|
|
Photo © Warner Brothers
|
|
16 Blocks
Action; Crime
1hr. 41 mins.
March 3rd, 2006
MPAA:PG-13 for violence, intense sequences of action and some strong language.
Warner Brothers
|
|
|
Starring: Bruce Willis, Mos Def, David Morse
Directed By: Richard Donner
Produced By: Jim Van Wyck; with Avi Lerner, Randall Emmett, John Thompson, Arnold Rifkin.
Screenplay By: Richard Wenk
|
|
|
Reviewed
By: Wellington Lee
Rated 2.65/5
In a Nutshell:Det.Jack Mosley(Willis) runs a gauntlet of corrupt cops, trying to keep his escorted witness Eddie(Mos Def), from testifying against them to Grand Jury.Good tension, with foot chases(vs.usual car) through Chinatown and Willis's trademark resourcefulness.Moderate acting risk for Willis, playing a severely alcoholicdetective.Def plays usual comic, eccentric role. Good chemistry between the 2. Def could have dropped the character bit with the affected accent, to get more depth. Hollywood ending.
Feature Review:Any seasoned actor knows that he/she has to play against type, or be relegated to
character roles. CIA agent George Clooney does it in Syriana, gaining weight and vulnerability, for an atypical, spook stereotype. Pierce Brosnin in
Matador, exudes the partying,40ish belly, amoral hit man in need of a Buddy. Now veteran,
maverick "movie cop" Willis(Diehard) tries it and mostly succeeds, in Richard Donner's
latest Crime/Action feature.
N.Y. Det. Jack Mosley is burned out and apparently alcoholic, from the first frames. He
reluctantly covers transporting a Grand Jury witness this short distance, to his deadline
appearance. Jack's fellow detectives set him up to fail this simple escort, to keep a lid
on their malfeasance. The action is all in real time(about the same length as the
flick), as Mosley
wheezes, scrambles and cabs it through the nervous blue gauntlet, with his charge.
Richard Wenk's screenplay allows Willis to get into his tremor ridden character from the
get go. This allows him to Method act it, and make Det. Jack a near physical equal to,
an incredulous Eddie. Dir. Donner and the shooting script, gets unreal in places, with
delirium tremored(chronic alcoholism) Jack's explosive action and quick thinking. The
other key element that keeps this off the 4 star or A list, is the lack of back story.
Why is he severely alcoholic? What happened on the job or in his personal life, to
completely stress him out? Even just a couple of flashbacks, would make his decision for
redemption, through the cloud of hard liquor, that much more compelling.
Mos Def as Eddie, has an offbeat innocence, talking up his dream of opening his own
Seattle bakery, as assassin cops and bullets fly all around him. He teeters dangerously near
a caricature, of simple minded blacks, in pre 60's(Civil Rts. Movement) movies. Writing him
as wanting to do the right thing and testify, despite the odds, gives him a romantic
idealist side. Def IS funny, but overplays it in character actor mode. He chatters away
oblivious(at times)to the circling peril, with an irksome, nasal affectation. Def
obviously contributed heavily to his lines, but the continual comic relief mode(Director
and writer), keeps it as light as the star rating it eventually garners. David Morse is
well cast support, as lead bad cop det. Frank. Frank is cooly impervious to setbacks, as
he orchestrates the hyper and worried squad of pursuing plain cloths men
Some will find this a modern day "Gauntlet"(C.Eastwood '77). Dir. Donner has definitely
evolved in "..Blocks", from his notorious mega action, sardonic styled resume. The
bustling feel of N.Y. City is aptly captured in the Toronto location(obvious). If you are
a Willis or Def fan, open to them trying on a different character, and o.k. with a break
from nifty but unreal car and stunt special effects, then 16 blocks should punch your
action, escapist ticket.
|
|
|
Questions & Feedback |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
(Click
here for more movie reviews)
|
|
|
