Tango (Don Cheadle – Iron Man 2) has been undercover for too long and is starting to forget which way is up. He wants out but his boss Lt. Bill Hobarts (Will Patton – Gone In 60 Seconds) wants him to see out one final mission, something that will force Tango to question his loyalties to the badge and to his friend Caz (Wesley Snipes – Blade) a crime lord recently released from prison.
Sal (Ethan Hawke – Before Sunrise) is a catholic family man and one that holds his faith close to his chest. He needs all of this faith if he is to try and get his family out of their decaying house and into a decent home, no matter what. But with little money Sal soon realises that he may have to tread behind the lines of law and order if he is to save his family. Eddie (Richard Gere – Pretty Woman) in the meantime is days away from retiring and is itching to leave the force. He hates his life and just wants to go quietly but his self-loathing could spur him onto one final act of heroism that could give his life meaning once again. This is a story about three of Brooklyn’s finest and how their lives upholding the law could ultimately tear them apart.
Brooklyn’s Finest is a wonderfully gritty look at the lives of 3 very different police officers and the intricate details of their current predicaments. This is director Antoine Fuqua’s tenth feature and having been responsible for the likes of Training Day and Shooter, brings his unique brand of storytelling to the table with a roster of accomplished acting talent to help. But the real strength of this story is in its deep and involving characterisation. Yes, the film does rely on cliché at times and you’ll feel that you have seen this all played out before but you haven’t seen it done with this level of confidence, style and substance. Brooklyn’s Finest is a film that takes a tried and tested formula and perfects it.
Ethan Hawke continues to hand in brilliant performances and Brooklyn’s Finest is no exception. He is sensational as the religious detective looking for a way out for his family. Hawke is magnetic onscreen and completely captivates you from start to finish. If this was awards season, I would be lobbying hard for his portrayal of Sal to get recognised, it’s that good.
Richard Gere is finally given a character to sink his teeth into and is great as the disillusioned Eddie, a cop close to retirement and looking to see out his final days without incident. He hates the direction his life has gone but is resigned to the fact that there is nothing he can do to change it. His constant battle with his inner-demons is fascinating to watch unfold and Gere has rarely looked so convincing in a role.
Don Cheadle aptly handles the complexities of a cop treading both sides of law and is compelling to watch onscreen. He shares a wonderful chemistry with Caz and their dialogue is well thought out always relevant. Wesley Snipes makes a triumphant return to the big screen and is easily the best thing in Brooklyn’s Finest – that’s no mean feat given the strength of the other characters and the calibre of actor attached to those respective roles. Snipes brings a calm sense of danger to the role and reminds us all what a fantastic talent he really is.
Brooklyn’s Finest is shot superbly too, from the dim lit corridors of inner city housing estates to the stark and whitewashed streets of NYC. We’ve seen work like this in Training Day but what stands Brooklyn’s Finest apart is a story that never feels fake and characters you can empathise with, even if they have to do reprehensible things to keep their heads above water. Writer Michael C. Martin has outdone himself with a gripping script that puts you right in the thick of things. The danger is left to simmer as we are made to feel every anxious moment along with the characters. This also drives home the horror of some of the acts and the shock and surprise of the final third which ties the stories together.
Brooklyn’s Finest is a great film and one that I can’t recommend highly enough. With a fabulous roaster of talent all bringing their A-game to the table, Brooklyn’s Finest comes out as one of the best examples of modern crime drama we’ve had in years.
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