This is a watchable film, despite the ?creative? pairing of Frank Sinatra and Faye Dunaway. I was attracted to this film only because I wanted to see what kind of role Sinatra was playing in his twilight years. Now I know. He?s a tough, New York homicide detective (Edward X. Delaney) nearing retirement. He?s seen it all and wants to crack one final case before he hangs up his badge.

As we follow Delaney?s relentless pursuit of a serial killer who roams the streets of Manhattan killing at random, we also follow Delaney?s personal struggle. His wife, Barbara, (Dunaway) is hospitalised with a life threatening illness throughout the film, and the doting Delaney is regularly at her bedside with flowers. Cheesy bedside conversations and much hand holding between the two follow as she lapses in and out of unconsciousness. Sure wouldn?t have taken Dunaway long to learn her lines for this ?starring? role!

This plotline was really uninspiring, but did give Delaney the chance to unleash his frustration by roughing up his wife?s doctor a little, and probably explains his decision to solve the murder inquiry his way! Keep your eyes peeled in the very last scene for what appears to be Dunaway?s heaving chest ? it takes the sting out of the intended emotional intensity of the moment. I won?t spoil the ending, but I thought it was tacky and annoying. Careless acting or not? You decide. Oh well, few films are perfect!

On the plus side, there are moments of suspense. The early glimpses we get of the killer held promise, and the way in which Delaney goes about solving the case showed a certain style and intelligence. The down side was the ultimately stereotypical portrayal of the killer as an isolated white collar loony who confesses their weird psychology as their personality changes from simpering child to angry adult. Crying naked in the bathtub is a popular image, as is the clean, minimalist apartment ? this film?s got the stereotype down to a fine art.

THE EXTRAS

Very basic, unless you consider scene selection and interactive menus a special feature! However, there are English/English for the hearing impaired subtitles included.

CONCLUSION

I?ve seen better films, I?ve seen worse films - Sinatra and Dunaway star in this 80?s cop vs maniac thriller. Lots of stereotypes are to be found, but it is a watchable film, despite some corny scenes. No extras to speak of, and certainly not as gritty and trigger happy as the ?Dirty Harry? series, but anyone who likes NYC cop dramas should find this decent entertainment. Dunaway fans be warned; she doesn?t do anything except lie unglamorously in a hospital bed the whole time. At least Sinatra has a decent ?rug? in this film!