Above the Law (1988)

Nico Toscani is a martial arts expert who was recruited by the CIA when he was in Japan, he would be sent to Vietnam... (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: Andrew Davis
Written By: Andrew Davis, Steven Pressfield
Starring: John C. Reilly, Henry Silva, Sharon Stone, Michael Rooker, Steven Seagal, Pam Grier, Chelcie Ross, Ron Dean, Jack Wallace, Joe Greco, Miguel Nino, Nicholas Kusenko
Genres: Drama, Suspense/Thriller, Crime, Action
AKA: Nico
Where to Stream
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Above the Law belongs to 5 collections
1. Psychotronic Film and Video Guides (collaborative: moderated by Gregzilla - 40 stars)
2. Films available in HD (collaborative: moderated by kubricksucks - 13 stars)
3. Eric's Bad Movies (public: BeeDub)
4. Forrest Watch List (public: ForrestQ)
5. My Movies (public: mikemyers)
Browse the full list of collections
Date | User | Rating | |
Jan 09 | ![]() |
PetrosTser | 40 8th |
"Above The Law" is not particularly bad, however it never quite hits its stride. The acting and action are mediocre, the dialogues are often cringey, the plot is cliched, but worst of all the writing and editing are really murky: the film doesn't bother to establish much or to execute proper transitions, and the results feel really cramped throughout. The criticism of CIA is a welcome theme, yet the resolution remains naive and the vigilante protagonist's moral high ground is at least debatable.
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Mar 24, 2022 | ![]() |
EastonD | 50 34th |
who could have predicted that this balding thin martial arts master would one day rule hollywood. ebert said he was the next eastwood and that’s got to be the greatest compliment Clint ever received.
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Aug 09, 2021 | ![]() |
Karakand | 55 85th |
If I said you can't make movies like this anymore, you might assume it was because of the knock-on effects in the collapse of retail DVD sales, but really I'm talking about movies that are critical of the CIA using actual activities they took part in. Zero Dark Thirty, releasing in theaters this fall!
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Apr 18, 2021 | ![]() |
wetwillies | 60 10th |
Viewed April 16, 2021.
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Jun 19, 2020 | ![]() |
Antonio P | 40 46th |
This was an ok movie.
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Feb 14, 2018 | ![]() |
Sweekoden | 32 17th |
Skinny Seagal is kind of a trip, though not as much as him being shockingly proficient in Japanese. I'm not convinced "Sayonattasou" is an actual thing Japanese people say, but he definitely picked some stuff up during his martial arts days. His fights here are quick and brutal, but much of the focus is on political intrigue, and the film is nowhere near well written enough to make it work. Grier and Ross have the best characters, but they drop the ball on both of them. 14th film of 2018.
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Sep 01, 2015 | ![]() |
hakkanarejo | 95 63rd |
Assassination plots, CIA covert operations and tough-as-nails action all come together in Steven Seagal's debut feature film. Nico not only introduces the viewing public to Seagal's brand of charisma but also to the Japanese martial art of Aikido.
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Nov 28, 2013 | ![]() |
LookJabba... | 7 57th |
Above The Law is Steven Seagal's first film and my personnel favourite of his. It's by no means an action classic, but I absolutely loved it growing up. Seagal gives his first of many typecast performances, but he's great here as Nico Tasconi. Also Pam Grier is a worthy addition too but Sharon Stone is pretty useless. The aikido sequences are brilliant, the violent action sequences are lots of fun and the soundtrack is great also. Love or hate I am guilty of enjoying Seagal's early action films.
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Apr 26, 2013 | nuotio | 47 25th |
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Surprisingly serious debut from (surprisingly slim) Seagal. Also starring Pam Grier, Sharon Stone and Henry Silva. Effeciently directed by Davis but the film lacks that special something that would lift it to the ranks of better 80's action films.
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Jun 05, 2012 | ![]() |
nilkynarfy | 60 48th |
Better than it has any right to be, thanks to the cringe-inducing fight scenes (in the "skateboard video blooper reel" way, not the Cannon Films way). I also liked that it had stupid political content I agree with-- it's an 80's action flick for liberals, but it's still as laughably reductionist as its norrisian counterparts. Oh, Pam Grier and Michael Rooker are in it too, so it gets a credibility bonus to its saving throw vs. suck.
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Feb 26, 2012 | ![]() |
Talvitie | 53 18th |
15 minutes before the end of the movie I was bored and waiting the thing just stop. There's few good action scenes and Seagal is vulnerable in this movie. That means that he isn't God like and he gets his ass kicked... a little. Just average shit.
