Gang Related

Starring:James Belushi, Tupac Shakur, Lela Rochon, Dennis Quaid, James Earl Jones, David Paymer, Wendy Crewson, Gary Cole, Terrence 'T.C.' Carson, Brad Greenquist, James Handy, Kool Moe Dee, Victor Love, Robert LaSardo, Perry Anzilotti, Gregory Scott Cummins, Tommy 'Tiny' Lister, Thomas Mills, Rick LaFond, Anthony C. Hall
Director: Jim Kouf
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

A classic example of a good idea ruined by Hollywood formulas. Jim Belushi and Tupac Shakur (in his last performance) are two corrupt cops with an effective scheme: they rob and kill drug dealers. Unfortunately, one of their victims turns out to be an undercover agent for the DEA, and the two bad cops have to scramble to find a suspect to pin the murder on. Soon they're caught in a web of missing evidence, false witnesses, and frayed nerves--Gang Related could have been a lean film noir, slowly tightening until the men break under the pressure. Unfortunately, this isn't the 1940s, and suddenly the plot takes an absurd twist into the most melodramatic coincidence imaginable. It's too bad. Also featuring the lovely Lela Rochon, James Earl Jones, David Paymer, and a surprise performance by Dennis Quaid. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Two killers are hiding where no one will ever find them...behind their badges! Tupac Shakur (in hisfinal and most riveting performance) and James Belushi are two corrupt police detectives caught in a dangerous web of deceit in this "gritty, smart and tough" (CBS-TV) action thriller that will hold you in its grip from start to finish. Detectives Divinci (Belushi) and Rodriguez (Shakur) practice their own deadly brand of street justice: They set up drug deals, seize the money for themselves and then murder the dealers. It's a lucrative racket that has worked without a hitch for months. But when they discover that their latest victim was an undercover officer with the Drug Enforcement Agency, the two corrupt cops are forced to initiate a dangerous scheme to save their own lives. And as their "foolproof" plan begins to spin madly out of control, Divinci and Rodriguez are trapped in a tornado of suspicion, betrayal and murder in which they can trust no one...not even each other.

Customer Reviews:

A Very Good And Underrated Crime Drama!.......2006-10-19

This is another film I always thought was underrated. It is not up there with 'Goodfellas' but it gives a very gritty portrayal of two corrupt cops. The film's main actors are Detective's Frank Divinci (James Belushi) and his partner Detective Rodriguez (Tupac Shakur). Tupac Shakur gives a very good performance in this film. [His last film] And although Tupac Shakur only made a few movies before his untimely death, he was a pretty damn good actor. Every film I have seen him in he's great. And this one is no exception.

Detective's Divinci, and Rodriquez are about as corrupt as policmen come. They make their added income by robbing drug dealers and then killing them: Taking the money and reselling the dope all over again. Since they are the invesitgators on these killings, they cover up whatever evidence comes to light. And since these are drug dealers they are killing, who's going to look into it? Moreover, they make it look like the usual drug gang killing. Even going so far as to plant false evidence on many of the victims they kill. However, things are going to get pretty rough with these two corrupt cops.

They both make a mistake in one of their dealings. The latest man they sell their drugs to and kill is an undercover DEA agent: And the DEA wants the culprits who did this. They are in hot water already, when they decide to plant evidence on a homeless man named Joe Doe (Dennis Quaid). However, the man they chose comes from a very wealthy family. Moreover, this Joe Doe is harmless, and his past history as a medical doctor shows him to be a good samaritan. When a top attorney (James Earl Jones) is called on to defend Joe Doe, he finds corruption in the police department and sets into motion events that will bring down these two corrupt cops. The film is very good, and highly recommended. Rent it first to see if it is your taste in films.

Tupac's final film.......2005-11-18

Like most people reviewing here, i bought this film to see Tupac, had he not been in the film it's doubtful I would have been interested. Having now watched it, I was quite surprised at how good the film was, especially considering the lack of promotion it seemed to get (in England anyway).

Tupac and James Belushi are cast as two crooked cops who set up drug deals, take the money and then kill the dealers, dishing out their own kind of justice. It all goes badly wrong when they mistakenly kill an undercover cop, and have to continuosly scramble to cover their tracks. Tupac is perhaps surprisingly cast as the better of the two cops, the one with a conscience, a less imaginative director would have probably cast them the other way round. Belushi plays the cop who will do anything to save himself, and to be honest, though Tupac is good in the film, Belushi does steal the show, Pac has more of a supporting role.

There are many twists and coincidences in the plot, and it does keep you on edge, but it is not without it's faults though, the poor ending being the main problem. Overall though this is a very watchable film, and obviously Tupac's final screen performance, recommended.

better then I expected.......2005-10-20

Jim Belushi and Tupac have good chemistry as 2 crooked, conflicted cops. Tupac played a good character as a troubled cop. He was willing to bend some rules and put some money in his pocket, but now things have gone entirly too far for him. Jim Belushi plays a dumb cop who continues makes the situation even worse, and believe's he can manipulate his way out of anything.

gang related.......2005-10-09

I loved it so much. I love Tupac, and all of his movies are great. This movie has a great cast, also. Youre missing out if you dont buy this.

Tupac and James Belushi......hmm......not a good combination.......2004-08-22

You got Tupac Shakur (Gridlock'd, Bullet) in his last movie before his death, which he shows some very good acting skills might I say and then on the other side you got a chubby and overly miscast James Belushi (Destiny Turns On The Radio, The Florentine) sprouting a top hat threw the movie. These 2 cops sell cocaine to dealers, kill them and then throw away the drugs but they make a mistake when they kill a DEA Agent instead of a dealer. Things spiral down from there in this edgy urbanesque action thriller. Not much when the story is hammy. Also starring Dennis Quaid (Frequency, The Day After Tomorrow), Lela Rochon (The Big Hit, Waiting To Exhale), David Paymer (Quiz Show, Payback), James Earl Jones (Field Of Dreams, Empire Strikes Back), Gary Cole (A Simple Plan, Office Space) and Wendy Crewson (Air Force One).

Average customer rating:

A Very Good And Underrated Crime Drama!
Tupac's final film
better then I expected
gang related
Tupac and James Belushi......hmm......not a good combination

Gang Related [Region 2]
Starring: James Belushi , Tupac Shakur , Lela Rochon , Dennis Quaid , and James Earl Jones
Director: Jim Kouf
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video