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      Q & A

      R Released Jul 11, 1990 2h 12m Crime Drama List
      88% 24 Reviews Tomatometer 58% 2,500+ Ratings Audience Score When veteran cop Captain Michael Brennan (Nick Nolte) shoots a Puerto Rican hood, the crime is made to practically disappear. Witnesses are threatened, and Brennan's brutal reputation ensures silence. Young district attorney Aloysius "Al" Francis Reilly (Timothy Hutton) takes on the case, and must risk everything to prosecute Brennan. The investigation hinges on the testimony of a Puerto Rican drug boss (Armand Assante), who is dating Reilly's ex-girlfriend. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Jack S Perhaps a gritty crime drama in its day, Q&A's commentary around racism and corruption in government no longer packs much of a punch. The film begins well, but then begins to drag as it goes along its overlong and predictable way. The actors are generally good, but Nolte's truly creepy character comes on too strong, and Hutton's is weak and ineffective beyond mere inexperience, particularly in a couple awkward scenes involving a former love interest. Only Assante rises above to create a compelling and magnetic character. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/07/23 Full Review ed m Good crime drama. Not Sidney Lumet's best, but enjoyable. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/30/23 Full Review Tim V a totally underrated intense gritty crime drama. a great cast and a great story. i love this movie. i've watched it more than a dozen times and it never gets old. one of the best song for movie matches ever. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/01/23 Full Review Audience Member While the grittier texture and the embracing of the various seedier plot elements felt reminiscent of some of Lumet's more well known work, I could never really get into this generic cat and mouse game between a corrupt cop and the assistant DA trying to catch him. Although this was released in 1990, this film felt pure 1980s to me and featured the trio of Nolte, Hutton, and Assante to reinforce this vibe throughout. I actually did appreciate the conclusion as well and while definitely not the worst film, I still never really felt any stake in the outcome. 5.5/10 Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Sidney Lumet is well versed in crafting corrupt cop thrillers, he's the man behind Serpico (1973) and Prince Of The City (1981). While this never hits the heights of the former, Q&A is an intricately designed police procedural, with pretty damning conclusions to take from it. When dirty cop Mike shoots a man and plants a gun on him, rookie assistant DA Al gets the case. Something in Mike's 'Q&A' doesn't sit right, and this launches a journey through a sewer of racism, corruption and violence. Nick Nolte is impressively despicable as Mike, and the crux of the film really has rotten heart. It's not an easy watch listening to some of the cops talking trash, but it is chillingly relevant today, despite being thirty years old this year. Q&A is worth a watch, and can be found on DVD, if you can track it down. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member A 1990 crime-legal drama starring Timothy Hutton and Nick Nolte. Hutton is a green Assistant District Attorney investigating a police shooting; Nick Nolte did the shooting. As the investigation continues, extensive corruption becomes apparent. Clumsy screenplay without a hint of subtlety, heavy on dialogue and lengthy speeches, the writing should have been much better. One major sub-theme broached early and reappearing often is racial conflict in the city. A ham-fisted treatment of the issue is provided. The movie is boring. The introduction of random and often irrelevant shock value plot twists does not fix the problem. At the time of release, this movie received some good reviews. The writing, directing, acting and cinematography do not support the position. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      James Berardinelli ReelViews Q & A is testimony to the validity of the old adage: a good story, when well told, can never be told too many times. Rated: 3/4 Aug 11, 2008 Full Review Derek Adams Time Out While this tough, fundamentally sound New York thriller has its moments, it's no Prince of the City. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times ''Q and A'' is most memorable for its performances, beginning with Mr. Nolte's. Rated: 3/5 May 20, 2003 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...deliberate yet thoroughly watchable... Rated: 3/4 Aug 3, 2022 Full Review Andrew L. Urban Urban Cinefile A New York at odds with Woody Allen's, albeit also filled with angst; where Allen dissects the middle class in the throes of its own insecurities, Lumet cruises the underbelly Jun 19, 2009 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Lumet pulls no punches showing a contemporary NYC plagued by racism, violence, crime, tribalism, cronyism, and corruption. Rated: B Apr 5, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis When veteran cop Captain Michael Brennan (Nick Nolte) shoots a Puerto Rican hood, the crime is made to practically disappear. Witnesses are threatened, and Brennan's brutal reputation ensures silence. Young district attorney Aloysius "Al" Francis Reilly (Timothy Hutton) takes on the case, and must risk everything to prosecute Brennan. The investigation hinges on the testimony of a Puerto Rican drug boss (Armand Assante), who is dating Reilly's ex-girlfriend.
      Director
      Sidney Lumet
      Producer
      Patrick Wachsberger
      Screenwriter
      Edwin Torres, Sidney Lumet
      Distributor
      TriStar Pictures
      Production Co
      Odyssey, Regency Enterprises
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Crime, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jul 11, 1990, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Nov 15, 2013
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $10.5M
      Runtime
      2h 12m
      Sound Mix
      Dolby, Surround
      Aspect Ratio
      35mm
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