RETRO MOVIE REVIEW: BUSTING (1974)

BUSTING (1974), written and directed by Peter Hyams. I love the tagline on the poster, “What this film exposes about undercover vice cops can’t be seen on your television set.” Even back in 74 they were trying to get people out to the movie theater. Although, television was much better back then.

Starring Elliot Gould as Detective Michael Keneely and Robert Blake as Detective Patrick Farrel. They’re two no-nonsense L.A. vice cops doing their best to keep crime off the streets within a dirty justice system. They kick ass building cases and busting criminals only to have their hard work continually sidelined by a rich, well connected, mobster by the name of Carl Rizzo played by the wonderful character actor Allen Garfield.

The 1970s ruled when it came to gritty urban cop flicks and BUSTING, in my humble opinion, tops the cinematic list. The film is not a high-dollar blockbuster, but it has the right attitude when it comes to crime on the streets of L.A. Keneely and Farrel’s investigative exploits run the criminal gauntlet, from high-end to low-end prostitution, drug dealing, numbers running, and indecent exposure. They sink deep into the muck of humanity and always seemed to get the short end of the stick.

Now, I’m going to go down a cinematic wormhole when I say this, but I think as a movie watcher, this is important; I feel this flick is a poor man’s FREEBIE AND THE BEAN (1974) which came out earlier in 74. Not to go on a tangent, but FREEBIE AND THE BEAN (my all-time favorite buddy cop flick) is a major Hollywood release with a massive budget (for its time). It’s a buddy cop flick that develops the characters very well. The film is loaded with many amazing action sequences, particularly car chases and stunt work. BUSTING has many similarities to FREEBIE AND THE BEAN, but at a lower budget level and going to a much darker place.

I guess the question is – why didn’t I review FREEBIE AND THE BEAN? Because I want the reader to take an extra step and do a little cinematic research. Watch FREEBIE AND THE BEAN and then watch BUSTING and you will see what I mean. The similarities are evident. That’s why I like both flicks.

Let’s get back to BUSTING. Keneely and Farrel are good cops and great partners, doing the right thing in a bad system. They catch the criminals only to see them walk because of their connections and the corruption in their department. They’re usually rewarded with an assignment to a terrible case like guarding a public bathroom in an attempt to bust perverted riff-raff. After a while, they get fed up and decide to defy orders and go after the mobster Rizzo on their own time.

It’s a risky proposition because they don’t have the power and the backing that Rizzo has and they suffer severely because of it. But it’s fun to watch the ride! There’s an amazing night time foot race with drug dealers through a hotel room, then a grocery store, and into a garment factory that’s amazing. Keneely and Farrel break up a clever drug deal in a hospital that ends with a cool ambulance chase. Yet the ending is not what you expect. It’s not all wrapped up in a pretty Hollywood bow.

If you are interested in a great gritty cop flick, this is where you should start. One of many in the glorious 1970s.