Dan Kyle I agree with a couple of the other reviews: a 'sleeper', and I was also lucky to find an old VHS copy in the sale bin at a video store a while back. Given the fairly high profile of the "Simon & Simon" TV stars, certainly at the time this was made, it is somewhat surprising that it went absolutely below the radar. Compared to big name movies with similar subject matter (like "The Border"), this film does a very good job of treating the issue of illegal border crossings from Mexico with a lot of depth, and I would say that in some ways it is even superior in drawing you into the characters situations - a sense of reality that is often missing from more polished or fast paced movies. I strongly recommend viewing if you like any of the actors, or are interested in this sort of story.

Polaris01313-1 Warning! This contains spoilers!!! During the late 70's and early 80's, illegal immigration from Mexico was a hot topic/hot-button political issue, and films were made to cash-in on the subject. This independent film, American JUSTICE, originally known as JACKALS (a term for people who guide the illegals across the border), was one of those films.And it is just as good. If not better than any other that has addressed this particular topic.The story involves Ex-cop Joseph Case, (Jack Lucarelli)who comes to an unnamed Arizona border town (actually filmed in Nogales, Arizona) to visit his ex-partner David Buchanon (Jameson Parker), a U.S. Border Patrol cop, and his wife Jess (Jeannie Wilson). While riding a horse alone in the desert, Joseph watches as crooked U.S. Border Patrol cop Jake Wheeler (Gerald McRaney) shoots and kills a female wetback as she tries to escape after Jake has sexually assaulted her. Joseph and Dave go to headquarters to report the killing to Sheriff Lawrence Mitchell (Wilford Brimley), but Jake is in the room (and it's at this time that Joe realizes that Jake is a cop). Joe tells Dave that Jake is the killer and when they go to the scene of the crime, the body is missing (Jake had one of his cronies rebury the body in another location). With no victim to be found, it's Joe's word against Jake's and even Dave has a hard time believing it. Just to be sure, Dave has his friend Warner (Warner Glenn), an expert tracker, go over the crime scene again. He finds a trail to follow and they find the girl buried in a new grave. Warner tracks the guy that reburied her and Dave arrests him, but Jake kills him with automatic sniper fire to keep him from talking. Sheriff Mitchell begins to suspect Jake when his alibi for the girl's murder doesn't pan out, but he can't do anything without more proof (among other reasons to be disclosed later). Joe and Dave cross the border to get proof of Jake's illegal women-selling business, where we learn that Sheriff Mitchell was Jake's business partner. When Jake threatens Jess' life and then kills Dave (in a scene that's shocking, surprising, and pretty hard to watch), a wounded Joe must find a way to bring Jake down. Joe travels down to Mexico on a tip from a remorseful Sheriff Mitchell to get revenge the old-fashioned way, using the same shotgun to kill Jake that Jake used to kill Dave. It takes three blasts to kill Jake, but Joe seem to relish every pull of the trigger.This is a pretty decent low-budget action flick/sleeper hit that got some minor notoriety when it was made because both Jameson Parker and Gerald McRaney were starring at the time(and as brothers, no less)on the successful comedy detective TV series SIMON & SIMON (1981 - 1988). Made during the summer hiatus in 1985, this film must have come as a shock to fans of the series, especially Buchannon's(Parker)death at the hands of Wheeler(McRaney). Gerald McRaney, at the time, wasn't really known for playing bad guys. Even though Wilford Brimley gets top billing, he has very little to do here besides looking concerned, remorseful, and trying to atone for his past sins in the end.The script, by Dennis A. Pratt (who also plays the role of Connie, one of Jake's men), concentrates on Gerald McRaney's and Jack Lucarelli's characters, making this a study in contrasts. The gauntlet in the apartment building that Jameson Parker and Lucarelli (who are both the Producers on this) have to shoot their way through, resulting in Parker's death at McRaney's hands, is expertly filmed and a nail-biter.Director Gary Grillo (in his only movie directorial credit, did direct an episode of SIMON and SIMON and was Assistant Director on many films) keeps things moving at a brisk pace and films nearly every scene with an over-abundance of a dusty, modern day western atmosphere. Basically, it makes you want a cold drink just by watching it. Something the late Sam Peckinpah would have been proud of.I enjoyed this film, thanks to McRaney's villainous performance and some well-staged gunfights and death scenes. Also starring are Rick Hurst(of The Dukes Of Hazzard)and Rosanna DeSoto.

John Seal Jackals recently popped up on Flix in a nice letterboxed print, titled American Justice. It could easily have been another bang bang shoot 'em up action film but clearly has higher aspirations, and does a good job of reaching for them, if not reaching them consistently. It's the only feature film for veteran TV director Gary Grillo, and features a literate and intelligent script by Dennis Pratt, who later wrote the slightly less noteworthy Leprechaun 4: In Space. The story revolves around Dave (Jameson Parker, a bit of a one-note Johnny), a curly haired Californian who witnesses the murder of a young Mexican woman whilst on his summer hols in Arizona. Unfortunately, the killer turns out to be hyper-macho Officer Jake (Gerald McRaney, anticipating his Major Dad persona), a local lawman whose affable boss (Wilford Brimley, less annoying than usual) doesn't want to face the truth. Though there's action aplenty, the film never forgets that it's telling a tale of small town corruption, and there are even a few surprises that move it further away from the generic action movie template. All in all, a pleasant if minor surprise.

gallileo I know this movie as American Justice. I searched and now finally own it and would be hard pressed to ever get rid of it. For me the acting is good for the Wilford Brimley, Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker, the other lead character left me cold. The best part for me was seeing the stars of tv's Simon & Simon working together in totally different roles. Just goes to show the chemistry goes beyond the series. Worth watching at least once. Good viewing