The Glass Shield

1994

The Glass Shield

Critics Consensus

The Glass Shield struggles under the weight of its worthy themes, but emerges as a flawed yet powerful look at systemic racism in modern America.

65%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 23

39%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,210
User image

Tap to review this movie

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you get your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMC (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Cinemark (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Bought somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you get your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMC (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Cinemark (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Bought somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

Where to watch

The Glass Shield Photos

View All Photos (4)

Movie Info

In this powerful drama, young J.J. is the first black police recruit to come into the L.A. Edgemar station, located in one of the toughest inner-city areas. Through J.J., the film examines several incidents of racist behavior amongst the cops and within the legal system.

Cast

Michael Boatman
as J.J. Johnson
Lori Petty
as Deborah Fields
Ice Cube
as Teddy Woods
Elliott Gould
as Greenspan
Richard Anderson
as Clarence Massey
Michael Ironside
as Baker
Bernie Casey
as Locket
M. Emmet Walsh
as Hal
Don Harvey
as Deputy Jack Bono
Michael Gregory
as Deputy Roy Bush
Sy Richardson
as Mr. Taylor
Natalija Nogulich
as Judge Helen Lewis
Erich Anderson
as District Attorney Ira Kern
Wanda De Jesus
as Carmen Munoz
Victoria Dillard
as Barbara Simms
Tommy Redmond Hicks
as Reverend Banks
Gary Wood
as Sergeant Chuck Gilmore
Linden Chiles
as Sergeant Berry Foster
Corbin Timbrook
as Deputy Kurt Smith
James Fitzpatrick
as Deputy Jim Ryan
David McKnight
as Mr. Harold Johnson
Thomas W. Babson
as U.S. Marshall
Monty Bane
as Coroner
Ernie Banks
as Mr. Woods
Jean Hubbard-Boone
as Mrs. Woods
Jim Boyce
as Paramedic No. 1
Gaye Shannon-Burnett
as Woman Driver
Janet Claire
as Juror
Victor Contreras
as Mr. Cruz
Bill Dearth
as Guard
Marcia del Mar
as Mrs. Cruz
Mkeba W. Dunn
as Teddy Woods' Girlfriend
Leigh Dupree
as Court Clerk
Eric Fleeks
as Bailiff
Patricia Forte
as Mrs. Marshall
Jim Hardie
as Insurance Investigator Robert Hill
Arthur L. Horst
as Deputy
James Ingersoll
as Jury Foreman
Kyle-Scott Jackson
as Mr. Marshall
Kimble Jemison
as Buddy Johnson
Richard Kuss
as Judge Speck
Michael R. Larson
as Arraignment Lawyer
Joanne K. Liebeler
as Jane Baker
David Lodge
as Reporter No. 2
Rod McFall
as Cyclist
Christine McGraw
as Reporter No. 1
Julio Oscar Mechoso
as Assistant D.A.
Dino Parks
as Deputy
Al Rodrigo
as Richard Rodrigo
Jose Rosario
as Interpreter Castro
Ed Ruffalo
as Sheriff Sergeant
Lee Ryan
as Insurance Investigator George Beaten
Jason Saffran
as The Punk
Greta Sesheta
as Joyce
Drew Snyder
as Sheriff Sergeant
Joseph Walsh
as Councilman Ross
Donnice Wilson
as Mrs. Johnson
Biff Yeager
as Investigating Officer
View All

News & Interviews for The Glass Shield

Definitive Ice Cube Movies
View All

Critic Reviews for The Glass Shield

All Critics (23) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (8)

  • Ambition is something to respect in an artist, but Charles Burnett's police-corruption drama The Glass Shield is such a maladroit piece of filmmaking that its weighty themes and sclerotic tangle of a plot end up making it a trial to sit through.

    Jul 6, 2010 | Rating: D | Full Review…

    Owen Gleiberman

    Entertainment Weekly
    Top Critic

  • A powerful moral drama that tries to deal with the racism at the root of many problems in contempo American society.

    Mar 26, 2009

    Todd McCarthy

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • The movie feels sketchy, as if Burnett chopped the flesh off his screenplay and left us only the bare bones.

    Jun 24, 2006 | Full Review…
    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • It's a rigorous, angry piece of work, but it misses out on the psychological depths that have made Burnett's previous films among the glories of recent American independent moviemaking.

    Feb 13, 2001 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Peter Rainer

    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic

  • An implausible, wearisome clunker trying to ring true but making only dull thuds.

    Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Peter Stack

    San Francisco Chronicle
    Top Critic

  • It has both ideas and a point of view. But the ideas are far from new, and the point of view is blatantly knee-jerk.

    Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…

    Hal Hinson

    Washington Post
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (23)

Audience Reviews for The Glass Shield

  • Jun 01, 2011
    A pretty good Police Drama about how once again the white man has done the black man wrong. Still Story line worth 4 stars
    Bruce B Super Reviewer
  • May 03, 2011
    This is a gritty police story of crime and corruption in the police force based partially on a true story revolving around a young black cop J.J. Johnson (MICHEAL BOATMAN), the first black officer who is sent to an all-white Los Angeles station for his first assignment. The black rookie encounters not-so-subtle racism and at first tries to fit in by covering up certain corrupt practices within his department but then he is drawn into a plot to falsify evidence against a supposed murderer (ICE CUBE). He is teamed up with Lori Petty, the only female deputy who helps J.J in his investigation. As a much deeper conspiracy is uncovered, J.J and Petty tries to uncover the truth behind the false prosecution of Ice Cube and finds themselves trapped between the wheels of the conspirators and the legal system, both of which they are sworn to serve. Great cast of actors including Richard Anderson, M. Emmet Walsh, Bernie Casey (is good as Ice Cube's lawyer) and Elliott Gould and Michael Ironside who is chilling as one of the corrupt officers!
    Deb S Super Reviewer
  • Jan 20, 2010
    Not sparkling. Very run of the mill.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Jan 03, 2007
    the worst ending in movie history
    danny d Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

The Glass Shield Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

News & Features