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Street Kings

Buzz says:   MPAA Rating: R
Current Showtimes: No showtimes available

Nearly everything about Champaign native David Ayer’s new police corruption film Street Kings has a feel of déjà vu, deriving plot elements and conventions from numerous cop films of the past… unfortunately without much innovative uniqueness. Even its title echoes of much more compelling films of a generation ago, like The New Centurions and Prince of the City.

While noted crime novelist James Ellroy’s script has moments of compelling action, this clichéd story of an alcoholic, racist widower LA detective contains one featured convention after another from numerous popular television scripts, like those of Hill Street Blues and numerous adaptations of the Joseph Wambaugh’s LA cop tales.

The ever bland Keanu Reeves plays Detective Tom Ludlow, one of LA’s finest on the edge. Without the polish and appeal of a Dirty Harry tale, Ayers and Reeves weave this seedy tale in a style reminiscent of Ayer’s script for Training Day or Ellroy’s LA Confidential. Ludlow is a mean veteran who mourns the death of his cheating wife, sleeps in his undercover cloths, and slugs back 4 ounce bottles of vodka like they were his only life’s blood. Most police know of Ludlow’s bad reputation. His “kill first, ask questions and make excuses later” approach to justice are often covered up by his trusting Captain, played with hyperbolic energy by recent Oscar winner Forest Whitaker.

The laundry list of routine plot details include a predictable conflict with Ludlow’s African-American ex-partner, violent shoot outs with drug thugs, the rescue of innocent victims, and a love interest with a caring Latina nurse – all eventually leading to a department internal investigation by a no-nonsense Captain Biggs, played by Hugh Laurie of Fox’s House.

While some may enjoy the relatively steady paced action and story, the plethora of clichés and mediocre acting don’t make for much of an entertaining film.