This movie, in my opinion, has been badly ignored and severely under-rated over the years. OK it might not win any awards for originality in it's story line but it is a well acted, gritty and thoroughly believable. Before Gary Oldman went all avuncular in Batman he was generally cast a nasty piece of work and this film did nothing to change that stereo-type. He's mean and dangerous. Sean Penn and Ed Harris are as watchable as they always are and Robin Wright-Penn is simply stunning in this picture. Watch out for a young John C. Reilly too.
If you like things like Narc, The French Connection and maybe even Chopper, you'll like this – big time!