I can't abide this movie's low rating here. a 6, maybe a 5, but a 3? Cmon, no way.Christopher McDonald, of memorable face, but unmemorable name, plays the boilerplate on-the-edge cop, Mickey Flannery (granted, cheesy Irish name for a cop) who is introduced as he loses his wife in a shooting related to a car-theft ring, which their child son, Jason, witnesses.McDonald, of Happy Gilmore fame as an insufferable dweeb, is likable, committed and tough here, the hero of the film. After the opening, the film moves forward in time to Jason being a young adult (at least 15 years older, though McDonald much at all, and is back on the force.Jason gets wrapped up with a criminal ring run by Judd Nelson's Gideon, the most compelling character of the movie. I'm not a big fan of Nelson in many other roles, but here, he's a real threat, and wears his mascara and LA-grunge post-hair-metal wear well. The film is almost a micro fashion document of 1993, with lots of grunge wear, with an LA angle. The pirate shirt does appear once, and it's stunning when it does, but Nelson is young and scary enough to make it work. Allysa Milano, is of course, ludicrously attractive in her apparel, which is a sequence of riot grrrl Gothic, and grunge outfits. She also acts well in her part. The club they habitate is also a good example of the raves/industrial parties that existed from the mid-80s into the mid-90s.McDonald is the other anchor to the film, constantly trying to maintain his composure while his son is increasingly drawn into a very personally threatening situation (while the son and dad are just trying to re-establish contact)and he's returned to the police force after a long absence. The audience knows McDonald/Flannery is right in his suspicions that Judd/Gideon is a lowlife murderer, but no one else believes him. It's a common plot device, but used very effectively over a long arc in this film. Then, at the end, we find that not only was McDonald right, but he was set up from the start, not just on one level, but multiple levels to the very start years earlier.My one biggest complaint with the plot would be why would a smart operator like Gideon attract so much police attention by killing two young women? Framing son and father is at least sort of a plausible explanation that the film stays true to and follows through on, in some surprising and visually exciting action scenes.It's not a masterpiece by any means, and it's title assures it remain in obscurity, but it's a totally competent cop yarn with strong family and dept corruption subtexts. Like many low budget films, it turns out to be an excellent period piece, shot from its current reality.

