Ridley Scott is not only one of the most reliable filmmakers in the industry, but also one of the most versatile. Although Scott is best known for his science fiction blockbusters and epic period dramas, he’s also directed a number of old-fashioned films in genres that the industry simply doesn’t make anymore. Someone to Watch Over Me would feel like a novelty in 2026, as the same premise would be much more likely to be used for a television show than a film. Its blend of romantic drama, conspiracy mystery, and crime-adjacent suspense is surprisingly tricky to pull off, but Scott delivers a mature film for adults that is nonetheless a great work of entertainment. Someone to Watch Over Me is the type of film that would be a standout within any other director’s filmography, and it just happens to get lost within Scott’s because of how uniformly excellent his body of work is.
Set within New York City, Someone to Watch Over Me follows the NYPD detective Mike Keegan (Tom Berenger), who is hired to serve as a bodyguard for the socialite Claire Gregory (Mimi Rogers) after she is attacked by the disgruntled artist Joey Benza (Andreas Katsulas), who has been feuding with her friend Winn Hockings (Mark Moses). Keegan is an experienced detective who thinks that serving as the protector of a wealthy woman is beneath him, but he becomes more open to Claire after they spend more time with one another. The growing heat between Keegan and Claire causes an issue of a different type, as he does not want to be unfaithful to his wife Ellie (Lorraine Bracco). Someone to Watch Over Me is moody, atmospheric, and uses class and cultural differences to create a fascinating love triangle. It’s become one of Scott’s most forgotten films, but it’s held up remarkably well.
‘Someone to Watch Over Me’ Combines Romance and Noir
Scott is one of the most professional and consistent directors of the past 50 years, and Someone to Watch Over Me is simply more polished and slick than it would have been with another filmmaker behind the camera. Although Scott’s talent for worldbuilding is commonly associated with crafting science fictional environments or recreating historical battles, Someone to Watch Over Me treated New York itself as a character that pushes each of the protagonists out of their comfort zone. Claire’s apartment has a glistening opulence that stands in stark contrast to the agitated loneliness that she feels, and there is even a dark demeanor to the more heartfelt moments between Keegan and his family. Scott ensures that there is a sense of uneasiness that hangs over both Claire and Keegan, despite their significant difference, which puts them in similar positions. This is best expressed in the opening scene, which looks at their vastly different experiences at parties that are held in their honor; even though they both have cause for celebration, Keegan and Claire feel unresolved, which explains why they become attracted to one another.
Someone to Watch Over Me is smart in putting together its love triangle because the film avoids being melodramatic or saccharine in a way that would sacrifice the integrity of the writing. Although Keegan isn’t painted as being an inherently duplicitous person who would casually break his wife’s trust, it makes sense that he would share a bond with Claire when they both have cause to fear for their lives; the romance only makes the thriller aspects of the film more effective, as Keegan has more cause to offer her protection. Even though Someone to Watch Over Me was released before the “serial killer craze” dominated crime films in the late ‘80s and ‘90s, it does effectively show how terrifying a lone, unpredictable criminal can be.
‘Someone to Watch Over Me’ Is One of Ridley Scott’s Most Underrated Films
Scott is not often given enough credit for putting women at the center of his films, and Someone to Watch Over Me delicately handles its female characters without resorting to stereotypes. Claire is given defining traits beyond her wealth and status, ensuring that there aren’t any socialite cliches; similarly, Bracco is given the opportunity to give a full-formed, distinctive performance that is more than just “the wife.” That Someone to Watch Over Me is a film about a woman being stalked that isn’t sexually exploitative makes it a novelty in the ‘80s, and it’s easy to imagine that the same material would look very different with a different director at the helm. There was certainly the potential to make a trashy, nasty work of exploitation, but Someone to Watch Over Me gives viewers a reason to care about the characters that goes beyond the narrative conceit.
Someone to Watch Over Me is a great showcase for the entire cast, as Bergenger is a terrific character actor who wasn’t offered as many opportunities to play the lead as he should have been. The film also benefits from the score by Vangelis, who had obviously been a previous collaborator of Scott’s, and their music creates even more poignancy for the most emotional moments. While Someone to Watch Over Me could be seen as a more fleshed-out version of a procedural thriller, it also succeeds at taking a genre slant on romantic tropes. When looking beyond Xenomorphs and gladiatorial arenas, Scott made films with true heart that featured heartfelt explorations of the human condition.
Someone to Watch Over Me is streaming free on Tubi.
Someone to Watch Over Me
- Release Date
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October 9, 1987
- Runtime
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103 minutes
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Mimi Rogers
Claire Gregory
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Lorraine Bracco
Ellie Keegan
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