The Onion Field (1979)

Directed by Harold Becker. Starring James Woods, John Savage, Franklyn Seales, Ted Danson, Ronny Cox, Dianne Hull, David Huffman, Lee Weaver, Christopher Lloyd, Beege Barkett, Priscilla Pointer. [R]

Troubling drama, based on a true story, about two policemen (Savage, Danson) who are kidnapped by criminals (Woods, Seales) during a traffic stop. In the aftermath, the wheels of justice are infuriatingly slow and one of the cops is haunted by the events to the point of alienation and nervous collapse. Unforgettable performances, particularly by Woods in his first lead role in a feature film, drive this uncompromisingly realistic procedural, never offering easy answers or crowd-satisfying solutions, culminating in a defeated anti-climax that leaves much to reflect upon. After the distressing events out in the titular onion field, the second half has a tendency to lose focus and lurch through time (the court case and appeals take place over several years), with some scenes left underdeveloped and others feeling almost unnecessary. The scene where Savage breaks down at home is chilling. Script by Joseph Wambaugh, adapting his own book.

79/100