In 1991, Michael Keaton took a departure from his comedic roles and ventured into a more serious crime thriller genre with the film “One Good Cop”. Written and directed by Heywood Gould, this movie explored the complexities of morality and justice through the story of a New York City detective. Keaton played Detective Artie Lewis, a veteran officer who found himself torn between his duty as a law enforcement officer and his personal obligations following a sudden tragedy.
The film began with Artie’s life operating with a strict structure, but it was disrupted when he and his partner, Detective Stevie Diroma, were called to a hostage crisis involving a young drug addict holding kids captive. In a devastating moment, Artie witnessed Stevie getting gunned down while trying to save the kids. Stevie’s daughters were left without a guardian, and Artie and his wife Rita decided to take them in until they could be adopted by a foster family. As Artie and Rita struggled to fill the void left by the girls’ deceased parents, they began to form a strong bond with them.
However, this newfound family life was soon disrupted when Artie’s partner Felix and he were tasked with investigating a drug lord named Beniamino Rios, whose drugs were frequently used by the addict who killed Stevie. As Artie still needed to buy a new home for his family to comply with Child Welfare Services, he resorted to robbing Rios almost like a vigilante, using a ski mask and hiding his identity. He and Felix split the money between the house and a priest, but soon, Rios discovered Artie’s identity and sought revenge.
Michael Keaton in One Good Cop (Image via Getty)
What made “One Good Cop” stand out in Keaton’s filmography was its attempt to balance the melodrama of Artie struggling to raise his partner’s kids with the crime thriller elements of the story. The film explored the complexities of morality, as Artie was forced to commit a serious crime to ensure his family’s future, while also grappling with the guilt of possibly giving up his badge due to his actions. The final act of the film had its standard action movie beats, but it was the last scene that dealt with Artie’s actions that proved to be the most controversial from a moral standpoint.
Despite its on-the-nose title, “One Good Cop” was a tale about making good trouble. Artie’s desire to legally adopt his partner’s kids forced him to commit a serious crime, which highlighted the moral dilemmas that he faced as a law enforcement officer. The film was a gritty crime thriller that also explored the emotional toll of Artie’s actions on his family and colleagues. “One Good Cop” was a stand-out entry in Keaton’s career, showcasing his ability to transition from comedy to drama and explore the complexities of morality and justice.
