Street Kings

Directed by: David Ayer

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Forrest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans

Synopsis:

Reeves plays Tom Ludlow, a hard edged veteran LAPD cop who has found it difficult getting over the death of his wife. His methods of taking down criminals borders on that of a vigilante. He finds himself implicated in an execution of a fellow officer, his ex-partner who appears to be shopping Ludlow to Internal Affairs for gross misconduct leading Ludlow into a deadly trap. Ludlow is forced to turn the tables on the cop culture he's helped to maintain, leading him to investigate the very people who have been "watching his back".

Review:

Street Kings is very much like the television series The Shield condensed into two hours with a beginning, middle and an end. It was written by James Ellroy (a crime noir thriller writer, responsible for LA Confidential) and Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium, The Recruit). The ensemble cast is excellent and it includes Hugh Laurie, and Forest Whitaker. There's a number of familiar faces that tend to make people double take and say "Where have I seen that person before?". This includes Chris Evans (Fantastic Four 1&2 as Johnny Storm); Naomie Harris (28 Days Later/Miami Vice/Pirates of the Caribbean 1&2); John Corbett (Northern Exposure, Sex and the City, My Big Fat Greek Wedding).

The mainly competent cast muddle through a script that comes across as as if it went through a number of rewrites. The plot should be straightforward but comes across a little convoluted at times. Despite my reservations with Keanu Reeves, he plays the part well. The film is dark and gritty but Reeves never quite sells his battle with alcohol. Set pieces are suitably violent but stray from being as outright brutal, as they could have been. Some reviewers liken it to one of David Ayer's other works; Training Day. I didn't get that reference. Yes, it's about the LAPD, and that's as far as it goes for me.

Verdict

If you're looking for a well rounded crime drama you could do worse than give this a look. Forest Whitaker is always worth watching as is Hugh Laurie (although Hugh's scenes appear trimmed for release). It's a tense ride and I don't think you'll feel that you've been sold short if you ignore the movie's failings. Other David Ayer penned (and directed in some cases) movies to check out if not seen already are Dark Blue, Training Day, and Harsh Times. These movies would be best watched after or instead of Street Kings.

7 Out of 10 (Wayfarer)