director: Antoine Fuqua
writer: Michael C. Martin
starring: Ethan Hawke, Don Cheadle, Richard Gere, Wesley Snipes
genre: Drama, Crime
Every year or so there is some kind of dramatic cop film. It's an familiar genre with no need of going away. Most of them aren't bad just not deep enough or smart enough. Case in point Brooklyn's Finest. It's a very good film for what it is but doesn't go far enough to be memorable.
Story is of three cops and there connections to crime, corruption and honor. Officer Eddie Dugan (Richard Gere) is a old relic of the system that is tired with it all but still deep down a true cop. Detective Clarence "Tango" Butler (Don Cheadle) is a undercover cop in too deep with honor for his fellow criminal and friend and lost between the worlds. Detective Salvatore "Sal" Procida (Ethan Hawke) is great family man by providing but by doing so illegally with drug bust money. All of them will have a crisis of faith with their positions as officers of the law and to themselves to do what is right.
For it's familiar genre Brooklyn's Finest best achievement is it's characters sense of purpose. For Hawke's family, Cheadle's honor and Gere's disgust of the system. They all believe they can do good either threw corruption or threw the system. Director Fuqua is also no stranger to these stories with his previously directed film Training Day. Here he spreads the wealth to many characters and chooses once again to show how there are many sides to being a cop.
Beside the film's strong performances and its ability to be a above average cop drama it fails to be a standout in the genre. But that's not the overall point of this film and of many films to say the least. Not every film should wow us as we would like. Brooklyn's Finest does it's job by being a good film with suspense, commanding performances, and a constant interest into the dramatic lives of the three cops. I would recommend this as a good rental and a film that is difficult to disappoint.
Personal Rating:
Review by Paul
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