Street Kings is a luscious mix of some of the better films of corruption and power set in Los Angeles. The loose cannon cop with loyalties to all the wrong people, the rookie, and the veteran cop whose life is driven by greed, lust for power and fortune. Sure, you could call it the "same old, same old" but that's until you see it. It has the Internal Affairs angle of corruption and the Training Day look. Especially with the heavy handed gangland style shootouts and the gritty street feel.
Keanu Reeves plays the role of Det. Ludlow, an "enforcer"/loose cannon cop with a drinking problem and a vendetta, very well. His job is to go in and "take care of things" so-to-speak. Be it trapping and killing the bad guys, or seeking revenge for his ex-partners vicious murder. He trusts his "brothers" and believes in what he does—no matter how bloody he gets in the process. Reeves plays it with just the right amount of weariness and naiveté to make it believable.
Forest Whitaker's overacting at times is the only thing that was a little off-putting, however, his acting was on par with his role and it made sense. However Hugh Laurie does an excellent job as Captain Briggs, a power player in the LAPD who's just on the edge of entanglement in a conspiracy of murder, money and power. Terry Crews, John Corbet, Jay Mohr, Common and Amaury Nolasco do a fine job of making me loathe them as dirty cops in a department full of dirty cops.
I'd like to add that in my opinion, Common's acting is probably some of the finest you'll ever see in a rapper turned actor for a very long time. He plays the role of a cop gone so deep undercover, he's more criminal than he ever was a cop.
I heard nothing but silence or jeers from the critics about this movie, sadly I listened and for far too long. For nearly a year I missed out on one of the best cop films in the genre. It's a nice little thriller with a good amount of action thrown in. The twists and turns are appropriate and highly believable and as a cop drama, it serves it purpose.
Keanu Reeves plays the role of Det. Ludlow, an "enforcer"/loose cannon cop with a drinking problem and a vendetta, very well. His job is to go in and "take care of things" so-to-speak. Be it trapping and killing the bad guys, or seeking revenge for his ex-partners vicious murder. He trusts his "brothers" and believes in what he does—no matter how bloody he gets in the process. Reeves plays it with just the right amount of weariness and naiveté to make it believable.
Forest Whitaker's overacting at times is the only thing that was a little off-putting, however, his acting was on par with his role and it made sense. However Hugh Laurie does an excellent job as Captain Briggs, a power player in the LAPD who's just on the edge of entanglement in a conspiracy of murder, money and power. Terry Crews, John Corbet, Jay Mohr, Common and Amaury Nolasco do a fine job of making me loathe them as dirty cops in a department full of dirty cops.
I'd like to add that in my opinion, Common's acting is probably some of the finest you'll ever see in a rapper turned actor for a very long time. He plays the role of a cop gone so deep undercover, he's more criminal than he ever was a cop.
I heard nothing but silence or jeers from the critics about this movie, sadly I listened and for far too long. For nearly a year I missed out on one of the best cop films in the genre. It's a nice little thriller with a good amount of action thrown in. The twists and turns are appropriate and highly believable and as a cop drama, it serves it purpose.