“Q & A” (1990) starring Nick Nolte, Timothy Hutton and Armand Assante / Z-View

Q & A (1990)

Director:  Sidney Lumet

Screenplay: Sidney Lumet based on the novel Q & A by Edwin Torres

Stars: Nick Nolte, Timothy Hutton, Armand Assante, Patrick O’Neal, Lee Richardson, Luis Guzmán, Charles S. Dutton, Jenny Lumet, Paul Calderon, Dominic Chianese, Leonardo Cimino, Fyvush Finkel and John Capodice

Tagline: When the questions are dangerous, the answers can be deadly.

The Plot…

Late one night Al Reilly (Hutton) is awakened by a call from Kevin Quinn (O’Neal), the head of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau.  Quinn wants Reilly to investigate a police shooting.  Mike Brennan (Nolte) a decorated NY city cop with a reputation for being tough killed a small-time Puerto Rican hood.  Brennan claims it was self-defense.  Quinn tells Reilly it’s an open-and-shut case.

Reilly, Detective Luis Valentin (Guzmán) and Detective Sam Chapman (Dutton) conduct a Q & A of all the witnesses.  Brennan claims he was following up on an informant’s tip and shot in self-defense.  Bobby Texador (Assante) a Puerto Rican crime boss was there. He says he didn’t see a thing.  It turns out Texador’s wife, Nancy (Lumet) was once involved with Reilly.  She disappeared from Reilly’s life six years ago without a word.  Texador tells Reilly he knows about the relationship and threatens him.

Quinn wants Reilly to wrap up the investigation and clear Brennan.  Reilly and Valentine don’t believe that things went down the way Brennan says.  Chapman warns them that Brennan has connections upstairs and with some shady folks.  Reilly decides to dig deeper.

When Brennan finds out Reilly is still investigating the shooting he threatens Reilly. Now Reilly is feeling pressure from his boss, plus the threats from Brennan and Texador have him on edge.  Many people will die before the truth is known… but will justice win out?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Sidney Lumet pulled together an all-star cast for Q & A.  Nick Nolte, Timothy Hutton and Armand Assante have never been better.  Luis Guzmán and Charles S. Dutton are always solid.  Jenny Lumet (Sidney Lumet’s daughter) is perfect in her role as Assante and Hutton’s love interest.  A special shout out for Fyvush Finkel’s performance as a slimy lawyer.

Sidney Lumet made several great films during his career.  He was nominated for Academy Awards as Best Director five times.  Although Q & A didn’t get the same recognition, it should have.

Q & A is set up so that the audience knows from the start that Brennan is a cold-blooded killer.  We know the danger that Reilly is in before he does.  The tension builds as Reilly digs deeper.  The mystery for the audience isn’t IF Brennan murdered the guy, but WHY he murdered him.  There’s also the subplot of why Reilly’s girl left him all those years ago.  How did she end up with the crime boss Bobby Texador?  And what will Texador do when he finds out Reilly still loves his wife?

Q & A earns 5 of 5 stars.