The hard edged, heart-thumping action of this film captures the vivid mark that gang life has left on Los Angeles. Bob Hodges (Robert Duvall) is a seasoned street cop who has learned a lot from long experience while his new young partner, Danny McGavin (Sean Penn), has learned nothing yet knows it all. Forced together to investigate a brutal gang murder they soon realise they must come to terms with one important fact - to stay alive they must come together.