The movie's main point seems to be that New York cops eventually find themselves pushed into a corner and forced into making tough decisions that include stealing and murder.

The movie has very strong violence throughout, including the rough and demeaning treatment of women and prostitutes. Almost every character has a gun and uses it on some other character, sometimes without consequences. There are also scenes of characters beating each other with fists. Constant yelling.

Eddie has intense, graphic sex with a topless prostitute. (Oral sex is included.) Many other women, including prostitutes, strippers, barmaids, and girlfriends of drug dealers, appear topless. There is occasional crass sex talk as well.

A cornucopia of foul language here, with frequent uses of "f--k," "s--t," and the "N" word, in all their variations. We also hear "ass," "bitch," and many other words, including a few uses of "God" and Jesus" as exclamations.

A Pepsi logo is visible in a storefront. The next shot shows some Pepsi on a shelf.

Drug dealers are at the center of the story. "Tango" is undercover as a drug dealer and Sal is a narcotics cop. Drugs are visible and pervasive throughout. Eddie's prostitute snorts cocaine. Eddie drinks both whisky and beer and has a drinking problem. Sal smokes cigarettes regularly.