Scarred City (1999)

What makes it different from others?

Undescribable Perfection

Absolutely Fantastic

Blistering performances.

Given the middle of the road IMDb ratings I didn't expect much from this movie, but after viewing the trailer decided to give it a shot. Was I pleasantly surprised! The story about a cop with issues who joins the corrupt, homicidal, vigilante police unit, then sees the light and fights them is certainly not new, but this movie delivered on what it purports to be--an enjoyable, fast-paced action film. The three main actors were somewhat deadpan in their delivery, but that made their characters seem all the more...well, scarred. The movie contained all the ingredients for an engaging film: It had action, characters you care about, and even some romance. Hey, it's not "Ben-Hur" but it's a terrific little B film that worth checking out.

Director Ken Sanzel who also created the classic flick, Lone Hero 2002 has created another gem in Scar City.Starring Stephen Baldwin who has also been in other classic flicks, Born on the Fourth of July 1989, Last Exit to Brooklyn 1989 and The Beast of War 1988.Also starring Tia Carrere who has also been in other classic flicks, True Lies 1994, Showdown in Little Tokyo 1991 and Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man 1991.Also starring Renee Estevez who has also been in other classic flicks, Single White Female 1992, Intruder 1989, Heathers 1988 and another classic cop flick, Lethal Weapon 1987.Also starring Chazz Palminteri who has also been in another classic flick, Running Scared 2006.I enjoyed the violence.If you enjoyed this as much as I did then check out other classic cop flicks, Across 110th Street 1972, Assault on Precinct 13 1976, Back in Action 1993, Bad Boys II 2003, Bad Lieutenant 1992, Bloodfist V: Human Target 1994, Cobra 1986, Renegade Force 1998, Breach of Trust 1995, God Told Me To 1976, Die Hard 4.0 2007, Dirty Harry 1971, Extreme Justice 1993, Face/Off 1997, Fair Game 1995, Game of Death 2010, The Gauntlet 1977, Internal Affairs 1990, L.A. Confidential 1997, Last Man Standing 1996, The Last Marshal 1999, Magnum Force 1973, I Love a Man in Uniform 1993, Maniac Cop 2 1990, Martial Law II: Undercover 1992, Maximum Risk 1996, Out for Justice 1991, Phoenix 1998, Rapid Fire 1992, Ricochet 1991, Shallow Ground 2004, Sinners and Saints 2010, State of Grace 1990, Sudden Impact 1983, Surveillance 2008, The Sweeper 1996, Training Day 2001, Until Death 2007, Street Kings 2: Motor City 2011, The Last Stand 2013, The Raid 2 2014, S.W.A.T.: Firefight 2011, Assault on Precinct 13 2005, Gridlocked 2015, The Hollow Point 2016, Patriots Day 2016, A Hard Day 2014, Blue Steel 1989, S.W.A.T.: Under Siege 2017, Unlawful Entry 1992, The French Connection 1971 and The Untouchables 1987.

Scar City is the inspirational story of New York City's first fully functional retarded police officer, John Trace (Stephen Baldwin), who is recruited to work in the special S.C.A.R. unit run by Lieutenant Laine Devon (Chaz Palmenteri). Trace goes through the usual rookie hazing, but has a harder time with it than most, because of his inability to understand what is happening. Tia Carerre plays a titty bar vixen who spends half the movie uninvolved with the plot but finds her way in at Trace's first raid with his new unit. From there on the helpless Carerre relies on Trace to keep her safe from the baddies. There are some amazing moments where the retarded Trace walks on top of cars instead of going around them and shoots his pistol over and around his head. The line, "Don't think once," sums up the movie pretty well. I won't spoil it for you but Trace's journey through the crooked NYPD as the first fully functional retarded officer is as hard to watch as it is inspirational. I'm not sure if this was inspired by a true story or not, but if it was I'm sure that whoever the trailblazer was who is the real John Trace would be thrilled with the accurate portrayal of the mentally retarded by Stephen Baldwin.

I had the chance to watch this for free and I've got to say it was worth every penny. Seriously, it was not nearly as bad as it could have been. It's a decent if never surprising "action" movie with a bit of cleavage and lingerie thrown in. I felt that a lot of parts seemed thrown together and rushed, but I've seen a whole lot worse.