Seagal Double Feature [The Early Years]: Above the Law (1988) + Out for Justice (1991)

Director: Andrew Davis

Cast: Steven Seagal, Pam Grier, Sharon Stone, Henry Silva

Country: United States

Rating: R

Run Time: 99 minutes

As part of my Seagal double feature review, I bring you Seagal's very first film: Above the Law. Seagal's debut film is a solid and fantastic action film. What makes it even more solid is that this was the very first film that Seagal ever appeared in and yet he was the star. No other action icon started off as the star. Stallone, Arnold, and Van Cleef all took several years before they found their break out films. But not Seagal, he found it with his very first film!

Of the three Seagal films that I have watched so far, this is definitely the best one. It shows exactly why Seagal became an action star. He's lean, aggressive, witty, and skilled with a gun. Directed by Andrew Davis (who also directed Seagal's biggest hit, Under Siege), Above the Law is a cop thriller in the vein of Dirty Harry (1971) and The French Connection (1971). Seagal plays Nico Toscani, a no nonsense cop who lives in Chicago. He and his partner Jacks (Pam Grier) discover that the CIA have connections with the rise in crime in the city. Nico eventually learns that an old CIA operative he once knew, Kurt Zagon (Henry Silva), is planning to assassinate the state senator and it's up to Nico to stop him.

I was caught off guard by just how complex the plot of this film was. This is not your average Dirty Harry crime film. Above the Law kicks butt and attacks the CIA and calls out their illegal methods. The film balances both this anti-CIA message and introducing Steven Seagal to the world at the same time. Director Andrew Davis crafts a fine action film that reminds the viewer why the age of the action icon was such a great time in cinema.

Seagal gives an excellent performance as Nico, the tough as nails cop that no one dare mess with. If you get in Nico's face, he'll punch your nose and snap your arm like nobody's business! We also witness Nico's kindness as he holds his crying wife, christens his new born child, and helps out friends and family. There are few action heroes who balance being both a realistic person and an ass kicker. Seagal's "Nico" is exactly that. It's also worth mentioning that Nico's name is mentioned maybe two hundred or so times it's ridiculous. If you are planning on playing a drinking game whenever Nico's name is called, you are most definitely going to get hammered.

I also loved the heck out of Henry Silva (Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai) and Pam Grier (Jackie Brown) in this film. Grier is an awesome actress to watch and I love the heck out of her. She is simply a blast of energy to watch in this film. Henry Silva is also one of my favorite character actors. Whenever Silva pops up as a seedy and devilish villain (Code of Silence, Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai) you know you are in for a treat. He does a great job in this film as Zagon, a cruel and sadistic man with a love for torturing his victims with a truth serum. 

Many people make a mockery out of Steven Seagal and consider him to be one of the worst action stars of all time. I theorize that if Seagal had died after he had made his first five or so films, he would be hailed as one of the greatest action stars of all time like Bruce or Brandon Lee. Above the Law is the greatest debut of any action star and Seagal proves that he had the action chops all the way back in 1988. I wish Seagal and director Andrew Davis would reunite for a third film because they make for a great director/actor duo. 

Rating: 8/10 - An awesome action film packed with shootouts, fist fights, and car chases. Seagal's debut had it all.

Director: John Flynn

Cast: Steven Seagal, William Forsythe, Gina Gershon, Jo Champa, Jerry Orbach

Country: United States
Rating: R
Run Time: 91 minutes

If Seagal's films have taught me anything, it is that Seagal's characters always have the best names! Look at some of these: Nico Toscani, Mason Storm, Casey Ryback, John Hatcher, and now Gino Felino. Dang, whoever was writing Seagal's early films knew how to name the guy's characters. The posters for his earliest films were also excellent. Look how awesome Seagal looks in that poster! All he has to do is hold a shotgun and stare at you as smoke billows around him to look menacing.

Even though Out for Justice lacks Above the Law's awesome amount of action, the film makes up for it with a far more basic plot. Gino Felino's (Steven Seagal) partner Bobby Lupo is gunned down by the drug crazed Richie Madano (William Forsythe). Detective Gino than sets out on a night long trip to find Richie, kill him, and avenge his partner's death. It's as simple as a Seagal film can come ladies and gentlemen.

Seagal is in full Seagal mode in this film. He's adopting abandoned dogs, rocking a ponytail, wearing sleeveless t-shirts, and breaking teeth with cue balls and cue sticks! Even though I'll never find Seagal's personal clothing style to be bad ass the way I find Clint Eastwood or Chow Yun Fat's personal style to be, I still find it entertaining to look at.

I have even less to say about this film than Above the Law. Seagal simply goes from action scene to action scene as he looks for the cruel bastard who gunned down his best friend. I do think that the dramatic scenes in between each action scene are quite boring. The scenes just drag on and on and become quite monontonous. The filmmakers were clearly trying to make a very Brooklyn, New York wise film but seemed to get bogged down with these slow portions of the film and the cornball montages (minus the awesome "No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn" montage, the Beastie Boys are always welcome).

William Forsythe is certifiably insane in this film! When a woman honks at him in her car, Forsythe steps out, grabs her head, and shoots her point blank! It's horrible! He deserves the beat down that he receives from Seagal at the film's end. There is no need to say spoiler alert people. You know Forsythe is gonna get it and Seagal most definitely messes him up.

Out for Justice can be summed up in one scene. Seagal holds a shotgun up and aims it at a thug. The thug turns and aims his pistol at Seagal. Seagal fires his shotgun and blows the guys leg clean off! As the poor guy screams and cries about his wound, Seagal shrugs the moment off and just walks away. Now that is what I call entertainment!

Rating: 7/10 - While a tad slow and boring during the second act, Out for Justice packs great action scenes and some truly gritty Seagal kills to boot.