The training Alonso gave Jake for the day was necessary and will prove vital for Jake in his days going forward.
Aside from the Russian mob thing, armed robbery, and his enormous douchebaggery-ego, Alonso is the perfect detective.
It takes a wolf to catch a wolf.
"EVERYONE!!!!!" -Stansfield, The Professional
So murder, lieing about a warrant, public shoot outs, attempting to have an honest good cop killed, letting attempted rapists go free, etc makes the perfect cop huh? Committing mass amounts of crimes to line your pockets and save your ass is being a good cop? Do you also think pedophiles would be great babysitters because they REALLY like kids?
shareI said aside from the Russian mob thing and the armed robbery Alonso is the perfect cop.
But if I were to break down everything:
murder = he murdered a drug pusher. who is this hurting?
lying about a warrant = again he's trying to steal money from a drug pusher called the Sandman. who is this hurting?
public shoot outs = where did it happen? in a neighborhood unfortunately filled with gang members. Are there nice families w/ kids in that neighborhood? Of course. But Alonso is not introducing violence on the street, it's already there.
letting attempted rapists go free = yes b/c they'll be out on the street in a couple days at the very most. It'd be a huge waste of time for a cop who handles nothing but high-profile cases. Plus, they attempted to rape that girl but no rape was committed. The girl isn't willing to go the police anyway. She wants her cousins to blast them away. Let the wolves eat each other: street justice.
Like Alonso says at the beginning of the film, his record speaks for itself.
"EVERYONE!!!!!" -Stansfield, The Professional
So it's ok to break the law if you do it against "bad" people, is that what ignorance you're getting at? So a rapist should be allowed to rape if they only go after hookers and druggies, murderers can kill if it's druggies and thugs, uncle Bob can finger bang little Sally if she lied and really did break that lamp, and torturing POW's is fine because they tried to kill people?
You need help dude.
Forgiveness is between them and God.
It's my job to arrange the meeting.
So it's ok to break the law if you do it against "bad" people, is that what ignorance you're getting at? So a rapist should be allowed to rape if they only go after hookers and druggies, murderers can kill if it's druggies and thugs, uncle Bob can finger bang little Sally if she lied and really did break that lamp, and torturing POW's is fine because they tried to kill people?
You need help dude.
In that respect, I definitely agree. Our system is VERY flawed and too many real criminals are on the loose for BS reasons or having money and in my heart of hearts I can somewhat agree with corrupt tactics, but in this particular case in this movie, Alonzo went too far even in that aspect. Wouldn't break my heart or cause me headache 1 bit if OJ or Casey Anthony's protection "conveniently" slipped up and something happened to them, but Alonzo screwed many people for the SOLE reason of saving his own ass, not because of seeking proper justice.
My apologies for sounding a bit dickish in my first few replies, I thought you were outright saying that his corrupt ways were ideal for police and detectives altogether, not just against the real criminals we all hope get whats coming to them.
Forgiveness is between them and God.
It's my job to arrange the meeting.
Honestly Alonso was a good detective, but his greed got in the way. Most of what he was teaching Jake was true. Narc's have to be a bit dirty...this is fact. Alonso, as I said, was probably an excellent detective, but was too greedy for his own good.
shareIf Alonzo did anything "positive" for Jake, it was hardening him to street life and having a tougher mindset. I wouldn't go as far as to call him an 'excellent' detective. He had cajones and a survival instinct, but he wasn't smart.
In the end, Alonzo is shown to be nothing more than a crooked cop, amoral, greedy....who does everything to serve himself. He is not interested in ridding the streets of criminals. He IS a criminal.
Perhaps there was a time when Alonzo was genuinely concerned about others and helping get rid of the true bad guys. But that time was long past by the time Jake meets him.
Exactly. There was nothing good about Alonzo. He was worse than many criminals because he played both sides. He would use his badge to commit crimes and also would use it to enforce the law when the time was right. If I were a thug I'd rather deal with a Jake than an Alonzo. At least Jake was honest and regardless wouldn't hesitate to bring down the perp. Alonzo was the opposite. He would use his badge to flex his power and abuse his authority!!
shareIndeed. Where Alonzo went wrong is turning on his fellow officers. You never turn on your "brothers"...that's a very strong code on the force.
shareIndeed. Where Alonzo went wrong is turning on his fellow officers. You never turn on your "brothers"...that's a very strong code on the force.
