Number One with a Bullet

Plot synopsis:
Nick Barzack ("Berserk"), an irrational, unkempt and unpredictable cop, and Frank Hazeltine, his cultured, polite, and suave partner, follow a circuitous and highly circumstantial trail of clues, evidence, witnesses, and accomplices through Los Angeles. Barzack pauses only briefly for his mother, but repeatedly for his ex-wife. Hazeltine is almost too busy with every attractive woman he sees to pay attention to the thugs trying to kill him and his partner. But despite these distractions, Nick's dogged determination to get the man behind the dope scene eventually pays off.
The ladies' man Hazeltine and the borderline psychotic Berzack are narcotics detectives with a long history of wild behavior and effective work. Following Nick's hunch, they attempt to trace a new drug "black tar" to its source, beginning at a church fair which ends with Nick and his suspect in an armed standoff in drag. To calm the community, Nick and Frank are sent out of town to pick up a snitch, who is killed en route before naming his boss.
Nick tries to relieve his own stress by beating up a street pusher, then ends up in his ex-wife's arms, but she wants nothing to do with him. His mother's nagging only serves to remind him of why he's so driven. Frank relaxes with Zen and random women, but is inevitably interrupted by Nick's sick sense of humor and drive to get his man.
Following a lead from a fence, they use an addict to locate the hit-man who killed their snitch (and then the addict), but another hitter puts an end to their investigation. While on forced vacation, they interrogate the pusher Nick encountered earlier, who puts them onto a big deal going down soon. When their surveillance is interrupted and the kingpins nearly escape, followed by attempts on both of their lives and Nick's ex, they realize they're fighting a mole in their own department. Nick cracks, and threatens his suspected drug lord without evidence, and is suspended. But with help from Nick's mom and the fence, they set a plan in motion to expose the mole and the real ringleader.

Tags: murder

Review:
"Jesus man.
I love being a cop.".
Nothing new, but this routine action comedy (Produced by Cannon's Golan Globus) with its buddy cops angle gives it plenty of life as Robert Carradine and Billy Dee Williams' natural chemistry strikes up some amusing dialogue exchanges and messy situations.
It's on the cheap and it looks it, but this doesn't fault how enjoyable it happens to be.
Cannon simply produces the goods; shattering action (shoot-outs -- one in drag and car / truck / air chases), a humorous script ("Old MacDonald had a shotgun"), likable good guys, scummy bad guys and a jazzy soundtrack.Nick Berzak (known as "Berserk" on the streets) along with his partner Frank Hazeltine are two L.A narcotic detectives, where Berzak believes the mayor of the community just also happens to be a big drug dealer despite everyone including his partner thinking otherwise.
Berzak would go to any lengths to prove it, but their undercover operations always seemed to be foiled as if there's a mole in the department.Carradine plays his character with a rugged, if crazy edge (he even eats raw meat) while Williams is the opposite as the affably smooth partner (a real ladies man).
However they both share a kooky sensibility and use unorthodox methods to get the job done.
Some character dramas appear; Berzak's relationship with his ex-wife (Valerie Bertinelli) opens up another side, while the moments with his mother (Doris Roberts) was another comical inclusion.
Barry Sattels made for the perfect slime ball.
The support cast is good; Peter Graves, Mykelti Williamson, Bobby Di Cicco, Ray Girardin, Michael Goodwin and Jon Gries.
Director Jack Smight visceral handling is sturdy, if at times clumsy but it moves at a comfortably steady clip and Gail Morgan Hickman's material has a real sense of irony and some running gags ("I'm just talking to myself sir").Stock, but entertaining 80s crime hokum."Don't say freeze.
It only pisses them off.".
"NUMBER ONE WITH A BULLET"...
more bang for the buck..
Here we have an enjoyable buddy cop film, fresh from the buddy cop hey-day of the mid '80's.
Robert Carradine plays Nick Berzak (dubbed "Berzerk" by the perps who know him best), a rough and tough cop who always seems to be down on his luck.
His partner, Hazeltine (played by the original "Ladies Man", Billy Dee Williams), is the one who keeps him in line.
A perfect combination of good cop, bad cop.They're hot on the trail, with their gut instinct that the local mayor, DeCosta, is behind some elaborate drug smuggling connection.
Naturally, no one else on the police force believes either one of them, and it becomes clear throughout that there is a "rat" among them, who may be in on the scheme.Like I said, I found this enjoyable.
It's merely a "paint-by-numbers" action film, that is salvaged by the likeable charms of Carradine and Williams, with a good supporting cast headed by Peter Graves and Valerie Bertinelli.
If you are a fan of the Cannon Group and their "canon" of '80's action flicks, you should enjoy this.Story by Gail Morgan Hickman, who also wrote the Cannon/Charles Bronson films, "MURPHY'S LAW" and "DEATH WISH 4: THE CRACKDOWN".
The script recieved a polish by James Belushi, to whom this film was initially intended as a starring vehicle.
* For added fun, one could develop a drinking game based on every time Carradine spouts the name "DeCosta"..
Nuthin' I like better than a good 'MOM' joke..
No one will ever say this was a "great film", but it's still got plenty of redeeming qualities that place it far above most of the tripe Hollywierd is pumping out these days.
An endless stream of subtle but hilarious one-liners ("Man, I was just on the toilet thinking' about you.
Ain't life a bitch?" and "I guess he shoulda froze." "Well, it's not like we didn't tell him."), scene setups that have been copied to death for their comic potential (like the drying-out scene), and the cliché but still fresh presentation of a classic buddy-movie.
Even the annoying characters (like Mom) are somehow entertaining in their own way.
It doesn't surprise me that this title is conspicuously absent from rental shelves, but I, for one, will be glad when it's finally available on DVD.PS I still find myself quoting this movie at least once a week: "No, thanks.
I'm on a low-mucous diet." :-D.
Very average-poor, but personal classic.
Don't get me wrong, this is a horribly by the numbers, worthless and forgetable film, but in my circle of friends it has developed a cult classic status.
This is due to a friend giving me repeated copies of it as gifts as a long running joke.
This caused me and some other friends to make our own sequel to it, Number 2 With a Bullet, to give to him on his birthday.
After showing our film to some more friends we then made another, Number 3 With a Bullet.
We even plan to make another in the next month.
These are crudely made pieces but are highly entertaining nonetheless (more so than the original it has to be said).I hope that one day the makers of this poor buddy movie discover the legacy they have created (just as long as they don't sue)..
Number Zero with a Dud. This has to be one of the worst films I have ever seen.
There is absolutely no action, to much no since talking, and very bad music.
I was about to hang myself with my belt if Robert Caridean sang one more tune as he has beetle eyes.
Billy Dee Williams couldn't fire a gun if a 800lb person stood one inch in front of him.
Doris Roberts should have retired thirty years ago for she has too many wrinkles for saying a quote.
I would rather have my nose bit by a rattle snake while eating liver and onions than to see this film again.
So save your time and watch real action films like Chuck Norris.
I give this film 1 out of 10,000,000 Mountain Dews.