Lack of good storyline.

I gave it a 7.5 out of 10

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Police detective Terry McCain (Thomas Ian Griffith) leads a raid on Sal DiMarco (Burt Young)'s operation in an action packed gun battle. Sal is released in court due to excessive force. Sal lost $3 million and he wants his money back. Terry's boss Devlin (Lance Henriksen) is tired of Terry's short fuse. He plays the piano to wind down in Jake (James Earl Jones)'s jazz club. His police partner is Frankie Hawkins (Tony Todd).Thomas Ian Griffith can kick but he has absolutely no charisma. The guy is better off as a stuntman or a non-speaking thug. He should not lead a movie no matter how low the expectations. He fades into the background. It's odd to have so many better actors on the screen. This could be a functional 90s action B-movie if a more compelling personality is leading.

At first I thought this was a generic 90's Segal/Van Damme wannabe production and only looked at it because Charlotte Lewis graces the screen. She's of Irish/Iraqui/Chilean heritage and is quite the exotic looking hottie. So I thought I'd spend some time fast forwarding through a lame actioner looking for a little Carlotte Lewis sugar. But something surprising happened, the movie was actually good. It has several strong points not he least of which is that in addition to setting the movie in Chicago, the creators actually shot in in Chicago, as opposed to Toronto. I love playing the "Guess where they shot that" game. EXCESSIVE FORCE shows off the Windy City in its best and worst lights. You get the beauty and the warts. I think viewers get a feel for the city. Charlotte Lewis is of course beautiful, exotic sultry and just about anything you could want in an action star's girlfriend. She even gets to use an Uzi and that scene will get your heart rate up. Thomas Ian Griffith turns in a more intelligent script and performance than I thought him possible. Really pleasantly surprised. he also seems to know the city a little more than the usual Hollywood writer and that's always good. His script even has a little texture to it. You've got a great supporting cast too what with James Earle Jones, Lance Henricksen and Burt Young all turning in their usual solid performances in whatever roll it is they were playing. Ian Gomez, who was pretty funny in The Drew Carey Show has a bit role too. What you have here is a surprisingly good movie that has plenty of bone crushing action and is just good looking enough and just smart enough to raise it above the howling pack. I wish Griffith would have kept making movies because he could have turned into a really solid lower budget action movie creator. So too paraphrase old Tymie British poet Robert Herrick, "Gather ye Thomas Ian Griffith movies while ye may".

i liked this movie.sure ti's your typical action/crime drama film,but Thomas Ian Griffith makes a pretty credible action star.plus Burt Young was very convincing as a mob boss.there's certainly plenty of action here,but it's not too over the top.i thought the fight scenes were more realistic than in most movies of the genre.Griffith displays some great moves.which suggest he is very skilled in fighting himself,or the fight choreography was very well done.what's refreshing is there are no flashy camera tricks this time around.the movie moves at a good pace,and there are a few twists and turns,which make it more interesting.it is unrealistic at times,of course.Griffith is basically a one man army,against what should be overwhelming odds.other than that this is an entertaining 95 minutes.i give Excessive Force a 7/10

Thomas Ian Griffith stars as Terry McCain, a hard-boiled cop (I don't think there exists a different brand in these type of movies) who looks to avenge his partner after the death of his partner at the hands of a mobster (Played well by Burt Young) however when the mobster turns out dead, despite the mercy McCain bestowed on to him, McCain seeks the ones responsible and finds a conspiracy involved. James Earl Jones lands an embarrassing role as Griffith's would be mentor. Excessive Force is one of the blandest action flicks ever made. Its low degree of style as well as witless plot contrivances make for very dull going. Griffith's performance also grates the nerves since he looks like a used car salesman, rather than one man army cop. The good cast is ultimately wasted, Especially Jones who seems bored with the role, as does Henriksen who could do his role in his sleep. The only real life comes from villain Burt Young but he is ultimately wasted as he is killed off early. Therefore leaving us with a cast to flounder with such labored material.* out of 4-(Bad)