Alonzo was "street smart" but his actions in the movie were not very intelligent (angering the Russians, leaving a trail) and they ultimately lead to his death.
shareYes his actions in the movie are all guided by his bloated ego -- he thinks he is above the law and can't be caught. Alonzo is more than "street smart." It's his ego that ultimately leads to his death.
"It's my head!" John Malkovich, Being John Malkovich
Are you guys even making an ATTEMPT to look below the surface or just watching the movie on intellectual cruise control? Alonzo is a HUMAN BEING. Meaning he is complex...not simple like a mother goose rhyme. His anger etc is a product of who he has become due to the job that he does - stressful. Again...He was JUST LIKE JAKE WHEN HE JOINED THE FORCE. People are complex...and when they go through things THEY CHANGE. Not always for the better.
Alonzo told Jake many times that he, "did the right thing", but in that kinda job always doing the "right thing" might get you killed. Jake had ONE DAY to understand this and TAKE THE MONEY AND SHUT UP (very unfair to Jake, but oh well). But Jake didn't catch on quick enough so Alonzo was forced to eliminate him. Was a messed up situation for both men. By the time Jake did learn that it isn't all BLACK AND WHITE finally (after the Mexican's didn't kill his @$$, luckily) all love was lost between him and Alonzo. So he returned the favor of being delivered to the hands of death, to Alonzo by delivering him to the Russians (taking the money). Unfortunately, Alonzo wasn't so lucky as Jake was. His luck ran out a loooooong time ago...like when he beat a guy to death who happened to be in the mafia.
Jake will turn-in the money and it'll come up stolen or missing forcing him to realize how it's all a really corrupt system. He'll feel really stupid and if he keeps the money he'll be lying in bed with Alonzo's ghost - corrupt again. Either way you slice it he loses his innocence and becomes Alonzo, more or less. His only hope is the strength of his family and his loving wife to keep him sane and grounded.
Love is the answer...but bring the extra clip in-case.
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Yeah, you're right. However, lol most people who sit at home reading these things never been in any kinda "bad" situation to even have the slightest idea how to relate to someone doing that kinda job. They just want things to "get better" without regard to the kinds of men/monsters it takes/makes for that to happen. People are so dense, although it was emphasized ALL THROUGHOUT THE MOVIE that Jake was JUST LIKE Alonzo was when he first joined. And even Alonzo himself told Jake on many occasions that, "You did the right thing, no matter what I say". There was still some good left in Alonzo but he was consumed by his job...it became his LIFE. The point they were making was that Alonzo's innocence had died, and that was foreshadowing. Jake's will die too, UNLESS Jake can find something to keep him grounded through the changes and remind him of who he is and the beautiful side of life - why he's doing this work. BUT Jake has a loving wife and family situation that Alonzo seemingly didn't have. Maintaining that could be Jake's saving grace. Alonzo somehow let his work corrupt his personal life...which blurred the lines concerning which side he was REALLY on.
Love is the answer...but bring the extra clip in-case.
topdowg - I'm the OP. I hope you read my all of my posts on this subject in proving that Alonzo is right.
"It's my head!" John Malkovich, Being John Malkovich
If I had that kinda time I'd be...well doing something else. Just really wanted to add my thoughts on the subject. Anyway, I may give your post another look since you bring it up. I agree that Alonzo is right but, no two people agree on everything...
Love is the answer...but bring the extra clip in-case.
Yeah, aside from committing armed robbery and murder he`s a perfect detective lol.
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan
The training Alonso gave Jake for the day was necessary and will prove vital for Jake in his days going forward.
good points.
Key to winning baseball games? Pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers.-Earl Weaver
You forgot about forcing his trainee to smoke PCP and then eventually putting a hit on him.
shareAlonzo told Jake many times that he, "did the right thing", but in that kinda job always doing the "right thing" might get you killed. Jake had ONE DAY to understand this and TAKE THE MONEY AND SHUT UP (very unfair to Jake, but oh well). But Jake didn't catch on quick enough so Alonzo was forced to eliminate him.