Someone to Watch Over Me (1987) User Reviews

A Gershwin tune!

[jotix100 · 6/10 · 10 December 2006]

The concept in a story about two people from two different walks of life getting involved in a love affair that will consume them, is not exactly new in mainstream movies. If one adds to the concept two attractive players to impersonate those lovers on the screen, the result will play heavily in the way an audience responds. If then, a murder is thrown in, it adds another layer to the film.

Ridley Scott, is a director with a keen sense of style. He has produced a string of movies that have resonated with the movie going public, and "Someone to Watch Over Me", his 1987 film, proves to be one of those favorites, if one is to go by the comments submitted to this forum. The screen play is by Howard Franklin. The excellent cinematography by Steven Poster pays tribute to New York City with the breathtaking aerial night shots. Michael Kamen added to the texture of the film with his music score that also blends music by Antonio Vivaldi and Leo Delibes' "Lakme" into the sound track.

Although the mere idea of a rich socialite getting involved with a Queens detective is preposterous at best, one goes along with the possibility. We realize from the start they have no future together because the detective is pure polyester and the rich girl will not ever set her foot in the outer boroughs for all the money in the world. We realize from the beginning these lovers are doomed.

The best thing in the film are the two leads, Mimi Rogers is an exciting presence in whatever she decides to appear in, as it's the case here. Tom Berenger, with his rough good looks is perfect for the awkward detective that can't resist a woman out of his league. Lorraine Bracco, who in this film bears an uncanny resemblance with Debra Winger, plays the wife of the detective, and is also a cop. Andreas Katsulas is at his best creepy self as the man who doesn't want to be identified and will do anything to get his accuser out of the picture.

Ridley Scott delivers with his usual elegance and eye for the luxury most of us mere mortals can't afford.

Looks great, but the story's not all that

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 28 March 2016]

Ridley Scott's SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME had the misfortune to come out during a time when FATAL ATTRACTION was going to change the whole look of the psycho-thriller movie. Thus by comparison, this film feels very ponderous and dated. It's a mixed bag of a production, with some decent performances and a nice visual style, but it doesn't really do much we haven't seen before.

It's clear from the outset that Scott is most interested in the dark and brooding cinematography here, because this is a fine-looking movie. The plot, which is about a cop who has to protect a woman who witnessed a mob murder, is less intriguing and indeed rather predictable. Tom Berenger is an acceptable hero and Mimi Rogers is ever-intriguing as the object of his desire, but I can't help but think there's a little too much romance here and not enough thrills. Jerry Orbach props up the supporting cast, as in so many films.

Murder, Infidelity & Painful Consequences

[seymourblack-1 · 7/10 · 10 December 2010]

"Someone To Watch Over Me" is a visual treat with some exceptionally beautiful shots (such as those of New York City at night and a number of stunning interiors) which together with a marvellous musical score contribute strongly to the movie's incredibly rich atmosphere. Murder, adultery and class distinction are at the heart of the story and interestingly, no gloss is applied to the depiction of any of these subjects. Instead, the focus is on the powerful impact they all have on the various people involved.

Newly promoted police detective Mike Keegan (Tom Berenger) is given responsibility for protecting a wealthy Manhattan socialite Claire Gregory (Mimi Rogers) whose life is in danger because she was the only person who witnessed the brutal murder of one of her close friends. The job involves Mike spending time in Claire's luxurious apartment and accompanying her to a variety of social events. He soon becomes attracted to Claire and her glamorous lifestyle; she appreciates the level of security his presence provides and soon the unlikely couple fall in love.

Mike's wife Ellie (Lorraine Bracco) becomes suspicious about the nature of his relationship with Claire and his tacit admission about their affair leads to the break up of his family. Mobster Joey Venza (Andreas Katsulas) who had attempted to kill Claire immediately after she witnessed him killing her friend, then takes Ellie and her son hostage and what follows leads to the threat on Claire's life being removed permanently.

