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      Fort Apache, the Bronx

      R Released Feb 6, 1981 2 hr. 5 min. Crime Drama List
      80% 15 Reviews Tomatometer 66% 5,000+ Ratings Audience Score Dealing with everyday police work in a notoriously difficult area of New York, a policeman struggles to preserve a sense of moral decency despite his colleagues more ruthless methods. When a boy dies in suspicious circumstances, the cop refuses to let it go unchallenged and faces the wrath of his fellow officers. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

      View All (76) audience reviews
      Audience Member Just how far is one police officer willing to go to do the right thing? In a certain part of New York City he's about to find out. The late Paul Newman plays officer Murphy. He still believes in the justice system working for everyone. His fellow officers prefer more ruthless methods. After a kid dies in the neighborhood he refuses to let it go and wants to bring a sense of moral decency. Although he might be on his own challenging their dismissal of the whole thing. He's also dating a nurse named Isabella who's willing to understand why he's been in the business for so long. Yet she's not all pristine as she makes it to be. She does her own thing living in this city since birth in order to escape. His precinct also gets a new police captain who wants to change a few things even i it means disrupting the natural order of the area. Murphy being in the business for so long now starts to see the dirty side. The movie shows a tougher part of a neighborhood when everything is turned upside down. Civil unrest and uprising from police action is expected. Plenty of real life parallels can be drawn from this; especially today with many wanting to reform the justice department and cut down on authoritative brutality/ abuse of power, public beatings, violent demonstrations, rioting etc. Goes to show there's still plenty of corruption in an established system despite the best of intentions to keep the peace. Even dirty cops being turned in barely makes a difference. Some think it's prolly better to stand aside than be a rat. The law is supposed to mean something. Newman is pitch perfect here as Murphy trying as hard as he can to stand by a dismantled precinct. But one can only put up with the backhandedness before things spiral. One of the late actor's best works. It's got that 1970s grittiness to match the grimy feel of the chaotic world too. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/24 Full Review derek c As a retired cop, this film gives a fantastic insight the day to day policing in the 80's 90's. Very realistic with great performances, of course Newman is the cream . Look up on YouTube as it gives locations for this film, really up there with the best cop films. Apparently influenced other shows. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/14/23 Full Review Steve D Often frustrating but for the right reasons. It is ahead of its time. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/11/23 Full Review Audience Member very real no one perfect no one a mindless monster cops and criminals all portrayed as humans Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review jon c Just how far is one police officer willing to go to do the right thing? In a certain part of New York City he's about to find out. The late Paul Newman plays officer Murphy. He still believes in the justice system working for everyone. His fellow officers prefer more ruthless methods. After a kid dies in the neighborhood he refuses to let it go and wants to bring a sense of moral decency. Although he might be on his own challenging their dismissal of the whole thing. He's also dating a nurse named Isabella who's willing to understand why he's been in the business for so long. Yet she's not all pristine as she makes it to be. She does her own thing living in this city since birth in order to escape. His precinct also gets a new police captain who wants to change a few things even i it means disrupting the natural order of the area. Murphy being in the business for so long now starts to see the dirty side. The movie shows a tougher part of a neighborhood when everything is turned upside down. Civil unrest and uprising from police action is expected. Plenty of real life parallels can be drawn from this; especially today with many wanting to reform the justice department and cut down on authoritative brutality/abuse of power, public beatings, violent demonstrations, rioting etc. Goes to show there's still plenty of corruption in an established system despite the best of intentions to keep the peace. Even dirty cops being turned in barely makes a difference. Some think it's prolly better to stand aside than be a rat. The law is supposed to mean something. Newman is pitch perfect here as Murphy trying as hard as he can to stand by a dismantled precinct. But one can only put up with the backhandedness before things spiral. One of the late actor's best works. It's got that 1970s grittiness to match the grimy feel of the chaotic world too. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member One of the last of the great gritty 1970s crime movies that came out of New York. Well acted, good story. Excellent direction. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Fort Apache, the Bronx

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (15) Critics Reviews
      Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times It's sort of insidious, the way a formula can take over and smother a good idea for a movie. Rated: 2/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review Kenneth Turan New West/California Flaccid and undefined where it should be taut: Though much is made of its having been shot on location in the dread South Bronx itself, the picture plays like it was made on the Fox back lot. Jun 17, 2022 Full Review Alberto Abuín Espinof The film is sincerely direct, at times very raw, showing without compassion or bluntness a world full of misfortunes. [Full Review in Spanish] Aug 28, 2019 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Too bad the pic had such an ugly and forgettable story. Rated: B Jul 25, 2015 Full Review Chuck O'Leary FulvueDrive-in.com A realistic, colorful and always interesting study of a veteran police office (Newman) and his a rookie partner (Wahl) patrolling the rough streets of the South Bronx. Asner is memorable as their gung-ho new commander. Rated: 8/10 Oct 9, 2005 Full Review Jeremy C. Fox Pajiba Rated: 3/5 Sep 17, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Dealing with everyday police work in a notoriously difficult area of New York, a policeman struggles to preserve a sense of moral decency despite his colleagues more ruthless methods. When a boy dies in suspicious circumstances, the cop refuses to let it go unchallenged and faces the wrath of his fellow officers.
      Director
      Daniel Petrie
      Distributor
      20th Century Fox
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Crime, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Feb 6, 1981, Original
      Release Date (DVD)
      Sep 9, 2011