Deep Cover
New Line Cinema | Release Date: April 15, 1992 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
67
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews
Positive:
18
Mixed:
7
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
50
Washington PostRichard Harrington
While Fishburne is generally riveting -- his facial disguise is basically hardness layered onto strength -- and Goldblum is intriguing -- his wannabe urges are quite curious -- the film itself is only occasionally visceral. Read full review
50
VarietyStaff (Not Credited)
Convoluted and mostly unconvincing as a portrait of the drug underworld, Deep Cover [based on a story by Michael Tolkin] still carries some resonance due to its vivid portrait of societal decay and a heavyweight performance by Larry Fishburne. Read full review
50
Boston GlobeJay Carr
Although expertly directed by Bill Duke, Deep Cover becomes the cinematic equivalent of a drive-by shooting, posing as community uplift. [15 Apr 1992, p.91]
50
Los Angeles TimesPeter Rainer
The script by Bean and Tolkin is potentially more interesting than what’s been made of it. Read full review
40
The New York TimesJanet Maslin
Deep Cover eventually degenerates into so much gratuitous violence that "kill" sounds like the most-used verb in the screenplay's last stages. The screenplay's frequent emphasis on homophobic insults is another unfortunate touch. Read full review
40
Washington PostDesson Thomson
It's been gunned before -- and so much better. Read full review
40
Tampa Bay TimesHal Lipper
What undercuts Deep Cover is its convoluted, talky and ultimately predictable screenplay written by Henry Bean and Michael Tolkin. [15 Apr 1992, p.1D]
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