Review of The Badge (2002) by Shazeda M — 27 Feb 2009

The Sheriff Darl Hardwick (Billy Bob Thornton) of the small city of Lasalle, just outside of New Orleans, finds himself investigating a murder of a beautiful transsexual. Eventually he is contacted by Scarlett (Patricia Arquette), the wife of the victim and they both wants to find the murderer. The evidence points in the direction that local high ranking politicians are involved in some way in this murder. The investigation puts Darl in the position of becoming the rejected one and he becomes forced to seek help from people he has rejected himself. Like his own brother David (Thomas Haden Church). Darl struggles with his homophobia, his drinking, his crazy drunken father and his estranged relation to his ex-wife Carla (Sela Ward) and his daughter. Darl needs to settle this case for himself, but as well for the others involved.

I have always liked Billy Bob Thornton, but here he is on autopilot and makes no bigger impression like he usually does. And Patricia Arquette is sleepwalking and not putting her heart into it. The story, the acting and the general feeling of "The Badge" is scattered and not very focused. And at times as well just poor, uninspiring and it is not putting enough emphasis on the problems/issues transgender persons have to confront in their lifes. I reckon the plot adds something slightly new to the genre, but "The Badge" could have been a lot more intriguing, better dramatized and well made. I mean you have parts of it set in crazy and cool New Orleans, why not use that fully out and really make it a dark, gritty and dramatic thriller with this a tad bit more intriguing plot?