Das Gesetz der Ehre (Pride and Glory)
U.S.A./Germany 2008

Opening 22 Jan 2009

Directed by: Gavin O'Connor
Writing credits: Joe Carnahan, Gavin O'Connor, Greg O'Connor, Robert Hopes
Principal actors: Colin Farrell, Edward Norton, Jon Voight, Noah Emmerich, Jennifer Ehle

Several New York policemen mistakenly die during a sting. Who were the insiders who warned the gangsters? Francis Tierney Sr., head of the Manhattan police office, turns the case over to his favorite, but unwilling, son, Ray (Edward Norton). His investigations point to many more policemen including his brother Francis Jr. and brother-in-law Jimmy. How are they involved in drug dealing, murder, and coercion? Ray is in a position to close the file and go back to business as usual. The moral high ground has little attraction compared to low pay, dirty work, and family problems.

Twins Gavin and Gregory O’Connor worked as director and producer to make this good-cop-bad-cop film. Hope for some subtitles in any language, because the English is often garbled in a Brooklyn/Queens accent which viewers from other parts of the world, or even parts of New York, can barely comprehend. Still, the general drift is obvious and the 300 F-words emphasize the macho tone. Made on location in New York, this film is dedicated to a real New York policeman: 24-year-old Eric Hernandez, who was mistakenly shot three times by his colleague during a free-for-all in a Bronx restaurant and died in January 2006. Actors Norton, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight and Noah Emmerich are sufficiently capable to be believable in their roles. (Becky Tan)