Being a police officer is one of the hardest jobs one can do. An occupation that routinely demands excessive amounts of patience, diligence, and cool headed-ness the consequences are often disastrous when it's done poorly. Fort Apace the Bronx explores the intricacies, culture, and most importantly people of law enforcement in their daily trials and tribulations, especially in an environment as crime ridden as this one. During the 1970s New York was hit with a massive spike in crime and urban decay, mirroring that of many other major U.S. cities at the time. But as the rest of the city cleaned up its streets, the South Bronx remained pretty much the same. John Joseph Vincent Murphy (Paul Newman) is a veteran NYPD police officer serving in just such a district. Devoted, under-appreciated, and hard working yet rebellious, hard drinking and lonely, Murphy develops a bond with his partner Andrew Corelli (Ken Wahl) a rookie cop. In spite of (or perhaps because of) his unconventional and unorthodox methods Murphy is the best cop in the precinct, in the same vain as Dirty Harry and The French Connection (both of which Fort Apache the Bronx likely took cues from). In addition to being in the middle of the most crime ridden, most unemployed, and most decayed part of New York the precinct has to deal with the arrival of Captain Dennis Connolly (Edward Asner) a hard nosed tough guy employing a brutish approach to a situation that desperately needs care and delicacy. Complicating the situation further is Murphy's romantic relationship with Isabella (Rachel Ticotin) a younger Puerto Rican nurse with a secret drug addiction. It's more a study of under pressure police work than some of the other crime movies from the time and as far as that goes it's pretty good. Though the story, while entertaining, could get pretty jumbled and unfocused. Overall an okay movie with Newman's acting being a key strength.
Review of Fort Apache the Bronx
