Someone to Watch Over Me

Double posting today.  ENJOY!

Someone to Watch Over Me is the story of Detective Mike Keegan (Tom Berenger) and the difficult situations he has to deal with as part of the protective detail for a high profile murder witness in 1980s New York City.  Claire Gregory (Mimi Rogers) is a high class woman who witnesses firsthand the murder of a club owner at the hands of unbalanced mobster Joey Venza (Andreas Katsulas).

Joey Venza is as dangerous as he is crazy and he promises to take Claire's life if she identifies him in the course of his trial.  Mike takes the night shift guarding Claire at her apartment and quickly becomes too close to the case.  His wife Ellie (Lorraine Bracco) urges him again and again to leave get reassigned and their marraige eventually suffers. 

The attraction Mike feels to Claire is driven by his role as her protector and amplified by Claire's need and desire to have somebody close by, always looking out for her at night.  Mike's feelings get in the way and he ultimately makes decisions that threaten to destroy his family.

Throughout the film, the idea of protection and its complex mix with love is explored and ultimately, the movie suggests that the two are intertwined, though not in the way that we always expect.  Towards the end of the movie, Ellie is teaching her son how to shoot a pistol because, as Tommy explains to his recently estranged father "Mom says we gotta get used to being alone in this neighborhood".  I think that one of the main points of the movie is the ways in which our love protects and comforts the people we choose to share it with, and the effect that with holding that love can have on people.

The love story exterior may prevent some people from enjoying everything this movie has to offer, but this is a solid all around movie with plenty to offer besides mushy feelings.  The ending in particular is desperate and intense.  I was captivated by the story throughout and the film won't disappoint anyone who takes the time to watch it.  In the end, I guess it was a better Tom Berenger movie than Major League 2.

4/5 deep emotional feelings