Mean Streak Reviews

As a warning to baseball superstar Cash Manley (Howard Dell), who's poised to break Joe DiMaggio's record, a white supremacist nutjob is killing African-Americans and slicing off their thumbs. Assigned to this high-profile case, Bronx detective Lou Mattoni (Scott Bakula) must confront his own prejudices, which have been steadily reinforced by his father and fellow officers. Teamed with Altman Rogers (Leon), an uptight black FBI agent, the brash Mattoni recognizes that the madman's modus operandi resembles that of Mr. Busby, a/k/a Tom Thumb, whom he apprehended fifteen years ago. If the culprit isn't Tom Thumb himself, however, it's unclear who'd have reason to co-opt his agenda. The stakes become even higher for Mattoni after the racist maniac pays a visit to his Hispanic lover Julia (Brigid Coulter). As the crazed psycho stalks his prey, it's up to Mattoni and Rogers to set aside their differences long enough to save Julia and Manley. Alas, good intentions can't redeem this topical thriller about contemporary race relations. Hoping for the impact of Norman Jewison's classic IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, the simplistic script and lackluster performances don't serve the film's lofty ambitions well. Ideally, when two imperfect protagonists overcome the barrier of their mutual grievances, the audience's reward is a well-deserved emotional catharsis. Unfortunately, this particular melodrama is more like the PETULANT ONES than THE DEFIANT ONES.