Black & Blue
3.5/4
Starring: Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Frank Grillo, Reid Scott, Mike Colter, Beau Knapp, James Moses Black, Nafessa Williams
Rated R for Violence and Language
"Black & Blue" is one long chase picture, and for better and worse, it relies solely on director Deon Taylor's ability to keep the adrenaline high and generate strong, visceral thrills. On that level, the film is a tremendous success. This is a gripping thriller that pins you to your seat and never lets go. Roger Ebert called movies like this "bruised forearm" movies because you spent the running time grabbing the arm of the person sitting next to you.
Alicia West (Harris) is a rookie cop who patrols the slums of New Orleans. She's a no nonsense lady in blue who does not tolerate bending the rules and will absolutely call someone out when they cross the line. While taking a double shift so her partner Kevin (Scott) can have some fun with his lady love, she's paired up with a veteran named Brown (Black), who doesn't like her. Nearing the end of their shift, they answer a call that sounds shady from the get go. Brown tells her to stay in the car while he meets with his undercover informant. But when Alicia hears gunfire, she investigates, and sees something that she was never meant to witness: Brown and two other narcotics detectives eliminating a trio of drug dealers execution style. And it was all recorded on her body cam. Of course that means that the crooked cops can't let her make it back to the station alive.
One thing that elevates "Black & Blue" is its unpredictability. There is a constant sense of danger that permeates the film. Taylor creates that oh so rare feeling that anything can happen at any time. And Alicia is no superhero. As tough as she is, there is a definite possibility that she may not make it to the end credits in one piece.
Naomie Harris is well-cast as Alicia. The London-born actress has always impressed me with her acting skills, and this is another solid performance on her resume. Harris frequently plays strong, independent women, whether it's an outspoken Kenyan teacher ("The First Grader") or James Bond's right-hand lady ("Skyfall"), Harris always impresses. Alicia is smart, but her devotion to her principles could get her killed. Tyrese Gibson makes some interesting choices with his character, a shopkeeper named Mouse. He's the only one who agrees to help her, but he's no traditional hero. He's shy, soft-spoken, and reluctant to get involved. It's an interesting take on a stock character, but it doesn't always work. Gibson can be a charismatic actor, but whether it's the writing or a lack of range, Mouse isn't as consistently compelling as he should be. At least it doesn't skimp in the villain department. Frank Grillo and Mike Colter are perfectly nasty and dangerous. They wouldn't hesitate to kill Alicia if they got the chance.
Taylor widens the scope to ask socioeconomic questions related to the police and the people they "protect." Some of these, such as whether the end justifies the means or whether it's necessary to play dirty to get results, are common in police thrillers. Others, such as how the "us versus them" mentality affects the relationship between the police and the public, are new. The problem isn't that Taylor asks these questions, it's that they ae so underdeveloped. If a filmmaker is going to make some kind of comment like this, there has to be follow-through. But the ideas feel half-formed.
While the screenplay needed another rewrite or two, the film delivers what it promises. This is an intense and gripping thriller that leaves the viewer in a state of constant suspense. The violence is brutal, but more importantly, the potential for violence is present in just about every moment. Even situations that start out innocently can develop into something dangerous. It's common knowledge that, for a cop, any moment can turn into a life or death situation. Taylor shows us how this is possible.
"Black & Blue" doesn't achieve all of its aims, but it nails the most important ones. A movie like this comes down to the skill of the director. That's what separates a movie like "No Escape" from something like "'71." It's not light entertainment and is certainly not for kids, but what it does, it does exceptionally well.
Starring: Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Frank Grillo, Reid Scott, Mike Colter, Beau Knapp, James Moses Black, Nafessa Williams
Rated R for Violence and Language
"Black & Blue" is one long chase picture, and for better and worse, it relies solely on director Deon Taylor's ability to keep the adrenaline high and generate strong, visceral thrills. On that level, the film is a tremendous success. This is a gripping thriller that pins you to your seat and never lets go. Roger Ebert called movies like this "bruised forearm" movies because you spent the running time grabbing the arm of the person sitting next to you.
Alicia West (Harris) is a rookie cop who patrols the slums of New Orleans. She's a no nonsense lady in blue who does not tolerate bending the rules and will absolutely call someone out when they cross the line. While taking a double shift so her partner Kevin (Scott) can have some fun with his lady love, she's paired up with a veteran named Brown (Black), who doesn't like her. Nearing the end of their shift, they answer a call that sounds shady from the get go. Brown tells her to stay in the car while he meets with his undercover informant. But when Alicia hears gunfire, she investigates, and sees something that she was never meant to witness: Brown and two other narcotics detectives eliminating a trio of drug dealers execution style. And it was all recorded on her body cam. Of course that means that the crooked cops can't let her make it back to the station alive.
One thing that elevates "Black & Blue" is its unpredictability. There is a constant sense of danger that permeates the film. Taylor creates that oh so rare feeling that anything can happen at any time. And Alicia is no superhero. As tough as she is, there is a definite possibility that she may not make it to the end credits in one piece.
Naomie Harris is well-cast as Alicia. The London-born actress has always impressed me with her acting skills, and this is another solid performance on her resume. Harris frequently plays strong, independent women, whether it's an outspoken Kenyan teacher ("The First Grader") or James Bond's right-hand lady ("Skyfall"), Harris always impresses. Alicia is smart, but her devotion to her principles could get her killed. Tyrese Gibson makes some interesting choices with his character, a shopkeeper named Mouse. He's the only one who agrees to help her, but he's no traditional hero. He's shy, soft-spoken, and reluctant to get involved. It's an interesting take on a stock character, but it doesn't always work. Gibson can be a charismatic actor, but whether it's the writing or a lack of range, Mouse isn't as consistently compelling as he should be. At least it doesn't skimp in the villain department. Frank Grillo and Mike Colter are perfectly nasty and dangerous. They wouldn't hesitate to kill Alicia if they got the chance.
Taylor widens the scope to ask socioeconomic questions related to the police and the people they "protect." Some of these, such as whether the end justifies the means or whether it's necessary to play dirty to get results, are common in police thrillers. Others, such as how the "us versus them" mentality affects the relationship between the police and the public, are new. The problem isn't that Taylor asks these questions, it's that they ae so underdeveloped. If a filmmaker is going to make some kind of comment like this, there has to be follow-through. But the ideas feel half-formed.
While the screenplay needed another rewrite or two, the film delivers what it promises. This is an intense and gripping thriller that leaves the viewer in a state of constant suspense. The violence is brutal, but more importantly, the potential for violence is present in just about every moment. Even situations that start out innocently can develop into something dangerous. It's common knowledge that, for a cop, any moment can turn into a life or death situation. Taylor shows us how this is possible.
"Black & Blue" doesn't achieve all of its aims, but it nails the most important ones. A movie like this comes down to the skill of the director. That's what separates a movie like "No Escape" from something like "'71." It's not light entertainment and is certainly not for kids, but what it does, it does exceptionally well.
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