Movie

The Rookie (1990)

Clint Eastwood transitioned from playing cowboys to cowboy cops in the 1970s when he starred as the iconic Dirty Harry. His five-movie stint as Inspector Callahan ended with The Dead Pool in 1988, but his character Nick Pulovski in The Rookie is identical in all but name. The title refers to his new partner, David Ackerman (Charlie Sheen), a suited, by the book detective who learns the ropes from his veteran colleague.

The buddy cop theme and Los Angeles setting are familiar, but instead of drug dealers or serial killers, the opposition is Strom (Raul Julia) and his exotic car theft ring. While the main villain is hammy, his tough-girl companion Liesl offers some welcome variety. Everything is standard to begin with: the murder of Nick’s partner, an initially frosty relationship with Ackerman that softens over time, and a slew of wisecracks. The film overuses “repeat scenarios” where the rookie finds himself in the same situation as Nick and speaks the same dialogue. This is just humorous enough not to feel tiresome.

The plot takes an unusual diversion partway through when Strom captures Nick and holds him for ransom. Ackerman gets to play the hero cop while Nick is literally tied up at the villainess’ mercy. During the third act, the badass rookie takes down a bar full of goons all by himself. His wife doesn’t appreciate the change in personality until her motorcycle-riding husband saves her from a henchman.

There are attempts at character development around Ackerman: flashbacks to a childhood accident that killed his brother, and his wealthy father’s lack of support. These are all secondary to the action, however. Memorable scenes include a trailer truck chase in the prologue, an unlikely escape by driving a car through a high window to escape an explosion, and a climactic shootout at an airport terminal. Braga’s bad girl lasts the distance, so there’s plenty for female villain fans to enjoy.

Villainess

Liesl (Sonia Braga)

Early on, Liesl is Strom’s silent partner and apparently a minor character. Pulovski quips about her driving an expensive car, with no inkling she’s part of the theft ring. She’s often in the background while Strom conducts shady business, though her hardened features, muscular tattooed arms, and intense body language hint at what’s coming.

After forty minutes, Liesl finally gets some action. By that point, Nick had used strong-arm tactics to persuade two lower-rung thugs to become snitches. That shortens their life expectancy quite a bit, and when Strom loses money, he soon identifies the mole. The villainess kickboxes the man into submission and puts a bullet in his head, though we only see her aim with the gunshot itself off-screen.

Strom and his crew raid a casino vault, desperate for cash. However, Nick and Ackerman are waiting thanks to the snitch’s listening device. The arrest goes well until Liesl challenges Ackerman by walking towards him. Too honourable for his own good, the rookie cop refuses to shoot an unarmed woman. A scuffle follows before the villainess pulls out a backup weapon, calls Ackerman an amateur, and puts three slugs in him. The rookie is wearing a bulletproof vest, but that doesn’t prevent his partner from being taken hostage.

While Ackerman is busy busting heads and following leads, Liesl shows her dominance by raping Nick. This is a full-on sexual assault that goes on for five minutes, and she threatens to cut off Nick’s private parts with a razor blade. Then, she forces herself onto him and videotapes the whole thing as a memento. Nick looks decidedly uncomfortable, an experience likely shared by many viewers. Sonia Braga comes across as a nasty piece of work, and the only person enjoying herself.

Strom isn’t happy to discover Liesl’s side activities, but she’s there for the climax. Ackerman has rescued Nick, and the two cops pursue their quarry to an airport. It’s here Liesl goes trigger-happy with a submachine gun and the villains separate.

Nick goes after the main man and eventually kills him on a baggage carousel, while Ackerman gets the chance for revenge against Liesl. After a chase through the concourse, the hero confronts the villainess and surprises her from behind. People might expect a fight scene given Liesl and Ackerman are capable fighters, but the rookie calls her an amateur and pulls the trigger. Touche.

Honourable Mentions: Dirty Harry Movies

The Enforcer (1976) – Wanda (Samantha Doane)

By the third Dirty Harry movie, the audience knew what to expect: a tough-talking hero with a .44 Magnum and disregard for authority, shootouts with criminal scum, and partners with short life expectancies. That’s worrying since Inspector Callahan has two partners this time, and both share their last moments with him. The second is a woman, Inspector Moore, played by Tyne Daly (one half of the TV cop duo Cagney & Lacey). Over the course of the film, their adversarial relationship matures into respect. That old chestnut, but this franchise is most effective when it sticks to the formula.

Striking further blows for gender equality, there are two female antagonists. Pity the villains are the weakest in the series, fake terrorists called the People’s Revolutionary Strike Force (PRSF) on a campaign of violence. Villainess #1 is a blonde beauty who lures two men into a trap, only to vanish when the main baddie kills them. This female takes part in a raid on a munitions depot, only to get shot. Half an hour into a ninety-minute movie, her contribution is already over.

Wanda – a bandana-wearing brunette – survives a lot longer. She threatens a guard into raising a bridge (and murders him, but that bit is off-screen) and attempts to bump off Harry while disguised as a nun. Thankfully, Inspector Moore is on hand to save the hero’s ass and gets to prove her capability in the Alcatraz-set climax that follows. That’s before her name is added to the high body count.

Sudden Impact (1983) – Jennifer Spencer (Sondra Locke)

The main villainess is arguably an anti-heroine, given she targets the sadistic psychos who raped her and put her traumatised sister in a care home. By the film’s climax, Harry sympathises with Jennifer and even sees the vigilante artist as a reflection of himself. San Francisco’s mafia hoodlums and teen gang bangers are so ticked off with Callahan they’ve gone on the offensive, so the brass send Harry to the small town of San Paulo to investigate a murder.

Things would never stay quiet with Harry around, so San Paulo becomes his new hunting ground as Jennifer’s killing spree continues. Sondra Locke is the best series antagonist since Scorpio, the deranged sniper in the original. Jennifer is a woman with a cause who relentlessly executes those responsible by shooting them twice. Once in the genitals, then the head. She shows no mercy or remorse, but remains a sympathetic character since the men (and one lesbian) she murders are so unpleasant.

Harry’s friend helps him in the investigation, but suffers the same fate as many other partners when a gang leader ambushes him. The villains try to kill Harry, but should have made sure he was dead before going after Jennifer.

The grand finale takes place at a carnival where the silhouetted hero arrives to save the girl and dispense his own brand of justice. Once the baddies are dealt with, Harry forgives Jennifer and covers for her crimes. Maybe they aren’t so different.