We begin with actual footage from the 1991 beating of Rodney King; the Black man was captured while trying to escape from Los Angeles police, then needlessly beaten by agitated officers. Next, we meet White alcoholic cop Kurt Russell (as Eldon Perry) nervously pacing in his boxer shorts. It's April 1992, when the city erupted in violence following verdict acquitting the police. Quickly, the action shifts to five days earlier. After getting off the hook in an unnecessary killing, Mr. Russell and attractive young partner Scott Speedman (as Bobby Keough) investigate the robbery of a small convenience store...
The crime left four dead bodies and took an extraordinary amount of time, and Mr. Speedman thinks the story is more complicated. He's correct, but peeling the onion reveals more than anticipated. Events climax as the city explodes in riots. It's exciting and well-directed by Ron Shelton, but the "big picture" attempted by these parallels isn't artfully made. Russell is disturbingly convincing as the racist and corrupt cop, and Mr. Speedman does nicely as his conflicted ward; though they do look like a "Hair Club" ad couple, at times. Our corrupt cops receive good support, most notably from Ving Rhames.
****** Dark Blue (12/14/02) Ron Shelton ~ Kurt Russell, Scott Speedman, Ving Rhames, Brendan Gleeson
The crime left four dead bodies and took an extraordinary amount of time, and Mr. Speedman thinks the story is more complicated. He's correct, but peeling the onion reveals more than anticipated. Events climax as the city explodes in riots. It's exciting and well-directed by Ron Shelton, but the "big picture" attempted by these parallels isn't artfully made. Russell is disturbingly convincing as the racist and corrupt cop, and Mr. Speedman does nicely as his conflicted ward; though they do look like a "Hair Club" ad couple, at times. Our corrupt cops receive good support, most notably from Ving Rhames.
****** Dark Blue (12/14/02) Ron Shelton ~ Kurt Russell, Scott Speedman, Ving Rhames, Brendan Gleeson