliott as Larry Dodd

            Max Perlich as Walker

            Gregg Allman as Will Gaines

            Dennis Burkley as Motorcycle Guy

            Niles Caldwell as Scooter Trash

            Merrill Connally as Defense Attorney

            Connie Cooper as Judge

            Blue Deckert as Medical Examiner

            Willie Ellison as Police Instructor

            Tony Frank as Chief Donald Nettle

            Dell Gibson as Reporter

            John Ray Harrison as Mayor

            Ron Kern as Domino Player

            Jerry King as Man in Hearse

            Michael Kirkland as Grand Jury District Attorney

            Barbara Lasater as Yellow Rose Bartender

            Dennis Letts as Senior District Attorney

            Special K. McCray as Willie Red

            Joe Odiorne as Scooter Trash

            Jimmy Ray Pickens as Man in Disco

            Toni Pilgreen as Driller's Waitress

            Bill Sadler as Monroe

            Suzanne Savoy as Dodd's Wife

            Brandon Smith (I) as Cop

            Ken Stadler as Police Lieutenant

            Glenn Wilson as Motorcycle Guy

            Tom Rosales as Wino

            Shari Rhodes
            
            Jim Phillips as Club Band - "Terrell"

            Gene Nash as Scooter Trash

            Cynthia Scott as Yellow Rose Waitress

            William Sadler
            
See full cast