Back in the day I was given a bit of practical political advice that I follow to this day. Cops are controversial by the nature of their job. But everyone loves a fireman because they're only there to help, everyone is glad to see them and want them to get their just due when they're injured. Take up the case of firemen and you'll never go wrong.Something that Robert Culp playing a New York City Mayor modeled on John Lindsay should have realized. But he's an arrogant sort and that becomes his downfall.Turk 182 is the call sign of graffiti artist Timothy Hutton the younger brother of firefighter Robert Urich who is injured off duty when he performs a rescue, it's what firemen do. Then he goes through all kinds of fecal matter trying to get a disability pension. Hutton does not give up and when he's rebuffed at City Hall he wages a one man guerrilla war on the city administration leaving all kinds of graffiti in very public places impugning the integrity and efficiency of the current administration, always with the call sign Turk 182. Turk was Urich's nickname and his ID number with the Fire Department was 182. Takes them a while to figure that out.Timothy Hutton gives a fine performance as a working class ethic Irish kid from Windsor Terrace one of the last truly ethnic Irish neighborhoods in New York City. But he's the lead in a fine ensemble of players who really make this a New York City story.Speaking of police there's a contrasting pair in this film with Darren McGavin as a very wise veteran and Peter Boyle as this homicidal maniac of a detective who takes the graffiti activity of Hutton almost as a personal insult. I've seen examples of both in my day. I should also point out the performance of Kim Cattrall as the social worker who gets personally involved in Urich's case when she falls for Hutton.Turk 182 is a personal favorite of mine in terms of telling stories about New York City. A pity it's not out on DVD or Blu-Ray.

That's the intent of this movie. It was clothed in an amalgam of New York humor types, Marx Brothers chaos, and Hollywood sentimentality. Still, it had a unique flavor. Funny how many people have commented on the 80's categorization of this movie. I wonder how many of these self-declared cinematic scholars were even alive at that time. Yet they presume to claim knowledge of the era's style(s) and motivations.I am a first hand witness of that time and the release of this film. I can tell you two things: One, it was far more successful at the time than Wikipedia, IMDb, or the Razzies seem to want to report. Two, it resonated with many who were alive at that time - and still does.This is not a complex film. No deep philosophical message. No vitriol. Maybe that's why current reviewed can't "relate: to it.In fact, it's quite a superficial piece. Still, I'd place it's flawed middling dialog against most movies produced since. Especially the critically-acclaimed ones.Some have denounced its unlikely plot. I agree with that assessment. This is no suspense piece or thriller. I felt the story is a scaffolding for eclectic comedy mixed with homage to people who are too often dismissed as silly or frivolous. So many people have talent which is never realized or appreciated. These are the people of Terry and Jimmy Lynch's life. And yes, NY is and always been home to many of these folks. I believe they used to be called non-conformists. Sociologists categorized them that way for decades. Not sure if anyone even bothers with that term anymore.I'm sure the sage cinematic critics understand that film, like all art forms, continuously blend reality and unreality. So there will be unlikely scenarios like the one Terry Lynch put himself into concerning his off-duty fire rescue. I'm sure many actual fire fighters dismissed that plot device. I know I found myself agreeing with the mayor when Jimmy shouts his fragmented account of Terry's situation. I'd say Terry totally mishandled his presence at that fire. So I had some failing in the suspension of disbelief while my viewings. But I also know that sometimes there's more than a single incident. The Lynch family back story helped a little. Ultimately, I allowed the film to tell me what it wanted to say. I didn't agree with some of its premises - including the romanticization of Jimmy's destruction of property. Still, it was fun. A guilty pleasure - fanticization of one person's battle against a perceived cruel, cold, de-humanizing institution. This was unique to the 80's ?Arguably, there's more pseudo-history now than ever. One tweet can be taken as fact by millions of "followers" - how I loathe that use of the term. Way way too much "following" - far too little originality. Once upon a time - originality was the goal of expression. Now anything that is not exactly as deemed "sweet" is summarily rejected.If this films represents the 80's, so be it. At least there was some courage to protect a single person's right to differ.There are still those who value individuality and will defend it. Snide, spoiled kiddies be damned.I'd take Turk 182 as champion over any of the cheesy, faint "literary" heroes or heroines of today.

Director Bob Clark ("Porkys," "Murder By Decree," "A Christmas Story") films one of his best ever here. When an off duty fireman (Robert Urich)attempts to save a child from a burning building, he is injured. But due to the fact he had been at a local bar at the time of the fire, the city of New York deny's him his earned and justified Pension. When his younger brother (Timothy Hutton) tries to get some justice for his brother he is rebuffed by everyone including an arrogant Mayor (Robert Culp)of New York. After his brother is blamed and arrested by the police for a minor bit of mischief that he is responsible for, Jimmy Lynch fights back, using a plan that will literally drive the politico nuts. Also stars Peter Boyle as an over the edge cop, and Daren McGavin as a police detective. Kim Catrall is a social worker that wants to help Jimmy in the end. This film is one of those feel good movies, with a lot of good moments and a fine understated moral. With this one Bob Clark is a modern day Aesop.Most definitely worth a watch.

Though the cast is first rate, this turkey is painful to watch. Since the entire premise is based on the older brother (Urich) being wronged, one can not help but notice that the evil city had a good point. When Urich's character was performing the act that would lead to his troubles, I kept thinking about how many regulations and common sense this character was defying. The David and Goliath scenerio is meant to be the underpinnings of this flick, but was David the real bully?