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(More customer reviews)Every citizen who desires to seriously think about our nation's overall drug policies needs to view the 1991 movie "Rush." I finally decided to do a long overdue community review of this controversial film after reading today's edition of the "Houston Chronicle" newspaper. My local major daily ran a story concerning undercover police officer Barbara Markham alleging to have been fired in 1997 by the Chambers County Narcotics Task Force for alerting her supervisors that a paid drug informant was filing false reports. The informant who was under the protection of the police hierarchy simply assumed that Officer Markham would look the other way when he lied to obtain convictions. An out of court settlement to Markham eventually resolved the matter. Very little appears to have changed since Kim Wozencraft wrote a quasi fictional account about her own experiences of some twenty-five years ago. History merely repeats itself.
I must be cautious, however, not to merely stress the indirect educational aspects of "Rush." This is also a great film, perhaps even a masterpiece, that ranks among the very best I have ever seen. The virtually unknown director Lilli Fini Zanuck put together a fast pace and riveting story. It offers little comfort to those who glamorize drug use. Ditto for the forces adamantly opposed to legalizing such self destructive behavior. True believers of either stripe will dislike "Rush's" brutal honesty and unwillingness to surrender to staunchly held prejudices. Jennifer Jason-Leigh is perfectly cast as the fresh police academy graduate assigned to her first police job. Any previously embraced idealism is quickly eradicated when she partners with an experienced undercover cop played by Jason Patric. The latter long ago decided that he must personally use illegal drugs to allay the suspicions of drug dealers. He now is a full blown addict. She inevitably finds herself in a predicament where a drug lord demands at gunpoint that both undercover officers use drugs in his presence. Moral compromise is not an option but a mandatory necessity. A very fine supporting performance is given by Max Perlich as the snitch forced to betray his close friends. Perlich deserved at least an Academy Award nomination. Greg Allman should also do more film work. Allman is more than apt portraying the wise and cautious drug kingpin. The elected officials and top police bosses are willing to violate their ethics and decency to put him behind bars. The plot of "Rush" revolves around the efforts to achieve this goal.
It would be a mistake to conclude that only Texas has such troubles. Unfortunately, the corruption of the police and court systems resulting from our current drug laws continues unabated throughout our country. Cynicism is rampant and widely held is the view that the end justifies the means; the law should never get in the way of busting drug offenders. The Constitution of the United States is perceived as a document not worthy of honor. Should we completely legalize drugs? It is neither the purpose of this review or the filmmakers to thoroughly deal with that divisive issue. Nevertheless, "Rush" will challenge you. I give it a five star rating. Make sure you view this film at least once. You might even choose to send a copy to your favorite politicians.
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What happens when two cops stop loving their job...and start living it? This 'emotionally riveting,powerful and unsparing film(Variety) exposes the plight of two narcotics officers who cross the line...and become enmeshed in the dangerous but intoxicating underbelly of the drug world.Jason Patric (Your Friends and Neighbors) and Golden Globe nominee* Jennifer Jason Leigh (Dolores Claiborne) giverich, full-blooded performances(Entertainment Weekly) as undercover officers Jim Raynor and Kristen Cates, partners who become loversand addictsas they infiltrate the local drug scene in order to bring down a suspected druglord (Greg Allman). But 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.*1994: Actress - Drama, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle
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