Why have I never heard of this movie before? It was really good! Scott Cohen's performance as a relatively novice police officer who was competitive with and conflicted by his shady businessman brother (Lou Diamond Phillips)was really superb. And Scott looked great with long hair. Rachel Ticotin was perhaps underused here in her role as a journalist. Her character didn't have the breadth and complexity that Rachel is able to play. Rita Moreno was almost invisible as the mother, but she played it super well in the few scenes she did have. Judge Reinhold's performance was a little too overtly psycho than I thought was necessary for his bad cop role: but, at least it was believable he would do the things he did in this film. There were some good laughs, and one shockingly irreverent scene, too. It's most definitely worth a look.

The Wharf Rat finds Lou Diamond Phillips and Scott Cohen as brothers, Cohen is a cop and Phillips is a criminal. Both drive their mother Rita Moreno a little batty with their rivalry.

But when Cohen is killed by his new partner Judge Reinhold for wearing a wire while Reinhold is committing a robbery. Phillips springs into action. With the help of investigative reporter Rachel Ticotin justice is eventually done.

But in this film it's how justice is done. Lou pulls off quite a caper in the process, as neat a one as ever been put on film. Quite expertly planned if I do say so myself, it's the main reason you should see The Wharf Rat.

Scott Cohen shows his range as an actor here. Contrast his performance here as a straight arrow with the quirky, corrupt, and homicidal Lieutenant Denby a corrupt cop on several episodes of NYPD Blue which role Cohen is best known for. Those adjectives for Denby apply here to Judge Reinhold and he does well in his part.

The Wharf Rat was made by Paramount for the Showtime network and it's an old fashioned noir type vehicle that we regretfully don't see any more from Hollywood. It's definitely worth a look.