Claire's comfortable existence changed radically after she witnessed the murder as she became more fearful and had her life threatened by the psychotic killer. The level of freedom she'd previously enjoyed also became considerably more restricted and her affair with Mike led to her stuffy fiancé being dumped and Mike's wife being emotionally devastated by what had happened.

Mike's first assignment as a detective led to his life being put in extreme danger and also to him experiencing a great deal of emotional turmoil over his relationship with Claire. The effect this had on his marriage (which had always previously been a happy one) was also painful and his conduct and handling of the case drew severe criticism from his superiors. Ultimately the intensity of Mike's anguish and Claire's desolation are both incredibly profound.

"Someone To Watch Over Me" is a romantic thriller which is beautifully directed by Ridley Scott and features consistently good performances by its talented cast. Lorraine Bracco provides the stand out performance as Mike's feisty, down-to-earth wife whose instincts are totally reliable and Andreas Katsulas' physiognomy and bearing make him the perfect choice for the story's villain.

Fine acting

[bbbl67 · 12 January 2003]

As other reviewers have noted, the story is none too special, quite generic. But even a generic story can be made memorable by good writing, good acting, and good directing; this movie has all three of those. Tom Berenger as the somewhat naive and vulnerable work-class junior detective. Mimi Rogers (who I did not even recognize initially, with the 80's hairstyle), as the upper-class murder witness. And even the supporting cast were all great. Nobody overacted, and no cliches. I credit the director, Ridley Scott, for keeping it low-key and believable.

Guess we are not going to the game.....

[FlashCallahan · 6/10 · 28 August 2011]

In Queens, Mike Keegan is celebrating with his wife Ellie, his son Tommy and friends his recent promotion to detective in a precinct in Manhattan.

Meanwhile, in a fancy club, socialite Claire Gregory witnesses the murder of the owner of the place by powerful mobster Joey Venza.

Mike is assigned to protect her in the night shift in her apartment in Manhattan.

When Venza threatens Claire, the contact of Mike with Claire gets closer and conflicts him, dividing between the love for his family and the heat passion for Claire and the fascination for her world...

Ho Hum, coming from Scott I was expecting something more stylish than a few canapes and a Fine Young Cannibals soundtrack. It's not that the film is bad, it's just so slow and tiresome that it feels like you're watching an epic.

And it's the same old story. Rich woman witnesses a murder, gets a poorer cop to do the titular job, they fall for each other etc. etc.

the only thing thats missing is Billy Joels 'Uptown Girl' being played every five minutes, to remind people of the class divide.

So thanks for Berenger, Rogers, and Bracco for putting in such good performances, therwise this film would have sunk quicker than the Titanic. The chemistry between the three leads is so convincing, you would think that they were doing this for real.

So all on all it's the weakest Scott film i've seen, just lacking in involvement or proper narration.

A little lamb lost in the woods.

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 14 May 2019]

When you use as a title one of the Gershwin Brothers great ballads you have me half sold on a film already. Some elements of the classic noir film Pitfall are present in Someone To Watch Over Me.

Unlike Dick Powell who is an insurance investigator , Tom Berenger is a detective with the NYPD. He's a regular blue color guy with wife Lorraine Bracco and a young son. He draws the task of guarding society woman Mimi Rogers who was the witness to a brutal killing by psychotic mobster Andreas Katsulas. The roles that Rogers, Bracco, and Katsulas play were done in Pitfall by Lizabeth Scott, Jane Wyatt, and Raymond Burr.

Like that line from the Gershwin song Berenger is lost and intrigued in the woods of Mimi's glamorous world. Berenger's head does more than turn as he gets into an affair with the woman he's supposed to be guarding.

Burr was a terrifying and brutal villain in Pitfall and Katsulas will scare the pants off you in this film. He's a bomb with a faulty timer. You never know when he's going off.

Film makers seem to love the Guggenheim Museum in New York to shoot glitzy gatherings in and no exception here. In fact the whole thing is shot on a budget to dwarf Pitfall.

All to good advantage as the leads give great performances. Look for a nice turn from Jerry Orbach as Berenger's superviser.

Absorbing Cop Story.

