16 Blocks (2006)

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

The first must-see film of the year.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Solid Bruce Willis action film has Bruce as a limping over-the-hill detective who finds himself asked to do a favor transporting a prisoner just sixteen blocks to the courthouse. Instead, he finds himself under siege for said sixteen blocks and caught up in a web of criminals, dirty cops, and conspiracies. For as simple and clichéd a plot here, the script seemed quite overwrought and a tad too self-serious for what is essentially an update of Clint Eastwood's "The Gauntlet," but despite a weak script, the film is solidly directed by veteran action direction Richard Donner ("Lethal Weapon," "Superman," "Ladyhawke," "The Goonies") and Bruce gives a strong performance as always. Not a classic, but still better than the bombastic 4th and 5th "Die Hard" films.

This might have been a good movie but I wouldn't know because I stopped watching when Mos Def started his dialogue. To say he has an annoying voice is a gross understatement. Omg. It is beyond annoying. It's enraging and impossible to bear. I just couldn't. So yeah. As far as I'm concerned, this movie sucked. Not to mention Frank chews his gum like a cow eating saltwater taffy. What. The. Hell. My boyfriend watched it so I was subjected to some of the garbage. Mos Def really does seem mildly retarded. I don't mean that in an offensive way. That is an honest and sincere observation. Bruce Willis looks a little run down but maybe that was intended.

you see, I noticed that in 12 monkeys poor bruce has problems. Then in this I see he has very similar issues. now when Tom hanks was confronted with some ass backwards negros...he had to wait for help...in GUNMAN, sean penn smokes them immediately. is this movie about bruce willis and his patience? is it about his partner not giving a fuc* about the fuc%ing character MOS DEF? well....redo this film or don't do it at all. here at this point I have to write more nonsense to appease the company website whereas if this gets published, all I would point out to you is that the job and the backstabbing happening is the fault of interacial tension....supposedly.

Richard Donner and Bruce Willis joined forces for this exciting chase action cop drama about a boozing detective's (Willis) protection of a witness to police corruption (Mos Def, sensational), sought after by one of the corrupt cops (David Morse) and his plainclothes team all over 16 blocks of New York City. Taking place during a period of time as a day ("real time") unfolds, as Willis and Mos Def will have to avoid cops constantly in this cat and mouse as Morse and his guys are persistent but always outsmarted. Morse uses his influence within the force to convince his cop colleagues that Willis has gone off the deep end. Donner is a real pro at staging action within confined spaces, traffic, alleys, buildings of all shapes and sizes, and certainly captures this authentic feel of a chase within a crowded and busy city. Willis is on his game as a down-on-his-luck detective holding on to his integrity while Morse surrendered his own. Mos Def surprises due to his ability to show a flesh and blood character that is undeserved of his fate, likable and genuine, in his situation due to what he knows not for any serious type of criminal behavior. Morse just wants both men dead and will do whatever it takes to see that they don't make it out of the chase alive. I think this is criminally underrated and especially well made due to the way Donner follows the leads throughout the city with the dirty cops in intense pursuit. It presents a seemingly unsolvable problem for the heroes, so the fun of the film is showing how they could possibly escape Morse and his sorry bunch of no-good cops. The bus sequence is especially a highlight due to the complexity for which Bruce and Mos Def find themselves, as a busload of passengers and cops surrounding them presents quite a difficult dilemma. Willis' revelation regarding why he's so debilitated and weary adds a surprising wrinkle to the film as he has a shame that has motivated him to defend Mos Def and challenge Morse over his safety. Facing responsibility for your actions and owning up to past transgressions could be Willis' salvation, Mos Def's character serving as a factor in his rescue from the doldrums.