My wife watches "Gangland Undercover" on the History Channel and I sometimes catch clips of it. Both the series and 1993's "Beyond the Law" are about individuals going undercover and joining an outlaw biker gang. Both are also based on true stories. After watching the gritty, realistic "Gangland Undercover" I was a bit let down by the tone of "Beyond the Law." While the bikers are wild and do totally wicked things, the movie has too much sheen to stack-up, excuse the pun. The acting & dialogue come across as how a geeky screenwriter imagines bikers to act rather than how they really do.

This isn't helped by the miscasting of Charlie Sheen who, although an excellent actor as witnessed by 1986' "Platoon," lacks the physical presence and grittiness to be believable in the role. His baby-face doesn't help, although they try to hide it with a beard. Still, he's a good actor and, if you're a fan of the outlaw biker film genre that ran from 1966-1973, "Beyond the Law" is a must. The other members of The Jackals are well cast, like Michael Madsen as the leader, Blood, and Leon Rippy as Virgil, the mechanic.

The rockin' soundtrack is great, featuring cuts by the likes of Saigon Kick, Asphalt Ballet and Dying Breed, as well as more mellow stuff.

Linda Fiorentino is sharp as the main babe, but she's blown out of the water by Blood's "old lady," the raven-haired bombshell played by Hollie Chamberlain. A couple of other women have cameos at a saloon.

There's not much else to say. This is a decent biker film and is unsurprisingly better than a lot of the low-budget biker flicks from 1966-1973, but it seems too polished and bubble-gummy. It doesn't hold a candle to giants like 1966's "The Wild Angels" or 1969's "Easy Rider," but it's still worthwhile if you enjoy the genre and the last act is the best part.

The film runs 108 minutes and was shot in the Phoenix, Arizona, area and El Mirage Dry Lake, California.

GRADE: B-

Screenwriter Larry Ferguson ("Highlander", "The Presidio", "Alien 3") debuts as director with this fairly absorbing true crime drama.

Charlie Sheen does a creditable job playing the lead character, Dan Saxon, an Arizona cop who gets fired by his crooked boss. Soon after, he's approached by the attorney generals' office for an undercover gig. He'll infiltrate a biker gang that has been responsible for dealing in all manner of goods, from guns to drugs. Dan already has his fair share of demons, having been abused as a child by a racist uncle. As he works the case, he gets in deep enough that he begins to question his identity; he's becoming no different from the lowlifes with whom he's associating. Eventually he has to make a choice regarding what to do with Blood (an engaging Michael Madsen),the leader of this gang.

"Beyond the Law" has the benefit of on location shooting in Arizona, as well as plenty of local colour that helps to give the supporting roles a great degree of authenticity. It's well shot (by Robert M. Stevens) and features a pretty kick ass soundtrack. It's also got romance and sex as Dan hooks up with Renee (Linda Fiorentino),a writer living with the bikers, who's working on a book about her experiences with them. It's got some real heart thanks to the fine performance by character actor Leon Rippy as Virgil, the well meaning mechanic / biker who befriends Dan and helps him create his persona. Courtney B. Vance is solid as the ambitious Conroy Price, Dennis Burkley is fun as the intimidating "Oatmeal", and Fiorentino is appealing as the love interest, but Rip Torn is sadly wasted in a role that turns out to be rather unimportant. Director Ferguson appears on screen as Sheriff Kelly. Madsen is a natural for roles like the one that he plays here, and he gives his character some effective charisma. And Sheen shows here that he does indeed have some real acting chops as he immerses himself in the role.

The real Dan Saxon, whose work led to the arrest of over 200 people, appears in the film as an extra.

Seven out of 10.

I like Michael Madsen (Kill Bill, Sin City, Reservoir Dogs),and he really is a crazy SOB in this film based on a true story about an ex-cop who goes undercover and almost loses it.

Charlie Sheen ("Two and a Half Men") is more buff than I ever remember seeing him. Maybe it's that good life as a jingle writer that has taken the edge off. He is fighting demons from his childhood as he takes on the toughest job one could imagine. At least he gets the best looking girl in the film - Linda Fiorentino (Dogma, Unforgettable).

The film could have done with a lot more action to be a real motorcycle flick, but it was tense and raw enough for a couple of hours entertainment.