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Q & A

Play trailer Poster for Q & A R 1990 2h 12m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
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.
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Q & A

Critics Reviews

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Derek Adams Time Out 02/09/2006
While this tough, fundamentally sound New York thriller has its moments, it's no Prince of the City. Go to Full Review
Vincent Canby New York Times 05/20/2003
3/5
''Q and A'' is most memorable for its performances, beginning with Mr. Nolte's. Go to Full Review
Hal Hinson Washington Post 01/01/2000
Unfortunately, Lumet isn't the brawny social commentator he would like to be -- he's a Jimmy Breslin manque'. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 08/03/2022
3/4
...deliberate yet thoroughly watchable... Go to Full Review
Andrew L. Urban Urban Cinefile 06/19/2009
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 Go to Full Review
James Berardinelli ReelViews 08/11/2008
3/4
Q & A is testimony to the validity of the old adage: a good story, when well told, can never be told too many times. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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11/01/2024 Never seen a Nick Nolte movie I didn't like. This movie may not look as impressive today as it did when it came out but it's still a classic good cop bad cop movie and the way Nolte plays it pulls you in and keeps you engaged all the way. See more Jack S 12/05/2023 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. See more ed m 09/30/2023 Good crime drama. Not Sidney Lumet's best, but enjoyable. See more Tim V 03/01/2023 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. See more 05/03/2022 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 See more 08/20/2021 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. See more Read all reviews
Q & A

My Rating

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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
Burtt Harris, Arnon Milchan
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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