[rmax304823 · 7/10 · 19 June 2013]

This is better than I'd expected.

The general plot involves a happily married police detective, Berenger, assigned as a body guard for the aristocratic Rogers, who is a witness to a gang killing, the perp being Andreas Katsulas, who is real MEAN and enjoys puncturing his victim multiple times with an ice pick, not to mention slashing an expensive painting.

You'll recognize Katsulas because he was also the one-armed killer in "The Fugitive." His hawk-nosed features and beetling brows are unforgettable. Of course, Berenger and Rogers get to know one another and wind up in bed, much to the distress of Berenger's wife, Lorraine Bracco, in her first prominent role.

What I'd expected was a routine cop shoot-out with an extravaganza of special effects, high speed pursuits, bath tubs of gore, and a middle interlude with the beefy Berenger and the mammous Rogers doing the beast with two backs in candle light on the other side of a pastel curtain. Complete schlock.

Instead, it's a sometimes nicely observed story of an ordinary bourgeois guy from Queens, whose taste runs to beer, joking around with his loving but savvy wife, and wearing paisley ties to fancy parties. God only knows what kind of music he prefers. He probably thinks Kenny G is semi-classical. Some fun is poked at the aristoi's taste but a cello piece by Bach is nice and good use is made of Gershwin's title tune.

The getting-to-know-you routine is improbably fast but in any case Rogers introduces him to champagne, so to speak. Berenger's flatfoot is awed by her multi-million-dollar digs, is embarrassed when her high-end girl friends tell him what a hunk he is, and is reluctant to drink "cocktails", as he calls them, while on duty and to let Rogers buy him a new tie -- but he finally yields, as we all yield sooner or later. I approved of the way the writers contrasted Berenger's cramped and noisy home with the sybaritic splendor of Rogers' quarters.

I also rather liked the relationship between the various cops who form the dramatic background. Berenger of course is violating the rules by banging the witness he's supposed to be protecting but when he turns up late at night for a tryst, during another cop's watch, there is no melodrama. The other cop simply gets to his feet and says, "Tell me I'm dreaming." When Berenger is first discovered by another cop, the exchange is equally brief. "What are you doing here?" "I'm screwed up, T.J." And it's done in LONG SHOT, not close ups of anguished faces.

Not that some of the usual clichés are avoided. They worked before, so let's use them again, right? One example: Bracco awakens alone at night. She's heard a creaking noise outside the house. She puts on her dressing gown, creeps down the darkened stairway, slowly approaches the window (while the violin strings are practically worn threadbare by suspenseful tremolos), puts her eye to a slit at the window sill, and . . . and . . . AND . . . BANG! A hand reaches out from off the screen and clutches her shoulder. It's her little boy, Tommy. Well, one more example. A body full of bullets crashes through plates of glass in slow motion.

Berenger does his best, and he looks about right for the part, but when he aims for an emotion -- say, "guilt" -- it's like a hunting dog pointing at the pheasant. Rogers doesn't have much to do but look classy and she gets the job done. The most enjoyable performance is Lorraine Brocco's. She's an ex model and had little experience but she does a magnificent job. Watch the expressions on her face and on Berenger's when she discovers in the restaurant that her husband has been sleeping with his charge. Berenger doesn't really pull it off. She does. Nice casting too. Rogers has thin features and looks weaned on opera by Delibes, while Bracco has big blue eyes that are too close together, an enormous and absolutely straight nose, and an accent, that all add up to more than the sum of their parts.

A nice surprise

[Idocamstuf · 7/10 · 14 March 2003]

I came across this one while looking up Ridley Scott's movies, and this one looked like one of his weaker ones, so I didnt expect much, but I was surprised. The action was great, the music was cool, and the actors had great chemestry, Lorraine Bracco gave the best performance. After seeing this, I think this is one of Ridley Scott's better movies, the ones that were supposed to be his best(Blade Runner and Gladiator) bored the hell out of me. If you like a good action/thriller, give this one a try. 8.5 out of 10.

