Customer Reviews

Fort Apache the Bronx [VHS]

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Good cop films are really important, and this is an excellent portrayal of the human side of law enforcement. What a find. It's a very convincing, gritty New York drama, something that is always appreciated. One of the film's strengths is its ability to shift from comedic moments into harsh tragedies, and in this sense feels like an accurate reflection on real life. Newman is absolutely convincing in his top rate performance, as is the rest of the cast. Which brings us to the plot - it's solid, but not dazzling. You have a sense it is trying to be a tour-de-force about police mentality and corruption but falls a bit short. But, for the rest of the film's strengths, this can be overlooked. Highly recommended.

The story is a well paced, gritty cop drama that side steps the usual Hollywood treatment of the good cop in the bad city, in this case the South Bronx (the film drew heat for it's realistic locations and hellhole depiction of the area). This is straight forwarded NY story telling. Paul Newman (Hud, Cool Hand Luke) is Patrolman Murphy, a veteran cop almost ready for retirement. His partner is Corelli (Ken Wahl) a younger man who tries to dress for success. Together they patrol their 40 block area with a population of 70,000. The beat looks like one of the German cities that was bombed flat in WWII. Ed Asner is the new precinct captain, wanting to get everything shipshape.

In response to a pair of cop killings by a deranged hooker, Asner orders the cops to roust the ghetto, resulting in a riot. Because of some rock throwing and heckling, a couple of cops throw an innocent boy off the roof of a building. Newman witnesses this and wrestles with his conscience about it. I think if the filmmakers would have stuck with just those plot points they would have had an excellent movie, however, they added many additional situations to give Newman more things to do. These included stopping a jumper, delivering a baby, saving hostages, and there are lengthy courting scenes for both Newman and Wahl. These stock plot devices derail what could have been a compelling story.

Paul Newman does a genuine job, as usual, playing Murphy with an admirable restraint. He puts the dramatic emphasis where it's needed and stays low-key otherwise. Ken Wahl also does a good job as Officer Corelli, a flamboyant guy, giving the older cop unsolicited advice, often. The byplay between the two cops is very good and believable. Supporting players include Ed Asner (Precinct Commander), Rachel Ticotin (Murphy's girlfriend), Pam Grier (Angel Dust Hooker), and Danny Aiello (cop). All of these players do a good job, but Pam Grier is basically wasted in a few brief scenes portraying a prostitute who kills people while under the influence of drugs. Of course, these inexplicable things do happen in real life so in that respect it makes sense. However, the film, rather than trying to play it straight with all the ambiguities of real life, puts in all these stock situations for Newman to react to thereby watering down the impact of the main story. I blame the writers and the director for not streamlining the screenplay, which has too many clichés.

Directed by Daniel Petrie, who mainly did TV, Fort Apache, the Bronx has serviceable visuals, particularly effective when showing the devastated landscape of the South Bronx. The cinematography is workmanlike but nothing special. If you don't mind an average film with a sad ending, Fort Apache, the Bronx might be for you.

I remember watching this movie on a VCR back in 1981, and ever since then the picture of Paul Newman in his cop uniform is embedded in my mind. I was so happy when I found out Amazon.com had this on DVD. This movie is one of the best portrayals of The Bronx in the early 80's. I definitely would recommend this movie to anyone who is into cop movies that are realistic.

In the war zone of the South Bronx, the police of the 41st Precinct have the worst absentee record in the city, the most disability record claims, the least conviction per arrests, and there's nobody doing anything and the men aren't motivated...

The first petition of the new captain Dennis Connolly (Ed Asner) was to make it clear that there is zero progress on the investigation on the murders of two policemen (killed on the opening of the film by an addicted hooker played nicely by Pam Grier). For the good officer the case must be cleared even if his men have to take extraordinary measures to clear it...

Murphy (Newman) comes from three generations of cops... All his friends are cops... He gets drunk every night... He is essentially honest and he doesn't trust anyone but his partner, Corelli (Ken Wahl). He is attracted to Isabella (Rachel Ticotin) who happens to be a heroin addict...

The film turns dramatic first when a body is discovered after a fire... Death was caused by injuries sustained in a fall... Murphy and his partner witnessed the officer Morgan (Danny Aiello) throwing an innocent kid off the roof... And second when narcotics dealers took a bunch of doctors, nurses and patients hostage...

Paul Newman's performance is vulnerable, masking his sensitivity with arrogance and showing a flash of charm and humor... It is a story of an ordinary cop finding the courage to stand up and be counted... As portrayed by Newman he is touchingly believable...

Set in the crime-ridden war zone of the South Bronx, Paul Newman is a cynical (but honest) cop on the beat. Ken Wahl is his young partner and Ed Asner the chief. The story is the craziness and ugliness of the city in general; specifically it's about Newman witnessing two other cops throw a kid off a roof during a riot and finally deciding, against the wishes of his fellow cops, to turn them in. The love interest has Newman falling for a nurse who's a junkie (she dies). Newman is in top form as is Wahl, and the setting couldn't be any more realistic. (For 1981; NYC has really cleaned up its act since then.) It's not an upbeat movie at all, but it's true and human from beginning to end. One thing that is annoying is Newman and Asner trying to talk in a tough Bronx accent - both sound plain funny at times and not at all natural. A good movie, and definitely worth a watch.

