Gray takes the generational melodrama of the gangster epic and applies it with interesting dramatic effect to the cop drama. The density of family and city history and tense, matter-of-fact procedure/gruesome violence of the milieu are all there but permeated by a moody patience and sensitivity in the rhythm and photography that would feel at home in this kind of movie in the 70s, and perfectly capture the grueling, painful experience of Bobby being forced to betray his chosen family for his blue-blooded one. Phoenix is an absolute marvel to watch as his features shift from scene to scene; it's tragic seeing his smiles & warm colors literally drained out of him simply because he wants a loving family and was instead born into one that requires an institutional commitment and coldness. Love that insanely nasty undercover mission gone wrong sequence, the atmospheric Friedkin-esque car chase in the pouring rain, and of course that fiery tall grass raid finale. Just incredible pieces of intense, perspective-driven genre filmmaking made in a subversively quiet, sad register. Also features one of the best opening transitions ever; brutal still photos of late-80s NYPD brutal street tactics frozen in time (a moody, noir-ish jazz playing in the back) juxtaposed with Phoenix strutting toward a ravishing Mendes to Blondie's 'Heart of Glass'. Some choices are easy.