Well Made but Very Flat

[C22Man · 4/10 · 27 June 2016]

There is no doubt that Someone to Watch Over Me is a smoothly paced and extremely well made film. It is directed by Ridley Scott after all. There is also no doubt that the cast is fully capable and gets into their roles with a much needed grit and determination. Sadly, there is also no doubt as to just how unmemorable the film is. Here you have Scott genre hopping once again, with a story that has potential if told right and a talented cast that lend an air of believability to the cop genre when it is usually so overblown. Therefore it is so striking to me that so little of the film stays with you. It's almost as if those involved where intrigued by the premise but simply grew weary and bored the longer they were involved.

Said premise is effectively that family man cop Mike is assigned to protect wealthy socialite Claire after she witness a murder and the mobster who did it vows to come after her. The problem here is that you know exactly where this story is going and if you think there's going to be any twists or changes to the formula then you are sadly mistaken. Mike's wife seems trusting at first and Claire seems to appreciate how much he cares for his family. Yet after some encounters bring them closer they become more attracted to each other and Mike's wife begins to become suspicious. It's a shame that so little comes of this. Mike's wife and Claire have almost no contact so we don't get any feisty scenes or morality questioning ones.

Then you have the romance and it just doesn't work. Most of that comes from the fact that the actors have zero chemistry together. Though it's not that their performances are bad. Tom Berenger is one of the few serious actors of the time who could convincingly play a tough cop and Mimi Rogers does her best at giving Claire a gentle, attractive personality. The romance itself is just on autopilot throughout. They have a few close calls, he gets more protective and their suddenly head over heels. To the film's credit it is done with subtlety and isn't completely rushed, but for it to work you really must believe that these two characters are genuinely in love with each other and I never got a sense of that.

Lorraine Bracco performance as Mike's wife Ellie is one of the films best features. She brings a much needed liveliness and aggression to the film, as well as providing the dialogue with the punch it calls for. The character is believable as a wife who has stuck by her husband through thick and thin, whilst her more grounded beauty is a nice contrast to high glamour of Claire. I also think the scenes Berenger and Bracco share are always engaging and well-acted.

There is a distinct lack of danger and intensity throughout the film that is really noticeable. There is a sort of shoot-out at Claire's apartment that lacks any sense of threat and the would-be assassin looks very similar to Berenger, almost to the point where you can't tell who is who. The villain of the piece is so one-note, uninteresting and underdeveloped that he's barely worth a mention. While the climax certainly gets across that the stakes are high, it's a boring situation and one that is entirely predictable.

Scott's visual flair is evident throughout the film. Its warm atmosphere and subdued lighting scheme fit the image of New York it creates. The opening credits sequence, featuring Sting's title track, floats over New York at night and it is a beautiful way to open the film. In a way the film restricts Scott somewhat and it's a shame that the films grittiness limits his eye here, even if he does make the best of what he has. Michael Kamen's score is appropriately subdued and ambient, suitably lurking in the background instead of jumping out at you. Questions have to be asked over the sets however, with Claire's apartment appearing to be never ending.

In reflecting on the film, Someone to Watch Over Me becomes something curious. A film that is clearly well made and directed, but one that is mostly unengaging and leaves very little impact when it's finished. It sticks rigidly to a well-worn formula when it should attempt something fresh. It tries to convey a convincing romance without any chemistry. It comes to the conclusion you knew it would from the moment the story was set in motion. There is no questions over Ridley Scott's ability, I just wish that he'd have attempted to go against the grain with a story like this. In a way it is a testament to Scott's expertise that he was able to make the film as watchable as it is.

An impressive description of NY upper class

[alfetta · 7/10 · 25 July 1999]

After Blade Runner R.Scott decided to play a film in one of the most "played" city in the world: New York. In a different way from Woody Allen he described the environment where the upper class lives. Manhattan belongs really to another planet and the scene in the Guggenheim Museum is breath-taking.

