User reviews

Hard-hitting and stylish, this film quickly moves beyond the usual notion of 'undercover drug work' into an altogether more practical & unpleasant understanding...

The film is well-paced and, most appropriately for this year, introduces a female art-gallery owner as it develops a relationship subplot. As the story progresses, the film breaks boundaries further & demonstrates an exceptionally sharp sensibility -- but fairly much returns to the standards for the climactic scene.

While not a Scorsese or Tarantino masterpiece, this film is very highly recommended.

Going into seeing this movie, I wasn't sure about what I was going to see. I was expecting something kind of good (because of Roger Ebert's review), but not great (because of some other reviews). But I was not expecting such a good film. Laurence Fishburne (Boyz in the Hood, What's Love Got To Do With It) stars as a cop who has avoided drugs and the crime life because of his father's involvement and death in it. Soon he is offered a job going undercover as a drug dealer. He accepts it. After a little while he gets himself deep into it. He forms partnerships with high ranked drug dealers, which includes Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park, Nine Monthes). Soon he becomes less of an undercover cop, but more of a drug dealer. He soon realizes that he is betraying his cause and joining up with them. This presents a problem for him, because he likes the power as a drug dealer and the money, but he also vowed he would never become like his dad. This is a very well done movie, with a great script. Laurence Fishburne is excellent in the lead role. Jeff Goldblum (who I have never seen in such a deep role) is also strong delivering a surprisingly good performance. A good, but violent film.

DEEP COVER is a pretty predictable film about a cop going undercover to take down some drug lords, but in execution it turns out to be a fun little film and more entertaining than it has any right to be from that premise. The underrated Laurence Fishburne is a fine choice for lead, playing a guy who must come to terms with what makes him a man while exploring the moral quandaries in which he finds himself.

This is a film packed with that inimitable early '90s style, with lots of hard-edged violence and even a little humour thrown into the mix. The narrative, although familiar, is very fast paced which makes for a nice viewing experience. Plus there's a big supporting role from a typically kooky Jeff Goldblum, who brings plenty of his trademark charm to the part. The only thing I wasn't keen on was the ending, which sees Goldblum acting out of character for plot necessity; otherwise, this is solid entertainment.

This highly stylized pulp thriller from the early 90's remains quite an entertaining movie so long as one doesn't look too deeply into it. What sets it apart from similar movies of its ilk is the performance from Jeff Goldblum as a greedy, crazed Yuppie drug dealer. He steals scenes left and right from other cast members with a manic, over the top energy that is easily the highlight of the film. Unfortunately, he gets handed some of the worst lines in the movie, uproariously funny with his dead pan delivery however. Laurence Fishburne deserves honorable mention here as well for his scene where he begins to spontaneously rap pseudo-Beat street poetry to another character in the film.

Entertaining, but as previously mentioned, don't look too deeply into it.

A thrilling hard-boiled take on the urban drug trade, and an idealistic officer's plunge into the murky depths thereof. Fishburne is fantastic here, and he really shows the weathering effects of the case on his character. Loved his weary narration, and he plays well off of Jeff Goldblum, who goes somewhat against type here.

Can't go wrong with this movie; it's raw, bitter and doesn't fail to upset. I walked into this expecting something like "Ricochet" or "New Jack City", but the noir flavor gives this movie a serious edge.

Like "The Crossing Guard," this film, "Deep Cover," kept me on the edge of my seat. The scenes between Larry Fishburne and Charles Martin Smith are superb, the writing is virtually flawless, the action is exciting and fresh, and the topic is so relevant it's hard to believe it came out fifteen years ago. It could be released today, it's that topical. I love political action thrillers such as the original "The Manchurian Candidate," but that film, as exciting as it was, left me cold. This film has so much heart and love in it on top of all the thrills that I found myself astonished by the virtuosity of the artists that composed this gem. I'm already a huge fan of the actors. I will now be searching IMDb for the subsequent work of the writers, directors, and producers of this masterpiece. Bravo, "Deep Cover"! I'm telling all my friends about you.

Deep Cover will still be more popular for the hit song "Deep Cover" which featured the young and new Snoop Dogg.

