Review of 16 Blocks (2006) by Don S — 15 Jul 2011

You've seen the plot before; I call it "the package." Hero has to get the package to a certain destination before a certain time (e.g., this is the plot of 3:10 To Yuma and The Contract). In this case, "the package" is a key witness (Mos Def, who uses the most annoying nasal tone voice I believe I've ever heard). The destination is a mere 16 blocks to the courthouse. The hero (Bruce Willis) is an old, run down, drunk of a cop who is just stumbling through his last years on the force. He has no ambition and no willingness to care or get involved with anything. It was pure pleasure to watch Willis make this cop come awake and alive when the witness is almost terminated. Powerful stuff. And David Morse was wonderful as the villain. He's come a long way from Dr. Jack Morrison on St. Elsewhere. Gripping, thought provoking, and a nice twist at the end. Great movie.

You wrote this on 11/19/08.