Rating:  -
I was a little disappointed with this - Kurt Russell (the main reason I checked this out) does a fine job but it's the story that's lacking I think. There just isn't enough subtlety to it, evidenced in the amount of corruption that is portrayed and how "ordinary" the real bad guy turns out to be. The concept of setting this in the climate of the Rodney King incident was very creative and the writers did a good job of keeping that in our memory throughout the story. In the end though, while the story seemed to aspire to working on several different levels at once, it just couldn't quite pull it off and there isn't enough nuance for me to truly recommend this: I'd suggest you rent 'Backdraft' if you're looking for a great Kurt Russell drama.
Rating:  -
DARK BLUE
GREAT FILM
This film is as powerful as it is gripping and not necessarily because it is a classic film, because it's not. The film its self is a good film but not one of the all time greats, it's because of the subject matter in this film, and that makes it good. The film is centered around Eldon Perry {Kurt Russell} and his rookie partner played by Scott Speedman. As they are out to solve a robbery/multi homicide during the time of the Rodney King beating, which has everything/nothing to do with the film. As the film proceeds toward the end of the film each one of the two proceeds to have a change of heart. One because he is really a good hearted person and the other because his wife leaves him and his boss wants to have him killed. So one dies for his beliefs and the other gives out the dirt live in front of the force and media about what he did and his boss.
One of the most interesting things about this film is the riot that breaks out because of the verdict in the King beating trial. In fact one of the most memorable moments is when DASH MIHOK is killed by all the black guys because he is white, sadly things like that really happened when the riot happened. Director Ron Shelton did an excellent job with this film, but the acting is what makes this film a great movie.
Kurt Russell may actually give his best performance ever in this film, his gritty corrupt cop role is played with excellence. And Ving Rhames is excellent in his role as well has the next chief of police, I was really pleased to learn of his presence in this film. But the best thing about this film is two small supporting roles in KURUPT, and Dash Mihok. The two fiendish friends in this film who kick it off in the beginning are definitely the most entertaining to watch threw out the entire film. I dare u to watch the film and not agree with me. Each scene the two are in is heightened by their presence. I just wish these two would have had more screen time.
Over all this is a very good film, I recommend it to any body looking for a good, entertaining film.
Rating: -
Dark Blue takes place in 1992 and we often see in the background of the movie the event's that led up to the L.A. Riots, which first all started with the video of the Rodney King beating.
Russell is of course with the L.A.P.D. and is in deep with a brotherhood of corrupt cops, fabricated evidence, and cover up. His vigilante style of justice is troubling for his new rookie partner, a young, somewhat passive guy who is not sure if he can hang with the cronies who hide behind the badge.
Russell is absolutely awesome in his role. The long hours, the drinking, and somewhat skewed view of society drives away those who love him, while all the more making him better at what he does: Being a corrupt Cop!
Ving Rhames shines as well as a good cop who is outnumbered by the good ole boys mentality (race card inserted here). He know's what is going on, but cannot prove it.
Blackmail, murder, double standards, and all out corruption bleed through the screen as the peices of the puzzle begin to come together. The corruption is so vivid that we start seeing "what goes around comes around" to be a main theme in the film.
Russell and Rhames bring this film most of it's life as the story overall is nothing we have not seen before. It's a fictionalized cop drama set during the time of the Rodney King Beating and the L.A. Riots. The film did do a good job of re-creating the riots, whose chaos we see glimpses of at the height of the film.
Rating: -
Like that dymanite performance from Denzel Washington in Training Day, Kurt Russell (Breakdown, Miracle) gives off a blazing hardcore performance as a third generation cop who brings in his new partner, played by Scott Speedman (Underworld, My Life Without Me) and shows him the ropes. Russell's father's friend, played by Brendan Gleeson (28 Days Later, Troy), who just so happens to be his boss, lures the two detectives into covering up a robbery which two of his informants played by Kurupt and Dash Mihok (The Thin Red Line), where involved in and Ving Rhames (Rosewood, Pulp Fiction) plays The Deputy Chief who is trying to bring them all down. Superb Cop movie just like Training Day, though I like them equally....Training Day is still a good good movie. Russell's performance anchors this movie highly which the backdrop leads up to the riots of 1992 and the Rodney King beating that took place. Towards the end with the scenes of the rioting, it becomes intense. Scott Speedman shows talent here and he's out of his Felicity faze. Gleeson gleams with devilishly deeds. Also starring Michael Michele, Lolita Davidovich (Hollywood Homicide, Mystery Alaska) and Master P (Hollywood Homicide, I Got The Hook Up). One of the best movies of 2003...it scores a bullseye
Rating:  -
As you can tell by the header, I was disappointed by this movie. Since Kurt Russell plays the lead, I should not have been surprised, because the parts he plays are generally rather predictable and simplistic (Tango & Cash, Snake Plisskin, etc). I just don't picture Kurt as lead actor in a gritty, realistic drama...but, eternally the optimist, I hoped that this might be the exception. It wasn't.
