Rated R for strong violence and pervasive language.
Directed by David Ayer (Harsh Times)
Starring Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Jay Mohr, John Corbett, Cedric the Entertainer, Naomi Harris, Amaury Nolasco, Common and The Game
Another violent dirty cop film like Training Day and Dark Blue.
Street Kings is a police thriller staring Keanu Reeves, who plays Tom Ludlow, a veteran LAPD Vice Detective. Ludlow sets out on a quest to discover the killers of his former partner, Detective Terrance Washington (Terry Crews). Captain Wander (Forest Whitaker) tries his best to keep Ludlow within the confines of the law and out of the office of Internal Affairs Captain Biggs (Hugh Laurie). Ludlow teams up with a young Robbery Homicide Detective (Chris Evans) to track Washington's killers through the diverse communities of Los Angeles. Their determination pays off when the two detectives track down Washington's murderers and confront them in an attempt to bring them to justice.
Let’s get one thing straight, this is a gritty, violent film filled with dirty cops, racial slurs, and corruption, but if you are able to get past that, there is a great story about life in the LAPD. I found myself being sucked into the lives of the characters, seeing their flaws and wondering who to root for. David Ayer, keeps both the action and pace moving at a breakneck speed – which never feels forced and Keanu Reeves does a great job in his first action film in three years. His character is almost emotionless which is a real plus for Reeves. Forest Whitaker overacts a bit, but in my opinion, that’s par for the course and Chris Evans is very believable as the rookie cop. As far as the rest of the cast, there were some very strange casting decisions. Cedric the Entertainer is a drug dealer and John Corbett is a crooked cop. Then you have comedians, Terry Crews and Jay Mohr, showing their dramatic sides. I have to say, as strange as it was…it all worked.
So the movie has a few clichés in it and most of the plot twist can be seen a mile away. But I don’t think there were really any bad scenes, and I found the film to be pretty entertaining. If you liked Training Day and Dark Blue, my guess is you will like this one – so go rent it. It’s not too cliché and will feel familiar enough for you to enjoy. On the other hand if gritty, violent films are not your thing…please skip it.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Although there is not sex or nudity, the violence is very graphic including the scene where Detective Terrance Washington is shot. The scene is as realistic as they come and there is a lot of blood.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