80s cool

[paul2001sw-1 · 4/10 · 6 July 2008]

A working class, married cop is assigned to protect a rich socialite from a psychopath in Ridley Scott's 1988 film: what follows is a completely predictable thriller, with indifferent acting, forced local accents and a conclusion that advocates keeping guns at home. Just about the only interest comes from the fact that some of the characters, and by extension, the film itself, are supposed to be cool, so we get a reminder of what cool meant twenty years ago. Most obvious are the haircuts: bouffant for the men, perms for the ladies, although when a sequence is scored by a homeless man playing saxophone on the street, I couldn't help but smile. It's a bit scary to think that already two decades have passed since this film was made; but most movies of its time have not dated quite so badly.

A Sentimental Favorite

[WriterDave · 9/10 · 5 October 2003]

I saw this movie when I was younger and for some reason it always stuck with me. I'll always remember the music (the title song as well as the classical pieces used throughout), the vestibule of Mimi Roger's apartment palace, the scene of Tom Berenger having breakfast with his family, Lorraine Bracco's fiery performance as his wife, and the haunting opening aerial shots of NYC lit up at night. I watched it again for the first time in probably nine or ten years and it was like visiting with an old friend or curling up with a good book you had read before. You knew the story, but it was all fascinatingly interesting. The plot here is pretty basic: working class cop has to babysit upper class babe who witnesses heinous murder. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how it all ends, but director Ridley Scott somehow manages to keep it compelling thanks to some great direction and wonderful performances from the cast. Somewhere I saw this billed as an erotic thriller, which is way off base. Scott keeps everything here extremely classy. It's more of a romantic thriller and throwback to the noir films of the 1940's. This may not be the best film you'll ever see, but it's one of the better thrillers of the 1980's, and a worthy testament to Ridley Scott's versatility as a director. It's also nice to see Jerry Orbach in a supporting role that probably paved the way for his part in the never ending "Law and Order" TV series.

Nice song, shame about the movie

[Lejink · 6/10 · 26 October 2011]

This film couldn't have been more 80's if it was wearing leg-warmers. Shot with all the depth and meaning of an MTV video, it's ludicrously plotted, poorly acted and surprisingly, considering it's a Ridley Scott feature, rather boringly directed if truth be told.

Let's take the plot first and take your pick from the most far-fetched scenario, from the unlikely relationship between ever so rich, ever so posh Mimi Rogers and ever so working-class, ever so gauche Tom Berenger, to the mad murderer running about New York, coming back for lone witness, even after he's improbably let out on bail after a murder attempt, to the finale when Berenger's estranged wife comes to his aid in the most dramatic way and of course takes him back.

As for the acting, I didn't detect any heat between the leads at all, a situation not helped by Scott deciding not to give us a big sex-scene involving them, which while I'm no advocate for X-rated scenes, felt something more could have been done to explain the unlikely liaison between the two of them. They make a good-looking couple, but their characterisations are too one-dimensional, Rogers as the poor little rich girl and particularly Berenger with his sub-Rocky like enunciation and dumb-lunk portrayal.

I also felt there was too little action in the film and the intended suspense-ful bits were lacking in tension and th soundtrack an uneasy mix of jazz and pop, with the title song played far too often, no matter if it is in different guises.

It's certainly a beautifully shot film but the colours are too ripe as if the cameras are in permanent soft-focus mode, over-prettifying the cinematography.

I've struggled all through this review trying to avoid saying style over content, but there you go, I've said it...and I mean it.

Disappointing for a Ridley Scott movie.

[deloudelouvain · 5/10 · 19 April 2019]

For a Ridley Scott movie I was expecting something better, something more spectacular. After Alien and Blade Runner, two gems, you can only expect equal or better movies but this one isn't just that great. The story is a bit cheesy and even though the soundtrack makes it a bit suspenseful at times overal it's just not that great. Mimi Rogers was okay in her role, she's by far the best actress in this movie. Tom Berrenger and Lorraine Bracco are just not that convincing, just about okay to watch without getting annoyed. It's supposed to be a dark thriller but there is just to much romance and not enough thrilling to make it a good movie.