The movie wasn't too bad either. Russell Stevens Jr. (Laurence Fishburne) was an ambitious police officer that wanted to help clean up the streets from its drug problem. He was assigned to Los Angeles where he was supposed to make one connection after another and work his way up the food chain. Due to the nature of the job he was given he had to do a lot more than he should've as a sworn officer of the law. At some point it becomes unclear if he still had sight of the goal: get drugs off the street by taking down the head honchos.

The movie was good for the most part and I really liked Jeff Goldblum who played lawyer/dealer David Jason. His quirkiness that can be seen in all of his movies is so unique to him and so offbeat that you have to laugh. I think there was one critical flaw towards the end of the movie with the final drug deal. Another officer put himself in a preposterous position that made no sense. It looked more like something to help move the plot along than a reasonable and sensible action that should be part of the story. There were a lot of names to keep track of as is the case with many drug movies with multiple levels of dealers, rivals, and detectives. Still, the story was tight and well played out. Deep Cover won't make my list of top drug movies but it is entertaining to watch.

In what is probably his best role to date, with apologies to his turns as Ike Turner in the classic "What's Love Got to Do With It", and Morpheus in the "Matrix" series, Laurence Fishburne plays undercover cop Russell Stevens, who poses as drug dealer John Hull to apprehend a notorious drug kingpin. This role is played in a way that only he could, with the zeal that makes him one of Hollywood's most sought after actors. From the moment that he tells the D.E.A. agent that "the n****** the one that would even answer that question" you know that this role was made for him. Also Jeff Goldblum is at his best as a not-so-honest defense attorney. And let's not forget Gregory Sierra as a sadistic crime lord and one of the best character actors of our time, Clarence Williams III as an honest cop. Add the soundtrack and "Deep Cover" is a bona fide 10 in the urban drama genre, a true masterpiece.

Good film, but the same old government cover-up of important V.I.P. drug dealers; double cross of the field cop by his friends; danger from street punks; gunplay and overdoses; good guy cop doesn't know who to trust or where to turn so starts playing both ends to the middle. Nothing new, but go ahead and watch....it was still fun.

Deep Cover stands out as a great example of how to make a good film and has something that is often missing from modern cinema. The cinematography, editing, and music are all outstanding. What's even better is how all those elements tie-in to a well thought out and communicated theme of duality. The two main characters Russel/John (Fishburne) and David (Goldblum) parallel each other nicely, and reinforce the theme perfectly.

On the one hand, there's Russel, the cop determined to make a difference in his community who is then taken advantage of by his superiors and used like a tool. Russel begins demonstrating more and more criminal traits as the film goes on, eventually "becoming" his undercover alter ego John. As a criminal, John is able to do exactly what he set out to do, all while commanding respect and receiving tons of money without any of the red tape he had as a cop. In the end, he has to make a choice, cop or criminal. Work with society and be dishonest to yourself, or work outside of society and be dishonest to "the system".

On the other hand, there's David, a lawyer with a nice wife, house, and kid, but also happens to be a major drug dealer. He too must make the same difficult choice, even stating in the film, "I want my cake and eat it too", which truthfully shows that it is a hard decision.

While Deep Cover is labeled by most as a "hood movie", it is quite different in it's themes from most films in that genre. Instead of simply presenting the inner cities' problems, the filmmakers here try to answer the question of why. Why do young people feel the need to become criminals? Perhaps it's because of the bureaucratic nature of a society that turns it's back on those with strong uncompromising individuality coupled with low income. Maybe not. But unlike most films that answer all the questions they present for their audiences, Deep Cover simply asks the questions, and leaves the answers up to its audience.

The filmmaking here is intelligent, the subject matter is interesting, and the audience is treated with an amount of respect that isn't easy to find in modern film. No, the film isn't perfect, but at least in my eyes, it's very close to being so.

Deep Cover (1992) is a movie I recently watched for the first time in a long time on HBOMAX. The storyline follows a Los Angeles Detective who is assigned an under cover mission to bring down a drug cartel. He quickly discovers he may be a better drug dealer than police officer, he's definitely more accepted as one. As leadership changes within his division the police officer becomes torn on his next steps on if he should stay undercover or quit.

