Homicide: The Movie

Plot synopsis:
Retired police lieutenant Al Giardello is running for mayor on a platform of drug legalization and seems to be the front-runner when he is suddenly shot at a press conference, by an unseen gunman. Unconscious, he is rushed to the hospital. In a montage sequence, each of the detectives who used to work for him during the show's 7-year run learns of the shooting and rushes to the squad room. While some of the detectives are still working Homicide, most have either quit the force, retired, or transferred to other departments. Particular attention is paid to Frank Pembleton, who is now working as a college professor and Mike Giardello, who has quit the FBI and is now working as a uniformed officer.
At the squad room, all of the detectives, past and present, clamor for an opportunity to help find the shooter. There they find that Stuart Gharty is now shift commander, despite his complete lack of either qualification or leadership. Captain Roger Gaffney, who has previously shown overt signs of racism and has a particular dislike of Pembleton, allows all of the white former detectives to aid in the investigation but forbids Pembleton from participating. When Pembleton tells Gharty he has never respected him but finds his behavior now simply unbelievable, Gharty admits that he was promoted to shift commander because he knew his time as a detective was nearing the end and the bosses wanted someone they could push around in the spot. In defiance and out of respect for Pembleton's excellent work as a detective, Gharty secretly permits Pembleton to temporarily re-join the unit and teams him with Det. Tim Bayliss, who had been on an extended leave of absence. Just as Bayliss and Pembleton had been partners for most of the series' run, John Munch (who now works at the Special Victims Unit in New York City) is temporarily re-teamed with his old partner, the retired Stanley Bolander. As videographer J. H. Brodie examines video footage of the shooting, the detectives disperse throughout Baltimore, following various leads, some involving the mayoral race and others involving various cases Giardello worked while a lieutenant at Homicide.
Meanwhile, Giardello's son is under the dual strain of intense media attention and worrying about his father. He eventually manages to evade the press and is approached by Mike Kellerman, who offers an arrangement with Mike: Kellerman uses his P.I. skills and contacts to track down some of Al Giardello's old enemies and then stands guard as Mike Giardello tries to beat information out of them.
A subplot involves Bayliss and Pembleton rekindling their bond, despite having seen very little of each other during the past two years. Bayliss guesses that Pembleton misses being a homicide detective and may even return one day but while Pembleton admits that he sometimes misses the job, he insists he could never return, because he felt that his soul was weighed down a little more, each time a suspect confessed a crime (this being a reference to Pembleton's unparalleled talent for convincing suspects to confess during interrogations). The two men solve the case when video evidence leads them to a grieving father whose son died of a drug overdose; the father first shot Al at the rally, and later infiltrated the hospital and shot several doctors who were treating him. Towards the end of the film, Bayliss sacrifices his friendship with Pembleton, by forcing him to listen to one last confession, as Bayliss admits to murdering Luke Ryland, the "Internet Killer" who had been released on a technicality in the final episode of the series. This puts Pembleton in the difficult position of having to choose between his friendship with Bayliss and his highly developed sense of moral justice. Ryland's name is eventually written on the Board as a closed, cold case, but Bayliss' fate is not revealed.
In the epilogue, as the squad grieves over his offscreen death, Giardello finds himself in a slightly otherworldly version of the squad room. He sees Adena Watson (whose murder occurred in the first episode of the series) and encounters the spirits of Beau Felton (who had died in the line of duty) and Steve Crosetti (who had committed suicide at some point between Seasons 2 and 3). Crosetti and Felton reveal that while the afterlife may physically resemble Earth, it lacks the worry that comes with living. Giardello joins Crosetti and Felton for a game of poker but has one last worry when they inform him that the fourth, unoccupied chair is for the next casualty from the Homicide unit. Giardello asks if the chair is intended for his son, but Crosetti and Felton tell him that there is no way of knowing.
The film ends with a montage showing Al's interactions with his officers.

Tags: murder

Review:
To be sure, Homicide (the series) deserved a TV-movie after it's unsatisfying series finale, which was admittedly rushed (NBC cancelled the series only a few weeks prior to the end of the 1999 season).
Indeed, viewers were left hanging as many storylines were left unanswered, and "Homicide:  The Movie" does work as a coda for the series.
However, it seems like a series finale elongated to fill 90 minutes.The premise is extremely promising (for those who don't know):  Lt. Giardello is the front-running Baltimore mayoral candidate, whose primary issue is the decriminalization of drugs.