Routine, but actually quite good

[walterlv · 26 April 2004]

We've seen the script a hundred times if we've seen it once; happily married cop assigned to stand guard over a beautiful woman, cop falls in love with woman, etc. The difference with this one is that it actually works, even though you know how the story is going to go. Berenger is solid in the lead and Bracco fantastic as the fiery wife, while Rogers is sultry in a very classy way as the other woman. Andreas Katsulas is menacing and scary as Venza, which was perfect for this part. The classical music scores add a perfect touch, and the ending is actually quite thrilling. Something about this one just clicks, making it one of the better films of the genre. 7.5 out of 10.

A Hidden Ridley Scott Gem

[statuskuo · 7/10 · 3 February 2023]

When I first saw this movie back in the 1980's I was struck by the slick music video quality that permeates through Ridley Scott of this era. It's a shame that he left this all behind, because it is a stunningly beautifully shot flick. It's got a lot of atmosphere. Smoke and slick streets.

The story is of a beat cop who just made detective Mike Keegan (Tom Berenger). After socialite Claire (Mimi Rogers) witnesses a murder, he needs to protect her in order to get her to testify against vicious gangster Joey Venza (Andreas Katsulas). Things get complicated when Keegan falls in love with her. Made even MORE complicated that he married with a kid.

There is a message of class system here. As we're first introduced to Mike, we see he is at a house party with wife Ellie (Lorraine Bracco). Their heavy New York Queens accent is put on display. Everyone swears and are crass. Cut to, a fancy party with klieg lights. The people at this party wear tuxedos and gowns. The are the upper class.

Scott illustrates the differences of the wealthy and the middle class and you get the feeling those worlds will collide.

Mimi Rogers is quite remarkable in this film. She plays quiet bravery well. A nod, a glance. This is a good study on less is more. She is reserved and a little uptight. But still has curiosity to Keegan's working class sense of duty. In fact, she is drawn to it.

The brilliant part of the flick is that Scott doesn't paint her out to be rude, but distant. She is the upper class. Much like Kelly Lynch's character in "Curly Sue" their silent observations give them a regal sensibility.

Kudos to bad guy Andreas Katsulas. Best known as the baddie in "The Fugitive" He is ruthless with kneejerk violence. We need more adult baddies in films in 2022. He is out of control, yet menacing. He just feels real. People who make movies, look for someone who looks like this. He exudes fear.

Where this movie fails in the logistics. The movie has it where Venza does get away with the murder. Keegan's arrest wasn't done to the law. He's free. There is no reason to go after Claire anymore. Yet, he kidnaps Keegan's family in order to trade for her life. Yeah, that's a bit farfetched. Venza just needs to leave town and they're done.

Berenger is great as the detective. He looks and feels like a NY cop. The Queens accent is heavy but appropriate for this flick. His mannerisms are pitch perfect. A nice follow up to his horrific take on Sgt. Barnes in "Platoon"

But look, this was the late 80's. Where style was above content. But that is okay. This movie is a treat for the eyes and a window into 80's cinema. Miss it.

Alien Homage

[mpescajeda · 7/10 · 17 February 2013]

This was a serviceable enough cop story/thriller back in the late '80s that showed director Ridley Scott was on his toes. Actors Berenger, Scott, Bracco, and Orbach were all in fine form. The one that stood out most though was Andreas Katsulas as the villain. I think Ridley Scott consciously picked him for the role because he resembled in action a kind of vicious "Alien" on Earth and an ode to Scott's career-making masterpiece. It's too coincidental that a pair of hands/claws grab onto closing elevator/spaceship doors and force them back open during the climaxes of both films. After seeing this movie, I was left with the thought that director Scott was a little full of himself. It's a good thing he went on to make the special, seminal "GI Jane."

ok movie if you like the movie's stars

[Doc_Who · 7/10 · 22 September 1999]

This movie is about a cop who falls for a rich socialite who witnesses a murder.The cop is assigned to look over over her until the killer is caught.Eventually they both fall in love and have to decide between their separate lives!Ok movie if you like the films stars!!

distracting visuals undermine a decent romantic thriller

[mjneu59 · 6/10 · 3 January 2011]