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Feb 08, 2012 | ![]() |
Paxton | 68 53rd |
Sharon Stone and Pam Grier? Rooker and Silva? I'm going to have rewatch this.
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Sep 28, 2011 | ![]() |
crimsonking | 40 11th |
The acting is so bad it's funny, the fighting keeps it entertaining though.....They should change the genre to comedy :)
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Jul 29, 2011 | ![]() |
kingofjew | 66 18th |
Semi enjoyable action movie. One of the first of seagals endless action flicks. Because of the semi decent director we get a semi decent scripted, semi decent acted,and semi decent edited movie with some memorable scenes. If in the mood for an slightly above average action movie, put this shit on.
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Jul 17, 2011 | ![]() |
Noblet | 43 17th |
Acceptable compared to other Seagal films, but only because in this one he has a normal, human sized head.
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Jul 11, 2011 | ![]() |
nauru | 13 9th |
Terrible film. The action is forgettable and so are the characters. No development of Sharon Stone's character or Pam Grier's, despite the fact that they are the two most capable members of the cast. Give this one a miss.
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Apr 08, 2011 | ![]() |
yawkcorb | 87 68th |
What can I say? I am a huge Seagal fan
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Feb 20, 2011 | ![]() |
FrankHowley | 5 0th |
The most boring action movie I have ever seen.
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Jan 22, 2011 | ![]() |
bowfinger | 55 47th |
in the 80s, this was a great watch, no?
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Jan 22, 2011 | Joelius | 24 27th |
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Decent not memorable.
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Sep 24, 2010 | ![]() |
hellboy76 | 61 28th |
Maybe Seagal's best work.
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Jul 19, 2010 | ![]() |
Broodfath3r | 60 54th |
the best movie steven has ever made IMO.....
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Dec 30, 2009 | ![]() |
Ofterdingen | 65 65th |
The best director Seagal ever worked with made his best movie. Leaner, meaner and way more serious then the rest of the bunch.
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Nov 04, 2009 | ![]() |
CitizenX | 45 38th |
better than the other seagal movies i know
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Sep 03, 2009 | county_hell | 80 78th |
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Ah! Now, here's a classic. Make no mistake, this is not a good film, but it does rank as one of my favorite "bad" movies. Especially amusing is the movie's attempt at heady political commentary by pointing out the CIA's use of war and drugs to line the pockets of politicos. Still, Segal was a fresh take on the martial arts genre, since he use of "aikido" was different from the styles of Norris, Lee, etc.
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Dec 01, 2008 | ![]() |
teecee | 33 42nd |
Denne action-skinke startede hans lange, for lange karriere som machoguy - i denne udgave endnu frisk og passende til tiden
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Nov 18, 2008 | ![]() |
MJVmovieMan | 60 31st |
A modest debut for the action star. Not much going for it other than his few scenes of throwing people around. For its time I'm sure it worked much better.
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Jun 26, 2008 | jrc123 | 55 30th |
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An extra 5 points for the name of the main character.
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Mar 13, 2008 | ![]() |
Pickpocket | 5 44th |
lol
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Mar 09, 2008 | ![]() |
caocao | 71 62nd |
Some good old 80's action, where realism and believability take a back seat to the guns, kicks and explosions.
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Sep 17, 2007 | Dustyd | 55 30th |
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not bad
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Aug 30, 2007 | ![]() |
fyngyrz | 8 24th |
Good martial arts.
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Aug 24, 2007 | st_fly | 13 16th |
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ok
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Aug 14, 2007 | ![]() |
TripleSH | 41 26th |
The only thing to compare this to is other Steven Seagal films, and sadly, there are better Steven Seagal films that this. Not even Sharon Stone can lift this one up to a reasonable level.
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Aug 14, 2007 | ![]() |
SpiderCrusoe | 30 17th |
It seemed liked they tried, so I gave this some extra points.
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May 23, 2007 | ![]() |
Kain424 | 45 19th |
Fight scenes are pretty sweet though...
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Apr 02, 2007 | ![]() |
Stain | 60 47th |
Seagal's least bad film. The preachiness that would damage other films doesn't *work*, exactly, but sets this movie apart from the usual mean-spirited action garbage
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Mar 06, 2007 | lonercm | 80 43rd |
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Seagal's debut, not half bad thanks to Seagal's surprisingly good performance and convincing, unique (at the time) fight scenes (witness his shocking physical decline between this film and now). Andrew Davis' direction is crisp and lean, and Henry Silva makes for a great villain.
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Average Percentile 33.03% from 599 Ratings | ![]() |