If NBC had given the show one more full season (and let the producers know it would be the last) there could have been some intriguing episodes leading to the campaign.]As a fan it's satisfying in sense to see all the regular characters again, but it's also a tremendous burden on the film.
Several scenes do nothing to enhance the story:  Shepherd and Ballard repeatedly watch videotape of the shooting in an an attempt to find a lead; Mike Giardello and Kellerman roust everyone who might have a grudge; Med. examiners discuss medical advancements at Gee's bedside.
What probably would have worked brilliantly as a 40-minute series finale just doesn't cut it as a full-length film.Fortunately, this substantial shortcoming is largely redeemed by the film's conclusion, which is set-up perfectly by the writers.
The final twist is a complete and devastating surprise that's entirely believable and satisfying in the spirit of the original series.
Even if "Homicide:  The Movie" is more than a bit diluted, it works as an appropriately bitter-sweet coda for one of the best shows in the history of television..
I became a fan of the TV series `Homicide: Life on the Street' late in the show's run, but became a fan very quickly.
It was a cop show unlike any other: visually different in its use of hand-held cameras, taking the viewer everywhere, with its multiethnic and mutiracial cast and their varying and fascinating personalities, and that it covered all of the good and bad of a police department, including the corruption and personality clashes that bubble up to the surface.
Homicide: The Movie, the reunion follow-up to the series, is as good as a made-for-television film can be.
After Lt. Giardello (Yaphet Kotto), now a candidate for mayor of Baltimore, is shot, the series' cast members are back to help find the killer.
I was a big fan of Homicide: Life on the Street which remains one of the television shows I've most enjoyed watching.
I liked spotting actors from the HBO show "Oz" (not coincidentally this movie was co-written by Oz creator Tom Fontana).Homicide: The Movie is worth watching but it's not great, eg.
The story is fairly interesting but still isn't up to the standard of the early days of the show, the presentation is very "TV movie" but we can hardly knock that given its source material.
It was good to see all the characters back but it ends up being yet another installment of Homicide that doesn't live up to the show's brilliant first five seasons.
I have always been a huge fan of "Homicide: Life On The Street" so when I heard there was a reunion movie coming up, I couldn't wait.Let me just say, I was not disappointed at all.
In all truth, this really isn't a "movie" so much as an extended final episode; by this I mean that, had you NOT followed the TV series (Homicide: Life On The Street) I suspect that you would have a hard time following this made-for-tv movie.
Having said that, "Homicide: The Movie" is still a great watch.
I think it says a lot about a television production that EVERY single cast member would return, many after years of absence, to once again portray their characters and bring closure to an incredible program.
The movie brings out that sense of "family", not only amongst the characters, but amongst the actors, as well.
Also, Det. Bayliss's extreme plot twist, which was left hanging at series end, is finally resolved, but I, for one, NEVER felt that it needed to be; I enjoyed being left with a mystery (let us recall that the very first episode's first case also went unsolved for the entire series run!).
As a DEVOTED fan of the TV series I can love this movie, and the fact that it even got made after H:LOTS had been canceled, but I would not recommend it to anyone who hasn't had the slightest exposure to the series.
Homicide:The Movie reunites the principal leads of the original show eight years after the events of the last episode occurred.
The story revolves around former Homicide Captain Al "G" Giardello, who is running for mayor, and who is shot at a political rally.
The next two hours involves the search for the assailant and it has some interesting moments, such as a brilliant scene between Bayliss and Pembleton, along with great acting and directing.
However, if you enjoyed this show when it aired, you might want to take a look at Homicide:The Movie..
"Homicide: The Movie" is a TV flick which continues the defunct TV series and, given its less than sterling reviews, probably concludes it as well.
The film, which tells of the investigation of a shooting of a Baltimore mayoral candidate who also heads the homicide squad (Kotto), pulls together most of the cast of the successful 1993-1999 TV series with reprises from many including cameos from the dead characters.
"Homicide: The Movie" requires such a familiarity with the TV series for a complete understanding of the characters' background and history that familiarity with the series is almost a prerequisite for the film.
"Homicide:The Movie" will play best as a farewell to loyal viewers of "Homicide:Life in the Streets".
The shooting brings the homicide detectives out in force  both present and past to try and piece together the clues and find out who it was and why.Thanks to the UK's Channel 4's policy of not knowing a good thing when they've bought the rights to it, I have not seen the last series of H:LOTS, simply because they decided that it wasn't getting enough viewers and dropped it.
