The Rookie Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES PLOT SUMMARY
Nick Pulovski is a cop, who is presently assigned to the auto theft division and who for the most part of his career has not done anything worthwhile. But when he discovers that a man named Strom is the brains behind a major car theft and chop shop ring, he sees this as his opportunity to do something. After his partner is killed, the case is then transfered to homicide, so he is taken off the case. And he is assigned a new partner, David Ackerman. a cop who has just recently been promoted to detective. But Pulovski feeling as if Strom is his decides to continue pursuing him but Ackerman who tries to play by the rules is not sure what to do, and he is also a little afraid cause of a childhood incident.
| Clint Eastwood | Nick Pulovski |
| Charlie Sheen | David Ackerman |
| Raul Julia | Strom |
| Sonia Braga | Liesl |
| Tom Skerritt | Eugene Ackerman |
| Lara Flynn Boyle | Sarah |
| Pepe Serna | Lt. Ray Garcia |
| Marco RodrÃguez | Loco |
| Pete Randall | Cruz |
| Donna Mitchell | Laura Ackerman |
| Xander Berkeley | Blackwell |
| Tony Plana | Morales |
| David Sherrill | Max |
| Hal Williams | Powell |
| Lloyd Nelson | Freeway Motorist |
| Clint Eastwood |
5.30 out of 10 (3170 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Clint Eastwood and Charlie Sheen are dynamite
posted on 28 Jun 2009Clint Eastwood has always been a hero of mine. It started when I saw Dirty Harry on tv when I was in the fourth grade and I have been cheering for him ever since! He is one of our true American icons! People don't realize how talented he is because of his quiet personality. For example, they don't realize that he directs most of his own films and The Rookie is one of them. I remember that I was so happy when he won the best director Oscar for Unforgiven in 1992 and it was also named as that year's best film. I felt that Clint had finally been given his just due! Eastwood said that he likes to make two films a year, in one he plays a typical Eastwood character like Dirty Harry or No Name, in the other he plays a different role like he did in The Bridges Of Madison County. The Rookie is typical "Clint". He plays a hard boiled cop that has to break in an eager young rookie to solve a string of car thefts. It may not sound like a very interesting plot, but Eastwood's masterful direction and the action sequences will keep you on the edge of your seat! In fact this film was in the Guiness Book of World Records for being the first Hollywood film in history to have more stunt people in the credits then actors! The most intense action scene in the film is where Clint and Charlie drive that car out of the warehouse window before the whole building explodes! It is wild beyond belief! Pairing these two actors in one film is a genius of casting in my book, it is a perfect blend of veteran know-how and youthful enthusiasm. Charlie is just like his father and brother in his acting ability. He more than does his part. He perfectly portrays Officer Ackerman's fear as a rookie and how he overcomes it in the end. There is a long stretch where Clint is taken hostage and he has to "carry" the film for a while and he does it in spades!
Poor old Clint
posted on 15 Mar 2009STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All CostsDavid Ackerman (Charlie Sheen) is a young cop who has recently been promoted to the Grand Auto Theft Division.David is in fact a rich kid from a rich family but is quite apparently genuinely motivated to become a cop.But beneath this facade,David is motivated by a burning desire to convince himself he is not an evil person after,as a child,he unwittingly lured his younger brother to his death.He finds himself partnered with Detective Nick Pulovski (a 60 year old Clint Eastwood,in typical loose cannon form) to chase after Strom (Raul Julia) the criminal mastermind leading a gang of car thieves and the cold-blooded murderer of Nick's former partner (what an original angle).Chases,gun-fire,explosions and buddy-banter ensue.As I stated,Clint was 60 when this was made,and unlike fellow action star Chuck Norris when he appeared in the film The President's Man,truly looks his age,haggard and even slightly dishevelled,making him chronically ill-suited to the leading role.He might have been able to detract from his inevitable physical appearance had he been given a script which gave him some clever lines and puns to work with.Sadly,The Rookie also fails in this department,with one as bland and uninspiring as they come.Matters aren't helped by a similarly lifeless,unthrilling soundtrack,which fails to liven up the proceedings or go any way in making them more exciting.As for the action scenes,yeah,there are one or two nice touches as far as these are concerned here or there,but they're either far too predictable or must have occured at some stage too far into the movie for your interest to have been sustained any longer.With all these faults already piled against the film,it's also far too long for it's own good,the longer it goes on,the more of a rambling,disconcerting effort it ends up becoming.Put it this way.For a film running at just under the two hour mark,when you've switched off after what can't be any more than about three quarters of an hour in to it,you know you're in trouble.Best not to give it even that though.Just avoid the whole thing altogether,and give your time and money to something much more rewarding.*
Mercifully Forgotten
posted on 01 Mar 2009Clint Eastwood has always been one of the biggest movie stars in the world and it's not that we always want to see him do the same things over and over again...but he doesn't have a very good track record when it comes to comedy. If you've suffered through BRONCO BILLY or PINK CADILLAC, you know what I mean. They work about as well as playing Dirty Harry in a clown suit.
