Police movies often have flaws, from cardboard characters to unrealistic dialogue. This film is a rare bird, realistic on all counts, from the action to the interaction. The violence is gritty but well-handled. The good guys are regular people, not heroes. The criminals are intelligent and organized, not just a bunch of degenerates. As a writer I often find fault in dialogue, but here the dialogue is terse and believable. Also, the humour is witty without crossing the line into being crass. Linda Hamilton, often playing strong women, accurately portrays a police woman struggling to balance a law enforcement career, a love life, and the care for her son. Haunted by her experiences in the Sex Crime Division she forces a transfer to the Robbery/Homicide Division, where she is confronted with her last Sex Crime case, as the victim dies from the violence inflicted by the rapist. To see Hamilton's character deal with relocating the victim's retarded son is extremely moving, as is her own son's anger and fear when she comes home late and drunk after a 'night with the boys'. The police action often reminded me of the realism of police series like Hill Street Blues or NYPD Blue. Not only do you see the work involved in strategic decisions, but the psychological background is not lost either. All in all a realistic movie, with believable characters involved in believable action and interaction. What more can you want?
