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''Beyond the Law'' (also known as ''Fixing the Shadow'' and as ''Made of Steel'' in its Director's Cut) is a 1993 American crime drama film written and directed by
Larry Ferguson Larry P Ferguson (March 19, 1940 – May 31, 2015) was a college football player for the University of Iowa. He was named a first-team All-American in 1960 and played one season for the Detroit Lions. He has six kids Darrick, Lori, Larry Jr., ...
(in his directing debut). It tells the story of Dan Saxon, an undercover cop who infiltrates a group of criminal outlaw bikers behind a drug-smuggling and arms-dealing operation. In order to maintain their trust, he must commit ever more dangerous and heinous crimes and must question how far he can go beyond the law. The film stars
Charlie Sheen Carlos Irwin Estévez (born September 3, 1965), known professionally as Charlie Sheen, is an American actor. He has appeared in films such as ''Platoon'' (1986), ''Wall Street'' (1987), '' Young Guns'' (1988), '' The Rookie'' (1990), ''The Thr ...
, Linda Fiorentino, and
Michael Madsen Michael Søren Madsen (born September 25, 1957) is an American actor. He has starred in many films and television series, frequently collaborating with director Quentin Tarantino, most famously in the latter's debut film '' Reservoir Dogs'' (1 ...
.


Plot

Based on a true story, the film centers on Dan Saxon, a cop with a troubled childhood. After getting fired following a physical confrontation with his corrupt boss at the sheriff's office, he is enlisted by Conroy Price, an agent in Arizona's State Attorney General's office, to go undercover to bust the illegal drugs and
arms trafficking Arms trafficking or gunrunning is the illicit trade of contraband small arms and ammunition, which constitutes part of a broad range of illegal activities often associated with transnational criminal organizations. The illegal trade of small arm ...
. Saxon is unsuccessful until he meets and befriends Virgil, a
mechanic A mechanic is an artisan, skilled tradesperson, or technician who uses tools to build, maintain, or repair machinery, especially cars. Duties Most mechanics specialize in a particular field, such as auto body mechanics, air conditioning and ...
who introduces him to the seedy world of criminal bikers. Virgil
tutors Tutoring is private academic support, usually provided by an expert teacher; someone with deep knowledge or defined expertise in a particular subject or set of subjects. A tutor, formally also called an academic tutor, is a person who provides ...
Saxon on bikes and customs of the "outlaw motorcycle brotherhood." After many lessons and a major change in appearance Saxon develops an alter ego named "Sid" and ends up infiltrating the Jackals and earning the trust of "Blood", their president. At the same time, he begins a relationship with a
photojournalist Photojournalism is journalism that uses images to tell a news story. It usually only refers to still images, but can also refer to video used in broadcast journalism. Photojournalism is distinguished from other close branches of photography (such ...
, Renee Jason, who is aware of his dual life. As Saxon falls deeper into this world of crime, he becomes more unbalanced. After a violent situation that led to the murder of a 20-year-old
convenience store A convenience store, convenience shop, corner store or corner shop is a small retail business that stocks a range of everyday items such as coffee, groceries, snack foods, confectionery, soft drinks, ice creams, tobacco products, lottery tic ...
attendant, Saxon is brought back to earth. Saxon's Identity is revealed, by Price, to the local, state, and federal law enforcement, much to their praise for Saxon's undercover skills. Concluding the undercover operation, over 200 arrests are made including Blood. The end of the film shows Saxon walking into the desert. It is revealed in the narrated epilogue that Saxon and Renee are living in California, and "Blood" is serving 3 consecutive life sentences.


Cast

*
Charlie Sheen Carlos Irwin Estévez (born September 3, 1965), known professionally as Charlie Sheen, is an American actor. He has appeared in films such as ''Platoon'' (1986), ''Wall Street'' (1987), '' Young Guns'' (1988), '' The Rookie'' (1990), ''The Thr ...
as William Patrick Steiner / Agent Dan Saxon / "Sid" * Linda Fiorentino as Renee Jason *
Michael Madsen Michael Søren Madsen (born September 25, 1957) is an American actor. He has starred in many films and television series, frequently collaborating with director Quentin Tarantino, most famously in the latter's debut film '' Reservoir Dogs'' (1 ...
as "Blood" *
Courtney B. Vance Courtney Bernard Vance (born March 12, 1960) is an American actor. Known for his commanding presence Vance started his career on stage before transitioning his career into film and television. He's received various accolades including a Tony Awa ...
as U.S. Assistant Attorney Conroy Price * Leon Rippy as Virgil *
Rino Thunder Rino Thunder (October 29, 1933 – September 27, 2003) was an American actor best known for such films and television series as '' Geronimo: An American Legend'', '' Wolfen'', ''Hot Shots!'', '' Beyond the Law'' and ''American Playhouse ''A ...
as Charlie "Bogus Charlie" *
Rip Torn Elmore Rual "Rip" Torn Jr. (February 6, 1931 – July 9, 2019) was an American actor whose career spanned more than 60 years. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his part as Marsh Turner in '' Cross Creek'' ...
as Deputy Butch Prescott * Steven Chambers as ATF Agent Clyde, Undercover ATF Agent on Motorcycle * Lyndsay Riddell as Marybette Jason, Renee's Daughter * Dennis Burkley as "Oatmeal" * Ed Adams as "Dirt" * James Oscar Lee as "Highside" * Hollie Chamberlain as "Stephie" * Brenda Phillips as "Bubbles" * Richard Madsen as "Buster" * Ted Parks as "Sidewinder" *
Larry Ferguson Larry P Ferguson (March 19, 1940 – May 31, 2015) was a college football player for the University of Iowa. He was named a first-team All-American in 1960 and played one season for the Detroit Lions. He has six kids Darrick, Lori, Larry Jr., ...
as Sheriff Bob Kelly, a corrupt cop on Blood's payroll


Background

Larry Ferguson wrote the screenplay after reading the article "Undercover Angel" by Lawrence Linderman in the July, 1981 issue of ''
Playboy ''Playboy'' is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. K ...
'' on an undercover agent named Dan Black. Black served as a technical advisor on the film and appeared as an extra in the movie.


References


External links

* {{IMDb title, 0103805 1993 films 1993 crime drama films 1993 directorial debut films 1990s American films 1990s English-language films American crime drama films American films based on actual events Crime films based on actual events Films based on newspaper and magazine articles Films directed by Larry Ferguson Films with screenplays by Larry Ferguson Outlaw biker films