The story involves two LA detectives, one a grizzled and thoroughly corrupt veteran (Russell) and the other a somewhat principled but weak-willed and easily manipulated rookie, Bobby Keough (Scott Speedman). Russell's character (Eldon Perry) is controlled and protected by an exceedingly corrupt superior officer, Jack Van Meter (nicely played by Brendan Gleeson), who uses Perry to further his profitable and flagrantly illegal interests.
If you have ever watched "The Shield" on FX cable network then you will be familiar with this general setup....a morally ambiguous detective is used to further his superior's agenda.....but here is the problem: The Shield (a television series) is vastly superior in every way: plot, acting, characterization, dialog, direction, etc. to this feature film. It is like comparing filet mignon to cheap hamburger. Once you see a quality, nuanced drama like The Shield, this movie and all like it are rendered unwatchable.
Characters in Dark Blue are caricatures with almost no depth. They guzzle whiskey and laugh about their flagrant crimes. The plot and dialog are contrived and unrealistic. There is no subtlety....no intellectually stimulating complexity. Eldon always does exactly as he is told: if mass-murdering thugs (employed and protected by his superior) are to be sheltered from arrest, simply go out and murder a couple of stray ex-cons and let them take the rap (posthumously) for the real criminals. Never mind that neither of the ex-cons is even close to being a plausible suspect. No one would be fooled by this ruse, except perhaps in this mindless movie.
Eldon gets his partner Keough to perform one of the cold-blooded murders ordered by Van Meter, and thus begins their downfall, because Keough has a spontaneous change of heart and suddenly cannot accept the guilt of his actions. One minute he is guzzling whiskey with his cronies and laughing about lying to a shooting review board, and the next he is overwrought with guilt. Not at all likely in real life, but it suits the plot.
Things gets even sillier when the partner (Speedman) then teams up with the assistant chief's (Ving Rhames) predictably beautiful ex-mistress (Michael Michelle) to try to arrest the real thugs and use them to bring down the whole perverted mess. Heaven forbid that he simply come forth and provide evidence to accomplish this end. What follows is a lengthy, confused, and poorly choreographed pursuit of the thugs and a predictable gun battle with equally predictable outcome.
The ultimate farce, however, is reserved for Eldon himself, who drives around South Central Los Angeles during the peak of the Rodney King riots trying to find and arrest a black suspect....which he easily accomplishes....and then drives away without a scratch. This reaches the level of surrealistic absurdity and is an insult to the true horror of the riots.
Equally unconvincing is Eldon's spontaneous change of heart at the end of the movie, during his promotion ceremony (such irony), when he delivers a rambling, preposterous and unconvincing indictment of his father, himself, and his evil superior....which is simplistically and immediately accepted (in true movie fashion) by all who hear it, and who then immediately jump to arrest and condemn the naughty superior. This is silly, implausible, and an insult to any viewer above the age (and maturity) of a 10-year old. Jump up at your next promotion ceremony and deliver a rambling condemnation of your superior and see what happens. This type of naive nonsense occurs in only one place: the movies....bad ones.
If you were thrilled by Tango & Cash, and thought Snake Plissken was a brilliantly-portrayed anti-hero, then by all means hit the "Buy It Now" button for this DVD. But, if you want complexity, subtlety, realism, plausibility, and infinitely superior acting, plot, characterization, and direction....do yourself a huge favor and use your money to either subscribe to FX on cable, or buy/rent DVD's of The Shield series....filet mignon is always better than cheap hamburger.
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