From what I could stomach of THE ROOKIE, it's the same thing. I think most of it was meant to be a comedy. I think. If it was meant as a comedy, THE ROOKIE puts EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE into the Classics category of comedies.
And after 20-some years of Charlie Sheen, it's obvious he got where he did because of his father. In his biggest roles, PLATOON and WALL STREET, he's the new recruit, the empty suit, the fresh-faced nobody who barely shows up on film. Oddly enough, he's shown more life in his hooker-cluttered party life and repellent divorce from Denise Richards--but not as a character we could ever care about. After reading Sheen's incredibly ugly texts about hoping that Denise dies like her "bald mother" (she was fighting cancer), I'm even less impressed by anything such a jerk does in film or television.
To be honest, I'd completely forgotten about this piece of junk until I remembered feeling embarassed for Clint during the scene where he cusses for a TV news reporter. Painful.
not real sure why clint made this mess
posted on 01 Mar 2009clint and charlie sheen are not a very good pair in clints missfire of and action movie.
clint is the old cop,charlie is the new(surprise) and they are hunting car jackers in this sad little action movie. clint is off screen as much as he is on screen,and sheen just can't carry a movie like this himself. really just a waste of time.
If you want a guarantee, buy a toaster.
posted on 27 Nov 2008You've seen it all before. There just aren't any new ways to tell the story of the veteran cop and the rookie. Even Clint Eastwood has done it before as Harry Callahan.So, if you like Clint Eastwood (starred and directed) and Charlie Shhen, then maybe this is worth your time.I tuned in for a chance to see Raul Julia and Sonia Braga. This is at least the fourth film they have done together, and they are all worth watching. It isn't Moon Over Parador or Kiss of the Spider Woman or The Burning Season, all of which got Braga and Julia Golden Globe nominations, and one actual win for Julia, but they are so good together, I just can't miss the chance to see them.So, I'll watch another veteran-rookie film where I know the ending before it even gets started. I'm just a sucker that way.
Another Eastwood Goody!!! And Sheen Was Good Too!!!
posted on 20 Sep 2008When two policemen move in on car thieves, one of them gets killed. And the fallen officer isn't just a partner, he's a friend. Now it's PERSONAL!!! Clint Eastwood plays Nick Pulovski the surviving partner, who makes it a point to try and find the hoodlums. Of course Clint plays a rough and tumble policeman like in his Dirty Harry roles, but in this movie, he does show a more down to earth side, lighter side. There's a terrific car chase involving Clint and when it's over, it's rather comical.
Nick gets a new partner David Ackerman (played by Charlie Sheen) who looks more like an insurance salesman than a policeman, mainly because he's from the side of town where you learn early in life where to put your fork and knife on the table.
With this new partner, the two head out to try and find the thieves. The head goon is played by none other than Raul Julia. I must admit, when I first spotted Raul playing that of a villain, I didn't think he'd fit the role, but after seeing the entire movie, I'd say he done a terrific job at it!
The big question is Will Nick and David get their man? Well, of course I'm not going to say, but I will say that if you like movies with just the right amount of action, plus an equal helping of suspense, intrique, drama, and a light seasoning of comedy, you'll be sure to love this entertaining film.
It's the perfect movie meal.
Performance Anxiety
posted on 15 Jun 2008In The Rookie Clint Eastwood plays a veteran detective working in the highly unglamorous unit of automobile crimes. He's got a lead on a major chop shop operation in Los Angeles headed by an international criminal Raul Julia and his killer girl Friday Sonia Bragga. When partner Hal Williams is killed right at the beginning of the film, Eastwood makes getting Julia a personal crusade.But in the meantime Eastwood's boss Lieutenant Pepe Serna has given him a new partner, rookie Charlie Sheen. Sheen's a rich kid who decided on the life of a police officer as a show of rebellion against his father Tom Sizemore. And the dangerous life of a cop has girl friend Lara Flynn Boyle concerned.Sheen's one major screw up and he screws up big time when Julia and Bragga turn the tables during a bust and take Eastwood hostage and leave Sheen for dead. After that Sheen magically transforms himself into Rambo and the film takes on a non-stop Indiana Jones like quality in terms of action.The Rookie is not the kind of film you should not take too seriously, the various players look they're having one great old time in delivering some really hokey dialog. Eastwood in particular with that ever present cigar in his mouth never cracking a smile.The action sequences are well staged especially that final chase through the LAX Airport. Most unforgettable in this film is Sonia Bragga, one ice cold German princess, no doubt descendant from some concentration camp matron. Her 'rape' scene of Eastwood is something else. Talk about performance anxiety, YEEEEEEEEEEEESH.The Rookie is not ever going to be one of the top ten of Clint Eastwood's films, but it's certainly entertaining and enjoyable.
