A Show of Force *** (1990, Amy Irving, Robert Duvall, Andy Garcia, Lou Diamond Phillips, Kevin Spacey, Erik Estrada, Joe Campanella, Priscilla Pointer) – Classic Movie Review 13,622

The 1990 thriller film A Show of Force is based on the book Murder Under Two Flags by Anne Nelson, and stars Amy Irving, Robert Duvall, Andy Garcia, Lou Diamond Phillips, Kevin Spacey.

Director Bruno Barreto’s 1990 thriller film A Show of Force is based on the book Murder Under Two Flags by Anne Nelson, and stars Amy Irving, Robert Duvall, Andy Garcia, Lou Diamond Phillips, Kevin Spacey, Erik Estrada, Joe Campanella and Priscilla Pointer.

A Show of Force is an interesting, involving thriller about a 1978 Puerto Rico political scandal, in which the American TV news reporter Kate Melendez (Amy Irving) investigates the mysterious deaths of two radical Puerto Rican activists and tries to prove that the FBI terminated the radical duo to keep the government in power. The government Puerto Rican claims they were terrorists, but were they just student activists? Her investigations lead to a plot by FBI undercover American agents.

In an impressive cast Robert Duvall (as Howard) and Andy Garcia (as Luis Angel Mora) don’t have enough to do, but the underrated Lou Diamond Phillips impresses in a showy role as the baddie, Jesus Fuentes.

The handling is disappointingly slack at times but there is some tough action and intelligent dialogue to compensate, and it is a fascinating story.

It is the first film made in the US by Brazilian director Barreto. He was married to Amy Irving from 1996 to 2005. They made Bossa Nova (2000),  A Show of Force, Carried Away, and One Tough Cop together. Barreto is also known for Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands (1976) and Four Days in September (1997).

Irving’s real-life mother Priscilla Pointer plays her character’s mum.

Cast: Amy Irving, Robert Duvall, Andy Garcia, Lou Diamond Phillips, Kevin Spacey, Erik Estrada, Joe Campanella, Priscilla Pointer, Jorge Castillo, Leôn Singer, Hattie Winston, Juan Fernândez, Lupe Ontiveros, Jorge Luis Ramos, Fernando Guinones, Claribel Medina, Marilyn Sanabria, Michel Corbiere, and Tony Chiroldes Carbia.

Release: May 11, 1990.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,622

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