Beyond the Law

Man, I’m telling you, this movie was psyche-freaking-delic. The Czech dubbing too, it gave the movie such a punch that it nearly knocked me off my feet. Everything here is tough. This fierce 1990s action movie is what my memories have been missing. A movie I know I’ll never forget. Charlie Sheen looks as if he was born for these kinds of roles. Absolutely perfect! (18.04.2018)

Some audiences consider Beyond the Law to be a forgettable cheesy B-movie with a ridiculous, wannabe Charlie Sheen that comes across like in Hot Shots but someone cut all the jokes out. Others, on the other hand, consider it an underrated, serious thriller with a convincing Charlie Sheen and a well-captured biker subculture (some of whom even bought a motorcycle for it). I guess it depends on how old you are and how seriously you can take it. Sheen was an odd choice for the role of the undercover cop who gradually turns into a tough, hairy biker until he goes nuts. From the moment he grows his hair long and starts acting tough, you just can't help but think of Topper Harley from both installments of Hot Shots, between which he made this film. But Sheen puts such energy into his role that there are also times when you believe him. And the tension between him and the leader of the biker gang, played by Michael Madsen, also works at times. The film is otherwise a hodgepodge of the most clichéd crime thrillers about undercover cops (even though it was supposedly written by life itself and based on a true story). It doesn't for a moment deny the time of its creation, and its plot regularly moves forward through silly montages, where you again can't help but think of Team America and the song “We're gonna need a montage”. Sheen meets the bikers – montage. Sheen learns to be a biker – montage. Sheen having sex – montage. Sheen dresses up in a biker suit – montage. Sheen riding a motorcycle – montage. They obviously didn't have enough footage for some of the montages, so there's no shortage of moments like when Sheen slides a gun into his shoe during the armament montage that he'd already slipped in a few shots earlier. But why not, when it's pretty cool to watch. There are cool motorcycles, cool western locations, cool wisecracks, cool rock music, and Linda Fiorentino (where is she these days?). (01.08.2017)