Street Kings (2008)


Street Kings (2008)

Street Kings (2008)

Street Kings (2008)

Street Kings (2008)

Street Kings (2008)

Street Kings (2008)

Street Kings (2008)

Street Kings (2008)


Street Kings (2008)


Director: David Ayer


Cast: Keanu Reeves as Detective Tom Ludlow, Forest Whitaker as Captain Jack Wander, Hugh Laurie as Captain James Biggs, Chris Evans as Detective Paul Diskant, Cedric the Entertainer as Scribble (as Cedric 'The Entertainer' Kyles), Jay Mohr as Sgt. Mike Clady, Terry Crews as Detective Terrence Washington, Naomie Harris as Linda Washington, Common as Coates, Martha Higareda as Grace Garcia, John Corbett as Detective Dante Demille, Amaury Nolasco as Detective Cosmo Santos, Noel Gugliemi as Quicks (as Noel G.), Michael Monks as Pathologist, Daryl Gates as The Chief (as Daryl F. Gates)



"Street Kings" definitely has the street-cred. Keanu looks real
bad-ass, Forrest Whittaker looks like he's digging back into the
character he played on "The Shield", writer director David Ayer is no
stranger to life on the cop circuit, having written "Dark Blue" and
"Training Day among others, and the movie also brings on the token
rappers for good measure in Common and The Game. But does it work?
Reeves plays Tom Ludlow, a Vice detective on a Special Forces unit in
LA, led by Ludlow's friend and former partner Captain Wander (Forrest
Whittaker). Ludlow's a dirty cop, but he feels in a good way. He'll
execute and then tweak the crime scene if it means taking the low-lifes
off the streets for good.

His former partner Terrance Washington (Terry Crews) doesn't see it
that way though, as he is in the midst of ratting him out to the head
of Internal Affairs, Captain Biggs (Hugh Laurie). When he finds out,
Tom follows Washington around, walking right into a convenience store
robbery where Washington is gunned down execution style. Wander tells
Tom he'll take care of it, but Tom is a man who values justice more
than anything. He partners with a homicide detective named Diskant
(Chris Evans) to follow the evidence and solve the murder.

The movie, by David Ayer, couldn't be more hard-core. It's filled with
riveting gun-battles and fights and it's a movie not afraid to show
some real brutal violence and blood. The verbal exchanges between
characters are also exceptionally written, heated and intense with a
good ear for dialogue. My favorite line by far this year is "Why don't
you do the department a favor and clean your mouth out with a
buck-shot." And the story pulls off a compelling morality play, sending
Tom up a ladder of murder and corruption, and at the same time,
climbing him further toward his own redemption. Sure, you can probably
see the ending coming if your paying close enough attention, but think
about it, the movie couldn't end in a better way.

This is the kind of movie Reeves is excellent in, giving his character
edge and toughness but also never losing track of the character's
underlying moral dilemma. Whittaker is also incredible in this movie,
sinking his teeth into a character who's basically portrayed as "The
Godfather" of LA. Hugh Laurie shows up every once in a while, the
character feels underwritten though. Chris Evans does a decent job,
Cedric The Entertainer and Jay Mohr are nice additions who add some
comedy, and it's a small role but Naomie Harris deserves a shout-out
for playing the down-to-earth voice of reason character.

"Street Kings" is hard-nosed, gritty film-making. The cast is right on
the money, the writing and direction is terrific, and the action
couldn't be more exciting. The year is still young but this is one of
my favorite films so far.

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