Vice – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Oct 24, 2008, 14:44 GMT

Detective Walker is a deeply flawed hero fighting to redeem himself while solving, and simultaneously trying to prevent, a string of murders following a drug deal gone bad. As in other gritty, gripping urban dramas, such as The Usual Suspects, Vice takes the viewer by the throat and doesn t let go until the final plot twist reveals the truth about Walker and the hard cost of making tough choices. ...more

Michael Madsen and Darryl Hannah both produce and star in this tale of a cop at the end of his line.  As he sinks deeper into his mire, the cop gets involved in a drug bust that starts an even deeper descent as his team starts getting murdered one by one.  

Max Walker (Michael Madsen) is a cop at the end of his rope.  He’s been on a downhill slide.  During a big drug bust he and fellow officer Salt (Darryl Hannah) pursue a subject and Max guns him down.  The bust is one that nets a ton of illegal narcotics but soon other members of the squad start getting picked off one by one. 

Walker’s life is pretty much crap.  He seeks solace in quickie encounters with hookers and booze, but his hostile temper is often stoked.  Things only go more to hell as his team is taken out one by one.

This film uses the growling presence of Michael Madsen to great effect as he play a cop who seems more like a criminal sometimes.  Walker is going down a lonesome road and drowns his troubles in some wicked ways and he’s not adverse to pulling out his gun and shooting you either. 

The title of the film could refer to either the vice squad that Walker is a part of or of his wicked ways.  It’s Madsen’s show and he even gets a producers credit on the film. 

There’s some pretentious sounding narration in spots as Walker intones that we’re all dying, but it seems out of place since this film really seems like the typical cop on the slide film.  Hannah really doesn’t have much to do, though she also gets a producers credit so you’d think she might’ve beefed up her part more. 

The problem is that even if Madsen is playing his usual role, not that there’s anything wrong with that since I happen to like the mad Madsen, is that the show seems so old hat that there’s nothing to hang your hat on. 

The film was given a decent premiere at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (see special features) but it feels like a direct to video effort.  It is nice that Madsen dedicates the film to his late friend and costar Chris Penn though.  

Vice is presented in fullscreen.  Special features include 17 minutes of footage of the film’s premiere.  Next are two behind-the-scenes featurettes, one is 5 minutes and the other is 6 minutes.  There’s also a 5 minute music video and the 93 second theatrical trailer.  

Madsen does what Madsen does best but the film just feels like the cookie cutter mold that some films have been using for a long time.  It’s okay but you may be bored since you’ve seen it all before.  

Vice is now available at Amazon. As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.