Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- brooding
- paranoid
- tense
- late night crime movie
- neo-noir marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed the film as a stylish, unusually strong crime drama elevated by its performances and sharp depiction of police corruption.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Raymond Avila and Amy Wallace investigate Dennis Peck while the police department’s internal systems and loyalties complicate accountability.
Peck turns his attention toward Avila and attempts to control the investigation through charm, intimidation, and calculated social influence.
Los Angeles police work is portrayed as a network of dubious financial dealings, criminal activity, abuse, and compromised loyalties.
Dennis Peck appears to be an upstanding police officer while secretly engaging in numerous illegal and exploitative activities.
Films like Internal Affairs, and why
Serpico
shared neo-noir atmosphere, police corruption, and morally compromised law enforcement protagonists
L.A. Confidential
shared crime drama focus on institutional corruption, manipulation, and an escalating cat-and-mouse investigation
The Departed
shared paranoid police procedural structure and tense examination of compromised detectives
Narc
shared dark urban crime setting, corrupt authority figures, and psychological pressure on investigators
Movie Details
- Director
- Mike Figgis
- Release Date
- 1990-01-12
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (463)
Cast
- Richard Gere
- Andy Garcia
- Nancy Travis
- Laurie Metcalf
- Richard Bradford
- William Baldwin
- Michael Beach
- Katherine Borowitz
- Faye Grant
- John Kapelos
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Internal Affairs about?
- An ambitious Los Angeles internal-affairs investigator confronts a charismatic, deeply corrupt cop who treats the police department as his personal empire.
- What is Internal Affairs like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Internal Affairs as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Internal Affairs violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Internal Affairs as moderate.
- What did critics think of Internal Affairs?
- Critics broadly viewed the film as a stylish, unusually strong crime drama elevated by its performances and sharp depiction of police corruption.
- Which films are like Internal Affairs?
- Films with a similar feel include Serpico, L.A. Confidential, The Departed, and Narc.
- How long is Internal Affairs?
- Internal Affairs runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch Internal Affairs?
- In United States, Internal Affairs is available to rent or buy from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
