Review of Pride and Glory (2008) by R.lopez — 05 Feb 2009

After decades of macho dramas, The Shield, and other ''gritty'' TV police shows, cop movies today rarely have the understated oomph that guys like Sidney Lumet brought to them in the '70s and '80s.

But Pride and Glory is an old-style exception, a very well acted and emotionally gripping corrupt-cop family drama that feels like the kind of serious, slow-burn NYPD movie nobody makes anymore. Edward Norton is in top form as Ray, a burned-out detective whose investigation into the deaths of four cops leads him to suspect his brother-in-law, Officer Jimmy Egan (Colin Farrell, also terrific).

The climactic bar brawl and street beating unfortunately feel too stock, but otherwise co-writer/ director Gavin O'Connor puts a new shine on familiar material. I very highly recommended this film.