The film isn't just about cops and robbers, but about two systems of doing business, and how one of the systems finds a way to change itself in order to defeat the other.
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
On its own terms, it's a considerable success, though it's a film that sacrifices everything in the interests of style.
– Janet Maslin,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
fresh:
Friedkin plays it as brutal and cynical as he ever did with The French Connection...
– Geoff Andrew,
Time Out,
24 Jun 2006
fresh:
Engrossing and diverting enough on a moment-to-moment basis but is overtooled.