Street Kings
2008

Opening 17 Apr 2008

Directed by: David Ayer
Writing credits: James Ellroy, Kurt Wimmer, Jamie Moss
Principal actors: Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Common , Martha Higareda, Hugh Laurie

Directed by David Ayer with Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie

Life is hard for cops struggling to stay afloat, between what we read in the papers and what really happens in the streets in LA. But unlike the lovely surroundings, rotten glamour and wounded love in L.A. Confidential, there is no reprieve in Street Kings. Not even a dame. Cops in L.A. get paid almost nothing to keep ever-growing criminal scum from turning L.A. into just another narco democracy, but they are the only ones out there holding the line, on their terms. Sometimes cops like Tom Ludlow (Reeves) are walking killing machines, just doing their job because it’s the only thing keeping them alive. Other cops, like Captain Jack Wander (Whitaker), keep everyone’s ghosts under tabs and collect chits for the big payout. And finally, other cops just live off of everyone else’s innocence, like Captain James Biggs (Laurie). It was a pleasure to watch a somnambulant and puffy-faced Keanu Reeves struggle with morality, mortality and greed. Forest Whitaker lit up the screen as Captain Wander, alternating his psychosis to reward, punish or protect his protégé Tom Ludlow. And Hugh Laurie was a surprise as the normal looking, lying bottom feeder. If this is not enough of a recommendation, then remember James Ellroy also wrote the story and screenplay. Need I say more to lovers of film noir? (Rita Pearson Schwandt)