very weak, unfortunately

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Sneering, vile, sleezy pretty boys...they all have something in common and its not acting ability, its called ego...these pretty boys are just glorified skirt chasers and think monogamy is a swear word...the body language dares you to hit them despite the fact they are cops...and there you have it....macho men in macho jobs...it'll have women swooning in the aisles...not...they are still playing the same roles today...lousy actors

Internal Affairs is really nothing new and it adds no interesting takes to an already worn-out genre of cops. That being said, this is a watchable film thanks to Richard Gere's crazy performance. There is plenty of action and creative scenes of dialogue. Despite the worn-out tropes, the film is thrilling at times and even downright scary, which is a plus for an action-thriller. This film is about a young cop named Raymond Avila who joins the LAPD. Dennis Peck is a veteran cop who does things his way and in essence, is a crooked cop. Now Raymond has Dennis in his sight as he will investigate him and try to bring him down. Richard Gere's excellent performance is the one thing that carries the film. He is often cast as the good guy, so it's a good change of pace here. He is portrayed as normal, but he has an inner evil self and when that side emerges, all hell breaks lose. Andy Garcia as Raymond also does a swell job and he shows great chemistry with Gere. Overall, if you're looking for something new in the genre of cops, Internal Affairs is not for you. If you're looking for an action-packed, entertaining film that has a great lead performance by Richard Gere, then this film may be for you. It's nothing new, but I had a rather good time watching it.My Grade: B-

Films about cops investigating cops are a common currency, but in Mike Figgis's early thriller, 'Internal Affairs', there are already signs of the director's distinctive approach: the almost symbolic way in which the characters are depicted, the way the scenes are framed and the use of music, which Figgis co-wrote. The problem with the film is rather the plot: has any real suspect in an investigation attempted to throw the investigator off the trail by encouraging sexual anxieties in him by making designs on his wife? Another problem is that the said suspect is played by Richard Gere: Gere's character becomes increasingly psychotic as the film develops, but incongruously never losing his trademark suaveness. By the end, it's a bit of a mess: at one point the female lead accuses the male protagonists of effectively staging a dick-swinging contest, but the final scene is effectively exactly one of those, with even Andy Garcia's "good cop" acting with apparent total disregard for the well-being of his wife (who he has, it should be noted, hit in public earlier in the movie): the film becomes increasingly unpleasant and decreasingly plausible as it progresses. Still, the first signs of Figgis's talent are undoubtedly there, even if the script is decidedly not.

"Internal Affairs" is a solid cop thriller with a great cast; not only the two leads, but also with notable performances from Nancy Travis and Laurie Metcalf. It's a wicked game of psychological warfare as I.A. detective Andy Garcia goes up against corrupt LAPD cop Richard Gere. But Gere isn't the usual bribe-taking sort of dirty. No-ho-ho, he's the kind of villainous monster that plays mind-games, manipulates and torments his enemies. And he's got that face that just knows how to sway between smarmy and vindictive prick with ease. It's not the larger-than-life performance of, say, Denzel Washington in "Training Day", but it is the kind you see in your nightmares. The wolf in sheep's clothing you don't see coming. You just want to punch the teeth out of this guy. It's a sick and twisted brand of villainy that allows Gere to steal the show. Good movie. Slow burn, but not boring.7/10