The side issues are as interesting as the main plot and the close of the film is actually a lot more moving than I expected it to be.The main problem the film has is that `every detective is back'.
The film is at it's strongest when it focuses on good subplots with the strongest characters  hence it is at it's best when Pembleton and Bayliss are the focus.
It is still good to see all the faces but at times you wonder why they bothered and why they didn't sacrifice some characters to make for a tighter narrative.The cast all do well, with Braugher and Secor standing out due to the amount of time and material the film allows them to have.
The revolving door of old characters does drag a little at times but the film works and the focus on a group of main characters (Pembleton and Bayliss in particular) works to it's strength and produces a film that, while not comparable to the series in terms of quality, will satisfy many of it's fans..
Good Wrap-Up. Homicide: The Movie proved to be a good wrap-up to a well-written, well-directed, and well-acted series.
The entire series, and especially the movie, provided a life-like look at life (and death) in Baltimore, a culturally unique city with an extremely high murder rate.
I will certainly miss new original episodes of the series, but am very grateful to NBC and the producers and cast for giving us one last glimpse at the dark side of Charm City..
In the UK Channel 4 used to show Homicide but gave up on the whole project about four years ago and never showed series 7 or the movie.
Now, thanks to the Hallmark Channel, UK viewers have had a chance to see the whole series from beginning to end and the final movie.To me, the movie doesn't really work.
The story is just an excuse to bring the characters back together and frankly misfires a little, having one of the show's best, Giardello, out cold for most of its length and unable to interact with anyone.
Though it was widely advertised that all the detectives would regroup, this movie was largely a front to get Pembleton and Bayliss together.
Once again, just a front to reunite Bayliss and Pembleton who take up the majority of the movie.The movie was also used in part to tie up a few loose ends.
In the movie, MGee has turned in his FBI badge to become a Baltimore uniform, perhaps out of respect and devotion to his father.Another lose end is the Ryland shooting that took place at the end of season 7.
I won't give away how it ends, but the results become apparent throughout the movie as to who the culprit is.If you were a devoted fan of "Homicide" then i would recommend that you watch this, but only if you know a lot about the series since there are a lot of flashbacks that may confuse viewers who were not as devoted..
HLOTS the series, especially the first few seasons, was breathtaking: gritty, ultra-realistic, without ado and with superior writing and camerawork.HLOTS the movie was none of that, the final scene found me with a sour taste at the back of my throat, and cemented that feeling of having been let down badly.
That scene killed everything that the series stood for -- once and for all.While it was nice to in general see the old characters again (the only reason I didn't go lower with my vote), I do hope no one gets the idea of making another one like that.
With HLOTS back as a movie, Tying up all the loose ends, it was good to have all the gang back together, even a few that passed away show up (wont say how) The storyline was fast paced, emotional and full of the spirit the series had week in and week out.
Homicide , Life on the Streets, Network drama at Its BEST!!!!
It was almost as if the series with the full title of "HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET" (1993-99) was a sort of "Mr. In-Between" of series.
But please, remember we mean Artistic, but not just Phony, Pretentious, Pedantic, Politically Correct preaching.When at last, it was a sure thing that it was the end of the line for "HOMICIDE"; this super episode was prepared as this 2 hour made for TV Movie.
Looking at all the past seasons' happenings and parade of regular characters, the Production team went out and gave us what proved to be a super send off.OUR STORY.
As we join the story, we find that Baltimore Homicide Unit Commanding Officer, Lt. Al Giardello has "pulled the pin", Retired from the job, that is.
The whole story winds up the series in a most satisfying and original way.
Finally, the last episode this excellent series deserved!.
At the end of the last season, things were left in a 'life goes on' mood, which was hardly the wrap-up that this realistic series deserved.
If you never watched the series when it ran, then this will stand up on its own, but it may be heavy going trying to keep up with who all the characters are and what they are alluding to in their varied pasts.
For those of us who were avid viewers of the series in the last two seasons, this is very satisfying viewing..
My favourite police series of all time turns to a TV-film.
A lot of flashbacks helps you who hasn´t seen the TV-series but it amuses the fans too.
But anyways, Homicide: The Movie provides a firm conclusion to the series, which is more than most TV shows can hope for.
Although it did not end as happily as I might have liked, I remind myself that this a show where at least one person dies every episode, sometimes even a major character, as seen with Felton and Crosetti.
My hope for the future is that Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which carries on Homicide's legacy on with Det. John Munch, will feature some of the series characters on future episodes..