This movie is directed by Bill Duke (Hoodlum) and stars Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix), Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park), Lira Angel (Tales from the Hood), Victoria Dillard (Ali), Jaime Cardriche (A Different World) and Anna Berger (The Taking of Pelham One Two Three).

The narration and back story is very well delivered. The sound track is excellent as is the acting. Goldblum was fun and Fishburne was perfect for this role. Fishburne was excellent in this movie and his character and the storyline evolves well and is very entertaining.

Overall this isn't the best drug trafficking movie in the world, or as good as New Jack City, but it is entertaining and worth a viewing. I would score this a 6.5-7/10 and strongly recommend seeing it once.

I thought it was quite badly miscast. Goldblum? Totally wrong surely? I didnt buy his performance one bit. Plus Sydney Lassick, ha, I love the guy, Cheswickkkkk, however he just sticks out like a sore thumb. The film's ok, actually its not really. Far too cartoon for its own good in my opinion.

"Deep Cover" is all about a cop (Fishburn) who goes undercover as a narc and pretty much manages to help a little kid and rescue a babe while single handedly solving all of the West Coast drug trafficking problems. If this sounds like so much B.S., well, it is and "Deep Cover" is pretty much your garden variety Hollywood three star B.S. flick. On the short side the characters are all stereotypes from bygone days; the film's too melodramatic and silly in places; and the production was journeyman level stuff. Nonetheless, the "Deep Cover" did have an interesting noir moodiness with some philosophical narration by Fishburn and should make an enjoyable couch potato watch for those who are into gritty crime dramas. (B-)

I saw it at one of those screenings in London where no one knows what the movie is going to be until it starts up. When the words "Deep Cover" came up on the screen the packed cinema let out a notable "wha ?"...seemed, like me, no one else had ever heard of this.

Usually at such showings you expect to see a movie that is something of a classic one way or another, so you could sense the genuine disappointment in the crowd.

As a few folk began to get their coats and make to leave, the start up credits rolled, and the words "Larry Fishburne" appeared and the audience let out another "Wha... ?", And then Jeff Goldblum... And the audience settled down again.... Here was a movie with 2 great actors, this might be good.

Well it started off ok, with Larry getting his story setup, and had some interesting scenes. The early "interview" with the question about the N word certainly caused some odd reactions in my audience, with a kind of embarrassed laugh from.some corners... What the heck were we watching. Was this a comedy ?... Well as it proceeded it seems maybe not as it just started to follow similar undercover cop stories. For a while.

And then Jeff Goldblum appeared. Wow what an incredible performance, so funny. So so funny.

I don't think I have ever seen anything like what he does in this movie which was probably meant to be a kind of 'Scarface' for the 90s, but he just saunters away doing this own thing for much of it. It's completely out of step with the rest of the movie...

But it really does work

I think my audience laughed almost as much as watching say Blazing Saddles (well, nah... Buy close).

Deffo worth a watch. If you get a chance to see it in a busy cinema screen, do it.

This was really a perfect movie for this genre of film. The understated quality acting of Lawrence Fishburne is superb. I really enjoyed seeing the main character's downward spiral. There is excellent character development through the plot which is not the usual cliché. The acting all around is very high caliber, and the tone and pace of the film (directing) is spot on. Highly recommended, highly watchable, one of my top ten favorite films. Films are always better when there is dramatic conflict, and seeing the main character torn apart slowly provides compelling cinema. More films should be made like this! (with less explosions / body counts etc...) As a frame of reference - I am a huge fan of the early James Bond (connery) films, and can't stand the new ones...

I must admit that I wasn't with the critics on this one. This movie was so boring that I fell asleep twice and still didn't care how it turned out. I liked seeing Jeff Golblum in the heavy role, but the movie did nothing for me. It was very dark and moody but the characters were ultimately very boring. Don't waste your time.

Deep Cover is directed by Bill Duke and written by Michael Tolkin and Henry Bean. It stars Larry Fishburne, Jeff Goldblum, Charles Martin Smith, Victoria Dillard and Gregory Sierra. Music is by Michel Colombier and cinematography by Bojan Bazelli.