This is a classic film that hardly anyone that I know have ever heard of. This is a shame since this is a movie that has hardly any of the cliches that clog up so many police dramas. Paul Newman stars as a cop who tries to enforce the law without engaging in violence against suspects. This sets him at odds with other officers including the new precinct captain played by Ed Asner. This is the heart of the movie and it leads to a surprising conclusion.

A script, acting and directing job that adds up to on excellent movie.

This movie had a lot of difficult hurdles to overcome, and the deficit was never reached. But what one has to judge is it's entertainment value, and it borders somewhere between outstanding and boring. Never mind the controversy, (that was made-up media hype), it never happened and the end result was a dismal failure.

By the time this movie was released, (1981), the Bronx was over the phase that this movie 'Hollywood-ed' in order to gain some attention. The story of the 60's and 70's unrest and socio-political conscious was not unique to the Bronx, but it was in the forefront of Modern American history and this was the back drop to this tale.

The high points to this movie are in the acting, the actors themselves and the writing, (superb and outstanding). The low points are with the weak and fractured storyline and the incomplete lives of the characters portrayed in this movie. In addition to this, the movie made the characters out to be lingering on the loony, and stereotyping all Bronxites as silly in nature.

Also, it was difficult to maintain an interesting flow and one can see that they certainly tried to keep one interested. But the loopyness was frustrating and it finally bored me. It probably made the grade for a television movie sitcom in production value. But as a front-line blockbuster film it missed by a long shot. It almost seems as if the movie was rushed out of production and into the editing room just to get it over with. What a shame....a real missed opportunity. There was so much potential.

In my honest opinion, I think the movie's staff truly wanted to get it over with. The reason for this was the lawsuit that writer, Tom Walker, brought forth against the makers of this film. The basis for Tom Walker's lawsuit was that the writers of the movie had stolen the ideas from the memoirs in his book, 'Fort Apache: Life and death in the city's most violent precinct'.

Although the courts ruled against Tom Walker, the damage was already done. I can only assume that in anticipating a settlement the movie staff lost interest in the project. This is only my guess...but it seems more than likely. I firmly believe that Tom Walker had good cause. There are striking resemblances in the movie and in the book. The key missing ingredient was the time-line.

The movie depicts all this unsettlement happening during the 1980's. The book firmly documents factual events from the late 60's and early 70's. The courts ruling was a simple outcome: One cannot patent an idea, and similarities simply aren't proof enough.

Regretfully, in a perfect world the movie staff should of owned up to stealing Walker's memoirs and should of worked with him to get his masterpiece into the public view. The result would of been positively unimaginable based on the potential this movie had. I rated this movie a five based on it's potential. But it's entertainment value should be closer to a three. Nonetheless, an interesting movie to watch. But more like the ones television broadcasters come up with.

One objectionable note was that the DVD was not available in widescreen, and the audio was not in stereo, but only mono. Making the experiance even more painful.
I took the risk of settling for that rationalizing that the rarity of the movie on DVD would justify the low quality. I was only partially right.

If the GREAT Sidney Lumer (12 Angry Men, The Verdict,Q & A) had directed this film it would have had the potential to be a classic.No one is better than Lumet in getting at the bitterness and tension of the streets of New York,especially the racial and ethnic (Irish,Jewish,Black,Puerto Rican).Paul Newman plays an 18 year veteran Irish cop(Murphy) team up with a younger cop,palayed by Ken Wahl .This South Bronx police district is nicknamed "Fort Apach" because of its hign crime rate.Junkies,bad cops abound and Newman (excellant) trys to cope the best he can and thats' not easy considering what he is up against-High crime, a by the book new commander (Ed Asner) and very, very bad cops.The divorced Newman finds romance with a Puerto Rican nurse, movingly played by Rachel Ticotin and encounters a wacked-out hooker played by the very beautiful Pam Grier.This film needed LUMET and this DVD needed a commentary.Otherwise very good.

I was a little girl when I saw this movie in the theather, I am a big Paul Newman fan anyway and love his movies but to me this is one of his best. I love the grittiness of this movie. the action is great especially since i usually don't watch these type of movies. This movie is recommended if you want to watch something about how grimmy SOME parts of the Bronx New York and the police can be.

This is one of Newman's best and last contemporary movies. Newman also distingushed himself in "making the world a better place" with his great charities and his "Newmans Own" brand of Salad Dressings etc.He was also one of the great method actors. Newman made some really good films INCLUDING Fort Apache the Bronx.
This 125 minute flick is a fast paced look at the life of the modern police officer in a depressing New York City neighborhood. Also features Ed Asner,Danny Aiello, and Pam Grier. This is a must view for any policeman, retired policeman, or former policeman. Show your loved ones how it really was! Yes it is a tough job!