Review of Street Kings (2008) by Steph O — 14 Jul 2010

In regards to crime-thrillers, there comes to mind a noirish caper so inarguably amazing that it has quickly ascended to the top of this reviewer's list of all-time favorite films. James Ellroy's serpentine story of police corruption unfolds with breathless precision while the photography brilliantly captures the tinhorn beauty and, at the same time, discomforting darkness of the City of Angels. And the pitch-perfect cast, directed with such precise and uncompromised vision, expertly fills this storied canvas. The film in question is called LA Confidential but this reviewer is here to talk about the over-wrought dummy bullet Street Kings, a movie whose plot is so tired that it could be termed 'narcoleptic.'.

In the R-rated Street Kings, a disgraced LAPD officer (Reeves) uncovers corruption in the police department and sets out on a mission to redeem his honor.

Screenwriter/director David Ayers has revisited the theme of LA police corruption time (director, Harsh Times) and time (producer, Training Day) and time again (screenwriter, Dark Blue). As his career has progressed, his scripts have shown less and less novelty while, as director, his choice of shots and casting leaves much to be desired. With Ellroy (LA Confidential, Black Dahlia) having co-written the story, however, there came a smidgen of promise. What results, however, is just another bullet-ridden testosterone tale of redemption with twists and turns as exciting as an unpaid parking ticket. Worse, he takes down some game players along with him. Though always electric, Whitaker is terribly miscast as the duplicitous police chief and Reeves barely generates a simmer of intensity.

Bottom Line: Kicked to the curb.