Traumatised as a youngster by the death of his junkie father, Russell Stevens (Fishburne) becomes a police officer. Passing an interview with DEA Agent Gerald Carver (Smith), Stevens goes undercover to bust a major drug gang that has links to high places. But the closer he gets in with the targets, the deeper he gets involved - emotionally and psychologically.

A splendid slice of gritty neo-noir, Deep Cover follows a classic film noir theme of a man descending into a world he really shouldn't be part of. This is a shifty and grungy Los Angeles, awash with blood money, single parents prepared to sell their kids, where kids in their early teens mule for the dealers and get killed in the process. A place of dimly lighted bars and pool halls, of dank streets and scrap yards, and of course of violence and misery.

The look and tone of the picture is as intense as the characterisations on show. Duke (A Rage in Harlem) knows some tricks to imbue psychological distortion, canted angles, step-print framing, slow angled lensing, jump cuts and sweaty close ups. Bazelli photographs with a deliberate urban feel, making red prominent and black a lurking menace. While the musical accompaniments flit in between hip-hop thunder and jazzy blues lightning.

Fishburne provides a narration that works exceptionally well, harking back to classic noirs of yesteryear. As this grim tale unfolds, his distressingly down-beat tone goes hand in hand with the narrative's sharp edges. The screenplay is always smart and cutting, mixing political hog-wash and social commentary with the harsh realities of lives dominated by drugs - the users - the sellers - the cartel, and the cop going deeper underground...

Great performances from the leading players seal the deal here (Goldblum is not miscast he's the perfect opposite foil for Fishburne's broody fire), and while some clichés are within the play, the production as mounted, with the narrative devices of identification destruction (hello 2 masks) and that violence begets violence, marks this out as one the neo-noir crowd should note down as a must see. 8/10

This movie could have been a classic. However, it steps out of it's own realm of reality with stupid plot "twists" that don't make any sense. It starts out taking the story seriously, then becomes a bad graphic novel. Too many unrealistic situations that lead to a completely un-plausible, and stupid ending. Fishburnes acting is really good, but other cast members are directed poorly and the acting is off. This is evident with Jeff Goldblums character. Goldblum is awesome, but he was a victim of bad direction here, as were some other characters, like Charles Martin Smith. Very unfortunate. A tad better script and better direction would have done it. 6 out of 10 at best.

"Politicians like the dark faces (arrested) so they can scare the suburbs into voting Republican."

Laurence Fishburne is wonderful in this. His character's descent into morally grey areas with inevitable complications as he goes undercover was a fine update to film noir, complete with narration. It threatened to unravel in its final half hour (the little boy re-appearing, the preacher cop, just how far the undercover cop takes things, etc), but the grittiness of the drama and the searing points it made about race and the government's duplicity in the war on drugs carried the day. Definitely worth checking out.

It's 1972 Cleveland. As a child, Russell Stevens Jr. witnesses his drug addicted father get killed. He vows never to touch drugs. 20 years later, he (Laurence Fishburne) is a beat cop in Cincinnati. He is recruited into going undercover for the DEA by Special Agent Gerald Carver. In L.A., he is going after importer Anton Gallegos and his uncle south American politician Hector Gúzman. He connects with street dealer Eddie Dudley who gets him arrested. Drug lawyer David Jason (Jeff Goldblum) takes his case and introduces him to Gallegos.

Laurence Fishburne and Jeff Goldblum are good. However I don't like Fishburne's narration which drains the movie of its tension and thrills. I don't think the story or the characters are anything original. Maybe the narration kept me from enjoying this more and finding that specialness.

See a Jef Goldblum total transformation from meek family man to a total nasty. See Laurence Fishburne drive a limo like a Lamborgini and outrun a flotilla of police cars. Hear Fishburne describe what you are seeing on screen, because of the weak script. Now make the photography as grimy as possible, and throw realism out the window. Let's not forget Charles Martin Smith, who sits in one room for most of the film, with occasional visits from Fishburne. If all this sounds pretty boring, you would be correct. Eventually as the nonsense is piled on, I couldn't take any more, and hit the fast forward button. Everything in a movie should attempt to make at least a little bit of sense. Unfortunately "Deep Cover" misses the sense meter by a wide margin. - MERK