Pilot (S01E01)

Abel Ferrara (BAD LIEUTENANT) directed this feature-length TV pilot for producer Michael Mann (HEAT, MIAMI VICE). Set in 1963 Chicago, the story centers around a duel between tough cop Mike Torello (Dennis Farina) and slick, ambitious young mobster Ray Luca (Anthony John Denison). As the bullets fly and Luca's lawyer makes sure nothing sticks to his client, Torello descends into a moral abyss, using any dirty tricks he can to bring about the justice that the system doesn't seem to care about. He also grows insanely jealous of his neglected wife (Darlanne Fluegel) and begins to question his own integrity. The stellar cast features David Caruso, a family friend of Torello's working for Luca; Ted Levine; and a young Julia Roberts. (Verleiher-Text)