THE ROOKIE (1990)

MORGAN'S RATING

Nick Pulovski is a tough, veteran cop with a history of training new partners who end up dead -- usually, thanks to his recklessness. His most recent assignment is a cocky rookie with emotional problems, and a lot of leftover hostility from his childhood. The two team up to crack a car-stealing ring; but when Pulovski gets kidnapped by a pair of sadistic thieves, it's up to the brash rookie to save him. And this young cop won't let uesless technicalities like "The Law" stand in his way.

Clint Eastwood (Nick Pulovski), Charlie Sheen (David Ackerman), Raul Julia (Strom), Sonia Braga (Liesl), Tom Skerritt (Eugene Ackerman), Lara Flynn Boyle (Sarah), Pepe Serna (Lt. Ray Garcia), Marco Rodriguez (Loco), Pete Randall (Cruz), Donna Mitchell (Laura Ackerman), Xander Berkeley (Blackwell), Tony Plana (Morales), David Sherrill (Max), Hal Williams (Powell), Lloyd Nelson (Freeway Motorist), Pat DuVal, Mara Corday, Jerry Schumacher (Interrogators), Matt McKenzie (Wang), Joel Polis (Lance), Rodger LaRue (MaitreD), Robert Dubac (Waiter), Anthony Charnota (Romano), Jordan Lund (Bartender), Paul Ben-Victor (Little Felix), Jeanne Mori (Connie Ling), Anthony Alexander (Alphonse), Paul Butler (Captain Hargate), Seth Allen (David as a Child), Coleby Lombardo (David's Brother), Roberta Vasquez (Heather Torres), Joe Farago (Anchorman), Robert Harvey (Whalen).

FACTS

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

RELEASE DATE: December 7th, 1990 (USA) DVD RELEASE DATE: September 2nd, 2003 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $5.5 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $21.6 million (USA) - David Ackerman's line "Candygram for Mongo" is a reference to Blazing Saddles (1974). - This film featured twice as many stuntmen as it did actors.

DIRECTOR: Clint Eastwood (Blood Work). WRITERS: Boaz Yakin and Scott Spiegel. PRODUCERS: Howard G. Kazanjian, Steven Siebert and David Valdes. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Lennie Niehaus. DISTRIBUTOR: Warner Bros.

QUOTES

[Attempting to bribe Nick.] Eugene: I want to guarentee David's safety. Nick: Mr. Ackerman, if you want a guarentee, buy a toaster.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"'The Rookie' is like one of those maddening, waking dreams when you spend the whole night trashing in bed while tediously repetitive images batter your racing brain. But at least morning comes." -- Desson Howe, Washington Post

Nick: There's gotta be a hundred reasons why I don't blow you away. Right now I can't think of one.

Lt. Ray Garcia: It's not just a job it's a fucking adventure!