Ridley Scott directed this modern urban drama about a blue-collar NYC cop assigned to protect a beautiful murder witness in her posh uptown penthouse. True to any romantic daydream the two fall in love, complicating the policeman's family life, but in spite of its contrived scenario the film manages to offer a surprisingly sensitive (if shallow) story, with Tom Berenger turning in a likable performance as the kind-hearted, hard working cop from the wrong side of the tracks, unable to resist the gloss and glamour of socialite/sophisticate Mimi Rogers. As usual Scott overdresses the visual scheme of the film, and the stylistic excess detracts from the suspense and credibility of Howard Franklin's script, making 1987 New York City look a lot like 2019 Los Angeles in 'Blade Runner', with lots of chrome and steam and flashing neon (even in closed elevators). But after overcoming an awkward opening the screenplay settles for a terribly convenient ending: there's nothing like having a murderous psychopath threatening your estranged wife to bring about a quick marital reconciliation.

Disappointing thriller from Ridley Scott

[Maziun · 4/10 · 2 October 2013]

The story for this movie probably was written in 5 minutes – it's that thin. "Someone to watch over me" still manages to be a entertaining small movie. Mainly thanks to the director and actors.

Ridley Scott directs it with passion , so the simple story is never boring and actually intriguing. It's also interesting how Scott can make a simple thriller visually attractive. Claire's house and the club are great eye candies . The art direction certainly deserves praise.

This straightforward story actually has a heart and the writer Howard Franklin wrote the relationships here really well. Everything feels natural and real.

Tom Berenger (mostly known for his performance in "Platoon" as the psycho soldier) gives a great performance as shy , down to Earth cop. He loves his wife and son , yet he gets tangled in a unwanted romance. Mimi Rogers is also great as the independent and feisty wife of Berenger. Lorraine Bracco makes her character really delicate and likable. The whole trio has a great chemistry together and they are the heart of the movie. Without their great performances the whole movie would fell apart.

It's one of those small movies that isn't really amazing or great , but you might like it for what it is. Not the best movie in Ridley's Scott career , but certainly not the worst. I give it 4/10.

Ridley Scott's minor movie!!!

[elo-equipamentos · 7/10 · 6 July 2017]

All Along his career Scott has some finest movies like Blade Runner, Alien, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator just listing a few of them, that is not the case this one, sadly predicable and unbelievable, the story is good but didn't have and got a proper reputation, Tom Berenger was peaking in great moment and made his best role in your life, but the movie didn't help to much, fine casting, well made, it doesn't necessarily means a success, as happened in this movie we could called good work for anybody else, however isn't to standard of Ridley Scott, he's in another level, was a wrong choice to do it!!!

Resume:

First watch: 1994 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7.25

Tuant romantic thriller - equally stylistic and atmospheric

[robb_772 · 8/10 · 4 May 2006]

A highly stylized crime thriller that also manages to work as a tale of adulterous romance in addition to an effective parable of the culture clashes that are apparent between the upper and lower classes. This is a film with multiple agendas, and Ridley Scott, best known at the time for 1979's ALIEN and 1982's BLADE RUNNER, is frankly an odd choice to direct such a picture. However, Scott proves himself to be up to the challenge, and film plays like a slightly abstract dream that isn't afraid to crash down into gritty realism on occasion. With his film noir skills perfected with BLADE RUNNER, Scott turns the focus from the future to an equally idealized version of the present (well, 1987 to be exact), but he maintains the same sense of visual menace and harsh industrialism.

Tom Berenger has received a considerable amount of criticism for the irritating fake Brooklyn accent he delivers his lines in, but I overall I found him to be quite acceptable in the role. Even better is Mimi Rogers, who convincingly portrays the detached loneliness of the high society lifestyle without the benefit of screen dialogue that permits her to openly address such an issue. Jerry Orbach and John Rubinstein are also memorable supporting parts, but it is Lorraine Bracco who steals the picture as Berenger's feisty wife. Long before she was best known as Tony Soprano's psychiatrist, Bracco brought to the screen the ultimate portrayal of the modern wife and mother - loving but fierce, tough but compassionate, and not afraid to slap some sense into the man who has done her wrong.

