Sunday, April 13, 2008
A+E, Movies, Reviews
Street Kings
‘Street Kings’ an arresting crime thriller
CREDIT: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight
Forest Whitaker and Keanu Reeves in “Street Kings”
“STREET KINGS”
Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker
Directed by David Ayer
Rated R
Wide release
Poor Keanu Reeves. Every time he tries to stretch as an actor, audiences reject him. They’d rather hear him say “Whoa!” than recite Shakespeare. But he keeps trying. In “Street Kings,” he takes a page from Denzel Washington’s play book, working with director David Ayer, who wrote “Training Day.”
“Street Kings” is another story about cops who protect Los Angeles and serve themselves—by helping themselves to money, drugs, whatever. Det. Tom Ludlow (Reeves) is in the former category. He’s used as an attack dog by his boss, Capt. Wander (Forest Whitaker), who knows Tom will do anything it takes to get the job done, often saving the taxpayers the cost of a trial. Unfortunately, Tom’s former partner, Det. Washington (Terry Crews), has started snitching on Tom to Internal Affairs Capt. Biggs (Hugh Laurie).
As Washington confronts Tom in a convenience store, two apparent gang bangers come in shooting. Tom escapes while his former friend is gunned down, arousing suspicion that he was responsible. With Wander helping to sweep the incident under the rug, Tom teams unofficially with rookie Det. Diskant (Chris Evans) to track down the real killers.
Unlike the lone wolf he portrays, Reeves gets plenty of backup in the supporting cast, including Jay Mohr, John Corbett and Amaury Nolasco, Naomie Harris, Cedric “The Entertainer” Kyles (who knew he had a last name?) and rappers The Game and Common.
The story, by “L.A. Confidential” author James Ellroy, is more complicated than Reeves’ character. Tom is given a drinking problem and a back story to help you read more into the actor’s blank expressions. To his credit, though, he’s beginning to show signs of some brain activity behind those vacant eyes. 3 STARS—Steve Warren