Chadwick Boseman is probably best know for his role as Black Panther and Marshall (2017). Between playing the Marvel superhero he portrays other characters like detective Andre Davis in the latest crime/drama from STX and director Brian Kirk.
The premise is simple and fast paced. A drug deal gone wrong results in several cops being killed. Detective (Boseman) is called in as the lead dog. It only takes him a matter of minutes to determine there were only two killers at large on the island. As a boy, his father, a cop was killed in the line of duty and now as a grown man also turned cop he shoots only when he feels the absolute need as he learned from his dad. That is some quick editing.
Davis is paired up with a female detective, Sienna Miller in which bullets fly freely and as he comes close to solving this case in an hour and fourty minutes rats emerge from all over and with his taciturn way of sleuthing, this is an easy case to close. The film stars J.K. Simmons as his captain, Taylor Kitsch and Stephan James as the duo cops killers and Keith David who has very limited lines for such a good voice. It is James who is the standout as the law develops quick blood thirst for.
One of the film’s weaknesses involves a safehouse that should be impenetrable and is battered in with ease from the outside by the police. There is another scene where Boseman shoots with his left hand then switches hands and shoots again. That could just be he has that kind of extra talent.One would also think if there is a shootout or just plain gunfire multiple times on the streets, it would not be completely ignored by the pedestrians as if nothing is happening. This film is quite entertaining and doesn’t offer much cause for deep thinking. After all there are few police dramas out there now that do. However, Queen and Slim is coming to town next week and that could serve up a different style. This film opens on November 22. ***
