I assumed Martin would offer us a new angle on what life is like for these three individual officers and the difficult choices they need to make when faced with moral challenges every day. I was also hoping for a little action or perhaps some mystery while they are out fighting crime. Even an Internal Affairs type movie would have sufficed, but the film offered none of the above. The title, Brooklyn’s Finest gives us the impression that somehow these officers are going to stand out above the rest but they don’t seem to overcome any unusual obstacles or make many historical accomplishments in the neighborhood.
Don’t get me wrong, the acting was as good as expected even though I think Richard Gere’s acting was average this time around. Perhaps I feel this way because there has been so much talk out there about how this is his best performance but it couldn’t compare to his roles in Nights In Rodanthe, Unfaithful, Internal Affairs and of course Pretty Woman. I have to admit that I couldn’t complain about seeing him in uniform for two hours. The man looks great. Don Cheadle did a wonderful job as expected in a role that is fairly new to him. I enjoyed seeing Cheadle’s rough side, as he seems to be so nice and reserved in reality. Wesley Snipes, Ethan Hawke and Ellen Arkin were also as good as expected. The actors and the director are really what sold this movie.
The story was all over the place but was easy to follow, maybe a little too easy. They gave us the perspective of each of the officers as well as Snipes character, a big time drug dealer ready to break free of the business. The story itself was a collage of events occurring in each of the characters lives but every time you think that the plot will thicken, you get disappointed. I set my expectations too high on this puppy and made the mistake of assuming that it might be the next Heat.
I was slightly disappointed with Fuqua’s directing. He has enough experience to know what it takes to make a movie like this shine and it seems as if he hardly even tried. I have a feeling that Michael C. Martin is going to get better. There’s still hope for him even though his first film was dull. I’m sure he has made enough money to pick up and start over if he wants to continue his newfound career. You have to start somewhere and the fact that he managed to play a significant role in making a $17 million film with a cast like this is a great start. I would recommend this film to anyone who wants to see Richard Gere in uniform because this is the highlight of the film and the meaning of Brooklyn’s Finest!
By: Francis David
Francis helps people learn about Dish TV Satellite TV, and how they can save money every month with popular Dish Network Packages. Frank and his team also help people determine if Satellite Internet is right for them.