And I love Sting's opening rendition of the title Gershwin classic.

Wasted Potential!

[gab-14712 · 7/10 · 6 February 2021]

Someone to Watch Over Me is not the best movie from Ridley Scott's extensive collection of directorial works. His prior film, the fantasy film Legend, was a box office failure. This too would turn into a box office disappointment. I consider this film a creative disappointment. It has some neat stylish flairs and the wealthy socialite versus middle-class argument is well-intentioned. Rather, the film is borderline aggravating because it is very slow and not enough tension builds to offset that slowness. While the individual performances are fine, I did not feel a sexual connection between man/wife nor man/socialite, although the scenes themselves were made with impeccable craft. Considering the talent behind and in front of the camera, I expected more with this movie. Ridley Scott came up with the idea for the film in 1982 when he discussed the story with screenwriter Howard Franklin. Scott became enamored with the idea because it told a very personal story that highlights the differences between the middle-class and the wealthy, which is an intriguing idea the film manages to convey. Then, the script lost tension and unpredictability and eventually became something I managed to predict beat-to-beat. Definitely could have been so much more. Scott and team did do a good job with casting. Tom Berenger was hired based on his success in Platoon. Lorraine Bracco, whom we would all come to know on the hit television series The Sopranos, actually gave the film's best performance. They got the right idea with the noir feeling this movie gives off, but it just quite doesn't reach those lofty heights. Mike Keegan (Tom Berenger) lives in a middle-class neighborhood in Queens. He is a police officer who lives with his wife, Ellie (Lorraine Bracco) and his son, Tommy. Mike is celebrating his promotion to detective in his Manhattan precinct. Meanwhile, the wealthy Claire Gregory (Mimi Rogers) witnesses the owner of the club she's at gunned down from a powerful mafioso, Joey Venza (Andreas Katsulas). Mike is assigned the night shift to protect her at her Manhattan apartment. As Mike is drawn in deeper to her life and her way of living, so is his family. Nothing may prepare them for what happens next. The individual performances are mostly great. Lorraine Bracco delivers a performance that is vivacious and energetic, something that you usually do not see from her roles. I loved the scene where she flat out pounds Mike about their marriage. Tom Berenger is also very good as you can easily see him being drawn into the world of the rich. Mimi Rogers does not deliver as good of a performance. Her style just did not give off the proper vibes. When it comes to the chemistry, I found it lacking. The sexual tension was supposed to be crackling, but sadly was only limping. Overall, Someone to Watch Over Me did not live up to its potential. It was missing a few key ingredients. Scott certainly gave the film style. One could say he has an eye for interior design. I mean, did you see that kitchen? It was the substance that was lacking. A few good ideas went to waste in this predictable, standard police thriller. Also, the film could have had a better ending. It was not an entirely satisfying ending. My Grade: C

Very Average

[Theo Robertson · 5/10 · 20 February 2005]

Tom Berenger plays a tough cop in a movie directed by Ridley Scott . You can expect a lot with SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME but I'm afraid this isn't anything more than a very average movie . The plot is rather predictable with married cop Mike Keegan being assingned to guard a murder witness and then embarking on an affair with her . Of course since the average audience member wouldn't like it if their partner cheated on them Keegan's adultery is going to land him in serious trouble as it always does in all these type of movies . Perhaps Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson could make a movie called ON THE BEAT where a bunch of policemen discuss that two things cops must never do is have an affair with a character in a movie or go into a kitchen to get a drink of water since this almost always leads to movie cops being killed . Alternatively if film makers want to be even more radical they should do a movie where the only consequences of adultery is a guilty conscience

It's not just the predictable script that makes this very average , as I mentioned SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME stars Tom Berenger and is directed by Ridley Scott but neither star nor director seem to do anything to embellish the movie . Berenger especially is disappointing and his unconvincing " Noo Yiork " accent seems to disappear halfway through the movie . It's by no means a bad movie but is very average and everyone involved in this has done much better stuff