“Street Kings” is a decent cop flick and has enough crime action to keep fans of the genre happy. Like so many other films, the downfall of “Street Kings” is how close it sticks to formula and comes across as lacking anything original to offer.
The film was written by James Ellroy (screenplay and story), Kurt Wimmer (screenplay) and Jamie Moss (screenplay). It was directed by David Ayer and stars Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, Common, and The Game.
The fact that everyone involved in Street Kings (both on camera and behind camera) are so talented (even Reeves has his moments on some movies) only added to why the film was a bit of disappointment for me.
Ellroy wrote the novel “L.A. Confidential” that would become one of my personal favorite cop films. Wimmer wrote the screenplay for the remake of “The Thomas Crown Affair,” and Ayer wrote “Training Day” and wrote and directed “Harsh Times.” With that much talent involved in some aspect on this film, the strict formulaic plot of “Street Kings” is the best they could come up with?
Again, I didn’t hate the film, but it lacks anything original – which this kind of talent should have been able to provide.
With all that said, “Street Kings” will please any fan of the cop genre thanks to the intensity that Ayer packs into every single scene of the movie. The movie’s pulse never slows down enough to give the viewer a chance to get upset over the formula feel and keeps you hooked on the street violence that follows the characters.
Reeves stars as veteran cop Tom Ludlow – a member of a special squad who handles the violence of the streets with equal force. His character is burned out, has a massive drinking problem, and tends to be a little trigger happy.
The movie kicks off with Reeves busting a gang and making sure none live to go before a judge. Captain Jack Wander (Whitaker) runs the group and acts as a buffer between his cops and the Internal Affairs agents who investigate their shootings.
Reeves has nothing but disdain for the I.A. cops, and has a personal problem with his former partner. His character quickly goes from bad to worse following a shooting that leaves his ex-partner killed, and Reeves looking like he might have had a little more to do with it.
Reeves has to team up with a rookie to find out who is behind the growing conspiracy before Internal Affairs’ Captain James Biggs (Laurie) puts him away for good. The problem is the deeper he goes, the more he starts to question the other cops who are supposed to have his back.
“Street Kings” was a good movie, and I liked a lot of the things it had to offer. I enjoy cop/crime movies and this is one that goes right for the throat. The pace stays ramped up, and it is impossible to get bored.
However, that pace starts to hurt the film thanks to some of the questionable acting from Reeves (who tends to struggle in most of his films), and some of the lesser characters. Some of the casting also tends to puzzle with comedians Jay Mohr and Cedric the Entertainer popping up. Chris Evans is also a bit grating on the film, and seems out of place with the rest of the cast.
Whitaker is one of my favorite actors, but he seems to just be going through the motions with this film. His character seems to always be stressed (regardless of if he has a reason), and the actor gives away any twist the film could have in the opening minutes. This is not one of his better performances.
Just like Whitaker, Laurie comes across as if he took the job to have something to do between seasons of “House, M.D.,” and doesn’t really do much to flesh out his character.
On a bright side, Gabriel Beristain's cinematography looks great on Blu-ray’s 1080p picture.
The special features on the Blu-ray will help you appreciate “Street Kings” more and is probably why I enjoyed it the second time I watched it. It comes with several “behind the scenes” features that go into great detail of how the film was brought to the screen; the different aspects that make up the film and their roles in the movie (such as sound and effects); and how they wanted to make the film as realistic as possible.
In one interview, Ayer discusses the training that Reeves went through to do the role and the research involved to make his character seem natural and someone who could live in the world of the story.
The “Under Surveillance: Inside the World of Street Kings” is a treat for fans of the movie with all kinds of information and interviews popping up during the film – through picture in picture interviews, and pop-up information. It is a function you will want to use on a second viewing since it would be an annoyance while trying to watch the film for the first time.
The special features also include commentary from Ayer; 15 deleted scenes that expand on the story, and 10 alternate takes. The Blu-ray also comes with a digital copy – which I still don’t see any real use for.
“Street Kings” is a solid movie for fans of the crime genre, but it is also extremely predictable. Fans of this type of movie will find plenty to like, but don’t expect anything new.
Street Kings is now available at Amazon . Visit the DVD database for more information.
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