Rent another Clint flic, but not Play Misty for Me
posted on 23 Feb 2008It is obvious from watching the film that Charlie Sheen's drug habit is adversely affecting his acting abilities. The budding actor from Platoon is nowhere to be found in the Rookie. At the same time Clint's career and personal life were at a cross roads. He wasn't the box office hit as he was just a few years earlier with his "which way" movies, nor was he in his Dirty Harry or Western element. In addition Clint and his late 70's, early 80's movie partner, Sandra Locke were breaking up. Lastly, the dialogue does not have any of the Eastwoodesque one liners that differentiated his westerns from other westerns and defined the Dirty Harry series. Therefore, it gets 2 stars because Clint makes an appearance, but no more due to the poor acting by the lead men and the less than inciteful script.
A rookie cop learns to cross the line.
posted on 15 Dec 2007Not just another Clint Eastwood movie. Of course, Clint directs and stars as Nick Pulovski, a veteran cop assigned to the auto theft division. But his own agenda is to find the criminal that killed his partner. To his dismay, Pulovski is given a new partner...rookie cop David Ackerman(Charlie Sheen). The former homicide cop is still marching to his own drummer and is perturbed that his young charge is reluctant to stray from the rules. When Pulovski is held hostage by a master criminal named Strom(Raul Julia), who is demanding a ton of money...but would just be happy enough to torture and kill him; Ackerman goes into super-cop mode and begins kicking some mean ass in his search for his partner. Strom and his right-hand woman Liesl(Sconia Braga)let bullets fly(definitely an understatement)before each meets that clichéd bullet between the eyes.Tom Skerritt plays Ackerman's estranged father, who on second thought provides ransom money that actually ends up whirling on the ground at the San Jose airport . Also in the cast are: Lara Flynn Boyle, Marco Rodrigues, Pepe Serna and Donna Mitchell. Most impressive is Sheen busting up the bar before setting it on fire.
Best action scene ever
posted on 09 Dec 2007I have only seen the second half of this movie on television yesterday. Never seen it before, although it was released in 1991. The scene in which Charlie Sheen sets fire to the Hells Angels Bar is brilliant. It really gets your adrenaline going. The best action scene ever. Another good one is Charlie driving through the door of his own house on a motorbike to save his girlfriend from a murderer. The end of the movie is is spectacular as well as humorous: the death of the bad guys and the final scene when a new rookie is introduced as partner of Sheen. Pity this movie is not available on DVD in Europe. I keep looking for it. Because I want to see it all.
Awesome Movie
posted on 28 Oct 2007One of the best car chases ever is in this movie. Also a terrific sex scene with Braga and Eastwood. No nudity, but extremely exciting. The cast was excellent as well with Clint Eastwood, Charlie Sheen, Sonia Braga, Raul Julia, and Lara Flynn Boyle. There are also some terrific fight scenes and lots of action. Classic Eastwood one-liners are present as well. Definately buy this one now that it's finally out on DVD.
Pretty sorry ending for 'Dirty Harry'-style Clint Det. Cop movies,but better than Wes Block in Tightrope or Ben Drunk n Gauntlet
posted on 21 Aug 2007So 'Dirty Harry' is undercover as 'Det. Nick
Pulovski' and breaking in a Rookie (the next
Dirty Harry?), Charlie Sheen (i.e. "David",
who is still haunted by death of his brother
while stupidly playing 'chicken' on rooftop
when they were kids). Lots of talent wasted
here (ex(s):Tom Skerritt as rich Dave's dad
and get this! - Raul Julia and Sonja Bragga
as South American drug runners/chop shop oper-
ators - with german accents! Bad ones @ that!)
'Harry', er, ah Nick gets shot up @ the end
and gets kicked upstairs - what a way for D.H.
to go out, eh? Big budget, sorry language,
ham fisted direction by Eastwood, who's ego'
is getting away from him and bad performances.
Oh, Clint's son, Kyle does good jazz score,
"Red Line" in closing credits of ending credits.
Too bad he wasn't in here. [He only got to star
opposite Clint in sorry HonkeyTonk Man (**'s)].
Bye, Dirty Harry, the run was more fun than
this junk!
Good cop movie with a sly performance by the director.
posted on 21 Jul 2007For the most part a formulaic thriller with plot holes so big you can drive a stolen semi through them, The Rookie is made watchable because of a hilariously grizzled performance by Clint Eastwood. If you get past the first 15 minutes and not think too hard about it, The Rookie is an o.k. action movie with a definite tongue-in-cheek portrayal of cop-movie cliches.
