Dark Blue (2003)

Awesome Movie

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

This is the example what simple can not do. I would rather say that character of Curt Russel in this movie was detective in West L.A. who'd been always trying to make a right decision in the situation. He was corrupted cop and responsible for his partner's death, but... He screwed everything; His boss, who was also dirty, but the man who gave him the carrier and reputation of the bad ass cop ho solved every case, was locked up, because he decided to do a noble thing and become the main snitch for internals. He was also ended in the jail, but in the end I don't understand the point.

"Dark Blue" features a pretty great ensemble cast, but I have to admit to some degree of disappointment that they're in the service to a fairly bland police procedural. Can't help but think the movie's standing in the shadows of much better films when it's recalling "Lethal Weapon" and "L.A. Confidential" in its score. But it's classic James Ellroy material (corruption running deep within LAPD), and that's always interesting storytelling. And setting things against the backdrop of the impending Rodney King verdict gives the movie some nice atmosphere.But Kurt Russell handily walks away with this movie, playing a racist plainclothes thug. Not at all a likable character, but Russell's magnetic performance actually manages to wring some sympathy out of the guy until you find yourself almost - almost - rooting for him in the end. His abilities have been unsung for far too long.6/10

Dark Blue is a surprisingly good cop film and even though it has the cliché elements of the bad cop/good cop theme, it's better than expected thanks to a wonderful performance by Kurt Russell and a well-written screenplay by David Ayer. This film reminded me very much of Training Day and that's a good thing because I like to see how different directors make use of this kind of film.Ron Shelton's film is based on the days of the beating of Rodney King and the verdict of the trial. This film has veteran cop Eldon Perry and rookie cop Bobby Keough battling it out with each other as they explore the greediness and corruptness of the LAPD.Kurt Russell saved this movie from mediocrity and he is a vastly underrated actor. His performance is lights-out and he gave one of the better speeches in film you'll ever see. The supporting cast is not shabby either.Overall, this should have been your run-of-the-mill cop film, but thanks to great acting and a addictive storyline, this film is enjoyable and fun to watch. It also helps that this gritty cop thriller gives out a fresh Training Day vibe. I rate this film 9/10.

About halfway through this movie, I realized I hadn't blinked once. That's when I knew that I was watching a really good film. Kurt Russell is no slouch of an actor. He was riveting. This was a well crafted cop flick where everyone seems to have dirt on someone else, and meanwhile, there are crimes being committed, and L.A. is about to erupt in rioting.The great thing about this flick is that it doesn't try to be more than it is. Which is just a very entertaining, suspenseful cop movie.Well worth a watch.Or two.