But the movie did its job and did it very well, presenting a great depiction of life after Al retired, and the family relationship that existed between the unit.
For anyone who liked the series this movie will be something to watch.
Great movie for the fans of the show.
For all the Homicide junkies out there, this movie was great!
Every single character that ever was on the show made an appearance in the movie.
Unfortunately, unless you actually did watch the series, most of the enjoyment would be lost, as the movie made heavy references to every season of the show's existence.
This probably would have been appropriate as a series finale as opposed to being a separate movie, but we gotta take what we can get.
I hope they make more movies, and continue to feature Homicide characters on Law and Order..
The characters, outside of Mike Giardello (Giancarlo Esposito), were true to form, and the reunion scenes of Pembleton (Andre Braugher) and Bayliss (Kyle Secor) were as deep and well acted as anything ever to grace the small screen."Homicide: The Movie" aka "Life Everlasting" is a fan flick, but stands on its own as well as any 2-hour episode of the series.
Fontana, Overmeyer and Yoshimura did a wonderful job in pulling loose ends from 7 seasons and every major cast member of "the best damn show on television" together for the series finale that NBC never bothered to give it.
True to "Homicide" form, there were no happy endings, such is life.
Kudos to the writers and the cast for creating something over the span of the series and in the movie that challenged television viewers and producers alike.** I call myself a "Homicidal Maniac" if for no other reason than to keep my co-workers in a cooperative mood.
When the show's run ended, I felt like too many questions remained unanswered.
I have heard that this is probably the only Homicide movie that we can expect.
If you are or ever have been a fan of the show, watch this movie..
Not only was this movie better than all the final season of H:LOTS.
Homicide: Life on the Street was an interesting series.
For five seasons, I would say it was an *excellent* series, until executive meddling brought it down in its last two years (younger, more attractive cops!
This TV movie served to wrap up the show.The main problem is how the "let's bring everyone back for The Most Important Case" premise - all detectives return to investigate the shooting of Giardello (Yaphet Kotto) - clashes with the series' main tone.
This character moment really called for a subtler approach.The second best scene is a comedic one, a montage of Kellerman (Reed Diamond) nonchalantly eating various foods as his partner uselessly pursues an aggressive line of investigation.Overall, what can be done with his sort of things is done fairly well, although the best conclusion for Homicide would have been ending the series a few years earlier.7/10.
* Some spoilers *This movie is sometimes subtitled "Life Everlasting." That's often taken as reference to the final scene, but more accurately describes how dead and buried this once-estimable series is after this sloppy and illogical send-off.There's a "hey kids, let's put on a show air" about this telemovie, which can be endearing in spots.
Co-writer, co-producer Tom Fontana and his pals pack the goings-on with friends and favorites from other shows, as well as real Baltimore personages.That's on top of the returns of virtually all the members of the television's show varied casts, your old favorites as well as later non-favorites.There was always a tug-of-war pitting quality-conscious executive producer Barry Levinson, Fontana, James Yoshimura and the rest of the creative team against budget-conscious NBC execs, who simply wanted a another moronic police procedural like "Nash Bridges," which regularly beat "Homicide" in the ratings.
They took the most ludicrous story are from the series, topped it with an unlikely and artistically unfruitful new plot line, and laid the burden of carrying the whole mess on one of the weaker cast members.Briefly, some time has passed since the last episode of the show.
The former heart of Baltimore's homicide unit, Yaphet Kotto as Lt. Al Giardello, is now a Kurt Schmoke-like candidate for mayor, and Schmoke himself makes a cameo appearance.
This movie was made when Court TV bought re-run rights to the series.
Their performances remind viewers what made Homicide, for considerable stretches, the best show on the air and one of the best television productions ever.It's fun to watch top pros do their stuff; it's just a shame this movie doesn't give them more of a chance.
Die-hard fans may want to see this movie anyway, but you can live without it..
I may be in the minority here, but I felt that the series finale was the perfect end to the Homicide saga.
The rest of the movie plays like a mediocre Homicide episode--Gee's transition into politics was sudden from a guy who, in the last episode, was complaining about ascending too high in the department and being too far from the streets.
To some extent the move to legalize drugs makes sense as most homicides in B-more were/are drug related, but this connection isn't made in the movie.
If you felt like the final episode was a letdown, just watch it again, and I promise you you'll appreciate it more.
***SPOILERS***   ***SPOILERS*** Well, seeing as I am a major H:LOTS fan, maybe I liked the movie more than normal people would.