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Above the Law (1988 film)

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For the 1989 American action film released in the Philippines as Above the Law, see Action U.S.A.

Above the Law
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAndrew Davis
Screenplay by
Story by
Produced by
  • Steven Seagal
  • Andrew Davis
Starring
CinematographyRobert Steadman
Edited byMichael Brown
Music byDavid Michael Frank
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • April 8, 1988 (1988-04-08) (US)
Running time
99 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
Language
  • English
Budget$7.5 million[2]
Box office$18.8 million

Above the Law (also known as Nico: Above the Law,[3] or simply Nico[4]) is a 1988 American action thriller film co-written, produced and directed by Andrew Davis. It marked the film debut of Steven Seagal, who also produced the film and co-authored the story alongside Davis, and stars Seagal alongside Pam Grier, Sharon Stone, Ron Dean and Henry Silva. Seagal plays Nico Toscani, an ex-CIA agent, an Aikido specialist and a Chicago policeman who discovers a conspiracy upon investigating a mysterious shipment of military explosives seized from a narcotics dealer.

The film originated after a successful screen test financed by Michael Ovitz, leading to Seagal being offered a contract by Warner Bros. It was set and filmed on location in Chicago, Davis’ hometown.[5] The film premiered in the United States on April 8, 1988, becoming a commercial success despite mixed reviews, and launching Seagal’s acting career. Above the Law is regarded as the first American film to feature Aikido in fight sequences.[6]

Plot

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Nicolo “Nico” Toscani is an expert martial artist, who is recruited by the CIA during the Vietnam War. While serving in covert operations on the Vietnamese-Cambodian border, he became disgusted with agent Kurt Zagon, who tortures prisoners. A stand-off occurred when Toscani tries to stop him, and he leaves the CIA.

Years later, Toscani is now married and a detective in the Chicago Police Department’s vice squad. Toscani and his new partner Delores "Jacks" Jackson are investigating a drug ring, and after busting two of the dealers, including Salvadorian kingpin Tony Salvano, Toscani finds C-4 explosives. Shortly afterward, the men that Toscani and Jackson arrested are released at the request of federal officials, and Toscani is ordered to stand down. Later, the priest of Toscani's parish is killed in an explosion during Mass. Toscani’s old CIA handler Nelson Fox contacts him and tells him to move his family to a safer location, saying that he is in danger. Under pressure from the feds, Toscani is asked to turn in his badge. He eventually discovers that the dealers he busted are linked to Kurt Zagon, who is still with the CIA, and who is being accused of human rights violations by a Central American priest who was being sheltered by Toscani's priest. While Zagon is torturing the priest, Toscani bursts in and a gun battle ensues. Detectives Jackson and Lukich are wounded during the shootout, and Toscani has to flee.

Senator Ernest Harrison is investigating Zagon's group to reveal their ties to drug trafficking. When Toscani finds out that Zagon killed the priest and is planning to kill Harrison, he goes after him. Fox confronts Toscani while the latter is doing surveillance on a rooftop, but they are later interrupted by Zagon's men. Fox is killed and Toscani is captured. He is held in the kitchen of a hotel during a Harrison campaign rally. Before Zagon can kill Harrison, Toscani breaks free and kills Zagon and all of his remaining men. Afterwards, Toscani meets Harrison, who has been informed of everything. Harrison promises justice and Toscani says he is now willing to testify about his experiences with Zagon and covert operations in the CIA.

Cast

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Production

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It has been reported that Steven Seagal was asked to make the film by his former aikido pupil, agent Michael Ovitz, who believed that he could make anyone a movie star.[7] Seagal had previously worked as a film stunt performer and fight choreographer, as well as a celebrity bodyguard, but Above the Law was his acting debut.[8] In addition to starring in the film, Seagal functioned as a producer, a co-screenwriter, and fight choreographer.

Seagal has claimed that portions of the film are autobiographical, and that he was employed by the CIA during the 1970's, initially as a martial arts instructor.[9] His wife at the time, Miyako Fujitani, has denied these claims, and there is no evidence Seagal has ever worked with the Central Intelligence Agency.[9]

Filming

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Shooting took place in Chicago, Illinois, over 60 days from April 27 to June 26, 1987.[8][10] The opening Vietnam War sequence was shot on a soundstage at Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank.

During the filming of the final fight scene, Henry Silva accidentally broke Seagal's nose.[10]

John C. Reilly made his film debut, appearing (uncredited) as one of the thugs in the bar brawl.

Release

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Home media

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Warner Bros. released the Region 1 DVD in the United States on January 28, 1998.[11] The Region 2 DVD was released in the United Kingdom on April 26, 1999.[12] The Region-free Blu-ray Disc was released on April 7, 2009.[13]

Reception

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Box office

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The film grossed $18,869,631 in the U.S.[14]

Critical response

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Above the Law received mixed reviews. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 50%, based on reviews from 20 critics, with an average rating of 5.2/10.[15] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.[16]

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times stated "It contains 50 percent more plot than it needs, but that allows it room to grow in areas not ordinarily covered in action thrillers."[17] In a negative review, Hal Hinson of The Washington Post criticized it as "woefully short on originality."[18][19] In another negative review, film historian Leonard Maltin described the picture as a "...slick but stupid action-fest; Seagal's thesping makes Chuck Norris seem like Laurence Olivier."[20]

Potential sequel

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Seagal tweeted plans for Above the Law 2 on August 1, 2016, but as of 2025 the project remains unproduced.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "NICO". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
  2. ^ Goldstein, Patrick (1988-02-14). "Steven Seagal Gets a Shot at Stardom". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
  3. ^ "Nico - Above the Law (1988)". MovieZine. Archived from the original on 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  4. ^ "Above the Law (Nico) (1988)". FilmAffinity. Archived from the original on 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  5. ^ Canby, Vincent (April 8, 1988). "'Above the Law,' a Detective's Battle". The New York Times. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  6. ^ Bill Palmer; Karen Palmer; Ric Meyers (January 1995). The Encyclopedia of Martial Arts Movies. Scarecrow Press, 1995. p. 2. ISBN 1461672759.
  7. ^ Goldstein, Patrick (February 14, 1988). "Steven Seagal Gets a Shot at Stardom". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  8. ^ a b "Perfect People". perfectpeople.net.
  9. ^ a b Farrell, Mary H.J.; Benet, Lorenzo; Fuhrman, Janice (November 19, 1990). "Sure, He's Making a Box-Office Killing—but Who Is Steven Seagal?". People. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  10. ^ a b "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  11. ^ "Above the Law DVD Release Date January 28, 1998". Blu-ray.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  12. ^ "Nico: Above the Law DVD Release Date April 26, 1999". Blu-ray.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  13. ^ "Above the Law Blu-ray release date April 7, 2009". Blu-ray.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  14. ^ "ABOVE THE LAW". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on December 19, 2009. Retrieved November 22, 2009.
  15. ^ "Above the Law". Rotten Tomatoes/Flixster. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  16. ^ "CinemaScore". cinemascore.com. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  17. ^ Ebert, Roger. "Above the Law". Rogerebert.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  18. ^ "Above the Law". The Washington Post. 1988-04-09. Archived from the original on 2012-11-11. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  19. ^ Canby, Vincent (1988-04-08). "Review/Film; 'Above the Law,' a Detective's Battle". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2013-11-14. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
  20. ^ Maltin's TV, Movie, & Video Guide
  21. ^ Porter, Jeff (2021-08-13). "Is Steven Seagal's 'Above The Law 2' Ever Really Going To Happen?". Screen Dynamite. Archived from the original on 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
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