The Last of the Finest

Like MacKenzie's The Fourth Protocol (though achieving greater narrative coherence), this densely plotted cop thriller seems to be straining for a significance that constantly eludes its grasp. So while Dennehy gives yet another faultless performance as a veteran LA cop disillusioned by compromise and corruption, the potentially explosive political undercurrents fail to ignite. Suspended after an abortive raid, Dennehy and his undercover narcotics team pursue their own freelance investigations. Acting on a pimp's tip-offs, they uncover a conspiracy involving fellow cops, drug enforcement agents and wealthy businessmen, which proves to be a front for supplying arms to right-wing rebels in Latin America. Dennehy's relationship with his team (Pantoliano, Fahey and Paxton) and their various blue-collar backgrounds are deftly handled, the unobtrusive camerawork leaving space for the actors to interact convincingly. But the filming of the action scenes is also slightly distanced, leading to some distinctly unexciting set pieces.