Homicide

Homicide

Year: 1991

Runtime: 102 min

Language: English

Director: David Mamet

DramaThrillerCrime

Detective Bobby Gold investigates a robbery-murder, but the case unexpectedly triggers a profound spiritual awakening. Torn between his duty to uphold the law and a burgeoning sense of truth, he confronts challenging questions of justice and morality. Gold's faith, identity, and loyalty are tested as he navigates the complexities of his role as a lawman.

Homicide (1991) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Homicide (1991) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a city where the hum of traffic masks deeper currents of faith and doubt, Bobby Gold patrols the streets as a homicide detective whose instincts have long been calibrated to facts, procedure, and the sharp edge of justice. When a seemingly routine robbery‑murder lands on his desk, the case promises the familiar grind of evidence, interrogations, and the chase for a suspect. Yet the investigation quickly proves to be more than a simple procedural assignment; it becomes a portal into a hidden layer of the city’s cultural fabric, one that forces Gold to confront the part of himself he has kept at arm’s length.

Partnered with the seasoned Tim Sullivan, Gold navigates the delicate balance between camaraderie and professional hierarchy. Their dynamic, built on decades of shared precinct life, provides both a anchor and a contrast as Gold’s personal history resurfaces. The detective’s Jewish background, a detail once peripheral, is thrust into relevance by the very nature of the case, prompting colleagues to suggest his heritage might grant him a unique perspective. This suggestion unsettles Gold, who is simultaneously drawn to, and wary of, the expectations that accompany his identity.

As the investigation unfolds, late‑night conversations with members of the local Jewish community become a quiet catalyst for an inner reckoning. Through these encounters, Gold feels the pull of a spiritual curiosity that has long been eclipsed by the demands of his badge. Questions of loyalty, belonging, and the true meaning of justice begin to surface, challenging the hardened detective to weigh the law he enforces against a burgeoning sense of personal truth.

The film drifts between gritty procedural realism and meditative introspection, creating a tone that is as much about the streets of the city as it is about the shadowed corridors of the soul. Bobby Gold stands at the crossroads of duty and awakening, his journey promising a tense, thought‑provoking exploration of how far a lawman will go when the case he pursues forces him to examine the very foundations of his belief.

Last Updated: November 29, 2025 at 04:45

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Gritty police disillusionment stories like Homicide

A detective's investigation unravels into a crisis of identity and faith.For viewers who liked the moral conflict in Homicide, this list features movies like it where a detective's case triggers a deep identity crisis. These similar crime dramas and thrillers explore themes of corruption, racial tension, and personal betrayal, often ending with a heavy, bleak feeling.

morally conflictedgrittydisillusionedsomberanxiousclaustrophobictense

Narrative Summary

Stories typically follow a dedicated law enforcement officer whose faith in the system is shattered by a specific case. The investigation becomes a catalyst, forcing the protagonist to question their loyalties, ethics, and very identity, culminating in a profound sense of disillusionment and loss.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their focus on the psychological descent of a lawman. They share a gritty, anxious mood, a steady pacing that builds tension, and a heavy emotional weight derived from moral dilemmas and the bleak realization that justice is often futile.

Bleak urban investigative thrillers like Homicide

A bleak journey through a gritty city in search of a painful truth.If you liked the grim, hopeless atmosphere of Homicide, this collection features movies with a similar vibe. Discover other dark thrillers and dramas where characters pursue a truth in a hostile city, only to be left with disillusionment and loss, mirroring the feel of Homicide.

bleakgrittysomberclaustrophobicanxiousdisillusionedurban decay

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist, often an insider like a detective or journalist, doggedly pursuing a truth within a claustrophobic city environment. The journey exposes layers of betrayal and moral rot, and the ultimate revelation brings no justice, only a confirmation of the world's inherent bleakness.

Why These Movies?

This thread connects films through their oppressive atmosphere and thematic focus on the futility of seeking truth in a broken world. They share a high intensity, a steady, relentless pacing, a somber and anxious mood, and a conclusively bleak emotional payoff.

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Homicide Summary

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Homicide Summary

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Homicide Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Homicide

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Homicide

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