"Fast Cars, Hot Women, Cold Cash. You want it, he's got it. But you may have to pay with your life…""Conflict of Interest" is an overlooked and somewhat under-appreciated part of the post-80's Judd Nelson catalogue. If you've seen every so-called "Brat Pack" movie ever made and are still hungry for more, this should fit the bill. Although while in "Conflict…" Nelson is definitely a brat, by this point in history the "pack" had dissipated.Christopher McDonald is great as Mickey Flannery, a cop on the edge who gets suspended from the force for shooting his wife's murderer in an act of revenge. While the audience is applauding his actions, the LAPD doesn't share his zeal, and he becomes a longshoreman who gets wise to an illegal car-smuggling ring. When he's not out on the docks, Mickey spends his time drinking and communicating with truckers and nerds with his unnecessarily elaborate ham radio setup.After this period of exile, it looks like everything is coming up roses for Mickey. He gets his old job back, he shares a house with his girlfriend who cares about him, and his son Jason returns after seven years living with his grandparents. But the arrival of Jason, rather than being a joyous family reunion, opens up a maelstrom of pain and problems for all concerned, especially Mickey.Jason is not the cute little kid Mickey remembers from when he last saw him. It turns out he is a motorcycle-riding, leather jacket-wearing badass with a monstrous mullet of epic proportions. His mullet represents the hurt, resentment and abandonment issues he feels towards his father. But Jason's not all bad, and secretly wants to be a good son. And Flannery sees his return as a great opportunity to be a family again.But Gideon (Nelson) enters the picture and, being the diabolical antagonist that he is, exploits these family weaknesses to the utmost, for his own evil ends. You see, Gideon is the local criminal who has his hands in every illegal activity in town, and he covers it all up in his role as owner of the, and I quote ,"deffest metal club in town", called The Wreck. Motorcycles hang from the ceiling. No wonder this place is so popular. Plus you know he's evil because he wears guy-liner, a lot of jewelry, has crazy sideburns and wears frilly pirate shirts that are so gay-looking, it makes "The Puffy Shirt" of Seinfeld fame seem positively tame by comparison. He's meant to be the decadent-dilettante-disturbingly intelligent-bad dude we all fear in our nightmares.Noting Jason's interest in sound engineering (a trait that must be in the DNA, remember dad's ham radios), Gideon offers Jason a job running sound at The Wreck, a job Jason enthusiastically accepts. While Jason, blissfully ignorant, is crankin' the tunes by D.I. and Gary Numan, ("Metal Club" presumably referring to the fact that people wear outrageous metallic clothing), girls around town start being found dead. Flannery is assigned to the case and soon realizes Gideon is just using Jason as a patsy. After several tense confrontations, it seems Gideon and Mickey are in a good-and-evil battle for Jason's soul. Gideon continually mocks Flannery's parenting abilities and insinuates he is the better father figure for Jason. This enrages Mickey, now literally fighting for his son's love. Flannery wants to go all out, but remembers where that has gotten him in the past. So he is fighting his inner demons as well. But in the course of his investigations, he discovers a shocking conspiracy that goes all the way to the top. (Where else did you think it would go?) As usual, there is an angry black Captain who yells at Flannery and demands Mickey to give him his badge and gun. Alyssa Milano makes a very welcome appearance as Eve, an associate of Gideon's that soon becomes Jason's love interest.One of the aspects of "Interest" is the use of crazy slang. Jason insults his rivals by calling them "Barney"s and when he is really mad calling them a "supper buddy"(? ) and Jason spouts haiku whenever the mood strikes him. One of the strangest and funniest uses of slang is when Gideon's goon named "Thrasher" insults Flannery by calling him "Jerk Beef" (???) This insult is clearly the catalyst in Mickey's quest for justice. "Conflict" has everything you want in a movie: Crazy slang, explosions, and Judd Nelson. There's no "Conflict" in taking an "Interest" in this tonight! Comeuppance Review by: Ty & Brett

Not because I want to preserve the integrity of this masterwork, but because I stopped watching it about half-way through.First, the good: Alyssa Milano and Dey Young look beautiful in this film. Second, there are several hot heavy-metal-looking chicks in the movie, as well. Third, Zia Harris has the mullet for the ages -- he actually looks he could be the twin brother of Kim Richards from "Tuff Turf." I caught this movie on late-night cable just last week and my immediate thought was: Wow, "Happy Gilmore" aside, Christopher McDonald simply cannot act. Script was filled with any number of clichés: Mom killed in opening scene; boy estranged from his father, who hit the bottle hard after his wife's death. Cop who plays by his own rule but (I'm only guessing, not spoiling) is ultimately redeemed. Wacky, over-the-top evil villain (the always execrable Judd Nelson, rocking some impressive mutton-chop sideburns, like a twisted Elvis impersonator) ... you name it, it's in there. Zia Harris' rebel son character is given "depth" by having him spout a haiku to Alyssa Milano, so that's a bonus. Also, interminable opening credits showing the L.A. working waterfront. Yawn.Quite simply, one of the worst movies I've seen in recent memory, and I've seen both "Pieces" and "The Incredible Melting Man."

OK...we've got Christopher Macdonald as a hardboiled cop (Mickey Flannery - ha!)and a pirate-shirted, eyeliner wearing Judd Nelson as a murderous crime lord (Gideon - hahahaha!). Laughing yet? I still laugh until I cry watching this one. Macdonald is totally hapless in such a serious role (he REALLY acts his heart out too) and Judd Nelson's wardrobe is enough to slay anyone. The film also contains the always amusing titular line. One of the characters actually exclaims "Conflict of Interest!" There's plenty of silly action and dialog to go around. This movie is way out of print, but if you love cheese, you should hunt down a copy.