Humdrum.
posted on 26 Nov 2006Humdrum, cliched actioner offers nothing we haven't seen before. If Eastwood (who has a unique presence, even in this mediocre role) wasn't around, it would be almost unwatchable. But the moral "lessons" of the film are even more annoying than its cliches: it seems to suggest that a "boy" becomes a "real MAN" only when he learns how to punch and kill people.
Fun with Clint. No more no less.
posted on 15 Sep 2006Yeah, yeah. I know what you people most likely think about this film. I know the common opinion is that this movie sucks. But as Eastwood himself puts it in one of the Harry Callahan films: "Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one". I love Eastwood's work and I love this movie too. 8 out of 10 is what I gave to "The Rookie". Still, even I can admit that when I saw it for the first time I was very disappointed. I thought movie was pretty terrible and one of the worst films Clint himself has ever directed. It took me a while before I saw it for the second time and I just simply loved it!I knew precisely what to expect and I was surprised to find out that in the second viewing I loved every minute of this crazy-ass thriller comedy. I didn't took it too seriously anymore. I know the fact that I'm a fanatic Eastwood-fan makes it lots of easier for me to enjoy this movie because (let's face the facts) this is a stupid film and it's lacking the profound meaning of any kind. So if you don't like the man (which makes you more or less my enemy, by the way) don't watch "The Rookie" but if you're with me in "Eastwood kicks ass -club", you can't help of loving "The Rookie" as much as I did.
huge misfire from clint and charlie
posted on 09 Jul 2006i love clint eastwood but this film is a mess from the get go. the action and direction are flat and the plot is so full of holes that it sinks under its own weight long before the movie ends. not a proud moment for clint or charlie. one star because you can't give no stars
Straight-forward formula, above par execution
posted on 31 Mar 2006Back in 1968 Clint Eastwood did a film called "Coogan's Bluff" where an Arizona cop follows the trail of a criminal to New York City. The movie was practically a prelude to "Dirty Harry" as Clint Eastwood metaphorically took his well known Western tough guy persona into the big city. Two years later he would pick up and immortalize the .44 Magnum. Now, after 5 "Dirty Harry" films Clint Eastwood goes through another film that serves as a metaphorical transition: a tough as nails veteran cop gets partnered with a rookie. The comparisons to Dirty Harry have been made, but they are pretty much inevitable and unavoidable. Though that doesn't really detract from this film.The plot is relatively straightforward - Det. Pulovski goes out to avenge his partner's death and Ackerman is an eager new cop ready to show that he has what it takes to do an often "dirty" job. Pun intended.As far as Clint Eastwood's body of work is concerned this is one of his more ridiculous and self-indulgent films; in particular the concluding act has some odd excess and the final action scene turns too cold blooded for its own good. However, even as a straightforward and often brainless action movie that is in now way as legendary as Eastwood's other work it is still enjoyable. There are some spectacular stunts - "fasten your seat belt" - and despite Eastwood playing a familiar character he puts enough amusing spin into the film; particularly Raul Julia as the villain - he's so straightforward, yet so oddly original at the same time. Almost like Hans Gruber's brother, or maybe cousin, who went into the car jacking business. --- 7/10BsCDb Classification: 13+ --- violence, profanity
Really bad
posted on 28 Nov 2005Clint Eastwood starred in and directed this predictably low-rated film about an aged rookie cop with a reluctance to accept a newly-recruited assistant (played by Charlie Sheen) in his undercover police operations. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons why this is a film with a 2/10 rating (or even 1/10) is that it doesn't live up to the usual Eastwood expectations and is really bad with a very lame plot. It is probably one of Eastwood's worst films let down by course of unexciting action that is not helped by its type of violence and worsened by levels of overacting and bad language. All these things seem to go over the top and there is also a bad cast and not even the likes of Charlie Sheen or the late Raul Julia (of Addams Family fame) could lift the gloom of this being the worst film but thankfully, the great Clint Eastwood only did few bad films and if I like violent action films, I watch Arnie in Commando instead.
Worst Eastwood movie ever
posted on 28 Jun 2009Eastwood should try his hardest to make this one disappear. There was nothing good about this movie at all. Nothing worked. Poor direction, no chemistry between him and Sheen, and just plain blah!!!!!! Clint made a poor choice by being involved in this one. The action sequences were not enjoyable and the rape scene was just plain stupid!! I sometimes wonder if actors recognize a dog prior to the release. I am sure this one was doomed from the start. I cannot see how this one made any money at the box office at all. If it did I am sure it was because of the names involved. I would not waste the time or money on this one. Clint has always been my favorite and everyone is entitled to one bad movie. This one fits the bill. If you rent The Rookie make sure it's the baseball movie with Dennis Quaid!!!!!!