Phoenix is a 1998 American crime film directed by British director Danny Cannon.
Unlike many of his Phoenix police detective partners, Harry Collins is a good cop and, despite his very idiosyncratic value system, a decent man. However his compulsive gambling has got him heavily in debt to a gangster bookie. Refusing to Welsh on a bet, and with only 48 hours to pay his debt, Harry is offered a deal: murder Joey, a young prisoner who may provide the police with information about the bookie, and the debt will be written off. Harry can not contemplate such action and prefers to offer Joey some potentially life-saving advice: “You never rat out anyone… It doesn't pay in the long run”.
When Harry's corrupt partner Mike finds out his predicament he volunteers to kill the bookie but Harry dismisses the offer saying he will “never betray a friend”. Instead, Harry comes up with a plan to rob Louie the loan shark, who stashes a large amount of money in the safe in his strip club. To pull this off Harry needs the help of Mike and two other corrupt and brutal cops, James and Fred, busily engaged in moonlighting for Louie.
A budding relationship with Leila, his understanding barmaid, promises
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