Above the Law 4K 1988

First of all, I’d like to say that the 1980s gave us the greatest number of excellent action movies, many of which have since become classics. Steven Seagal’s first film, “Above the Law”—as it was translated here back in the now seemingly distant 1990s—was no exception.

So, the film tells the story of Chicago police officer Nico Toscani, a former CIA agent who served in the Vietnam War as a secret agent and left the CIA due to the abuse of power and overreach committed by intelligence agents during that war. Nico didn’t want to put up with it, but at the time, there was nothing he could do. That’s why he joined the police force—to fight those who put themselves above the law.

While launching a new investigation into what seems like a routine case involving the arrest of yet another drug dealer, Toscani stumbles upon a trail leading to a much more serious and high-profile “big fish.” In the course of his investigation, he uncovers connections between CIA and FBI agents and the drug mafia, as well as illegal drug operations. Subsequently, he must confront his former CIA colleagues, face numerous challenges from FBI agents, lose his police badge, and ultimately expose the corrupt CIA operatives who want to kill a senator investigating the agents’ involvement in drug shipments to the U.S.

Nico’s greatest priority is his family. For him, family—along with his closest friends—comes before everything else. Toscani tries to protect everyone and everything, but unfortunately, he is not all-powerful and cannot help everyone at once.

“Above the Law” is the film that introduced us to a new, incredibly charismatic actor, Steven Seagal—a master of martial arts and holder of four black belts in karate, aikido, judo, and kendo, who has also mastered the secrets of kung fu and kenjutsu. This film was Steven’s first acting role, and he nailed it. On top of everything else, Seagal, along with his colleague and friend Andrew Davis, produced the film and wrote the screenplay. Steven himself played the lead role, while Davis served as director.

Seagal put his knowledge of martial arts to full use in “Above the Law,” which features a large number of hand-to-hand combat scenes characterized by their extreme realism and the absence of any choreographed stunts or fights using special effects.
While watching the film, you sometimes get chills from the way Seagal’s character brutally dispatches his enemies, and at times it seems like Steven is overacting.

As one of the film’s characters said: “If your name were Joe Smith, I’d never have taken you on, but Nicola Toscani—ONE!”

I completely agree with that line. Yes, Nicola Toscani is one of a kind, just as actor Steven Seagal is one of a kind—unlike anyone else. And thank you to him for being who he is.