“The first thing a cop learns is that he cant trust nobody but his partners,” Detective Danny Ciello tells an assistant D.A. “I sleep with my wife, but I live with my partners. I will never give them up.” From Robery Daleys riveting book about New York City police-corruption investigations, director/cowriter Sidney Lumets film portrays a squad that pays a terrible price when one in its ranks does just that. Treat Williams (as Ciello, inspired by real-life undercover narcotics cop Robert Leuci), Jerry Orbach, Bob Balaban and Lindsay Crouse give standout performance in this gripping film. Lumet also stands out, garnering the New York Film Critics Best Director Award and an Oscar Nomination (with Jay Presson Allen) for the screenplay.
