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"Man, Am I Getting
Punk'd Again?" |
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Directed by Richard
Donner - Written by
Richard Wenk
Starring Bruce Willis,
Mos Def, David Morse
Distributed by Warner
Brothers - 2006 -
105mins - Rated PG13 |
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For a New York cop and his witness, the distance between life and
death just got very short. |
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Richard
Donner is a real hit and miss director. He directs big, popular films
like “Superman” and “Lethal Weapon,” and then he makes movies
like…”The Goonies.” Don’t even get me started on that one.
“16 Blocks” is a return to form for Donner…it’s been awhile since he’s
made a film as much fun as this one. Bruce Willis also makes a great
return. Willis can be a fine dramatic actor and exciting to watch, but
he can also be ruthlessly irritating…his work here is definitely the
former. He takes what Hollywood dictates as a clichéd role and runs
with it. We’ve seen the aging, alcoholic cop who must shape up to save
the day so many times that the very prospect nearly induces vomiting.
Somehow, that doesn’t happen here.
Starring as a witness Willis’ character must escort and then save from
assassins is Mos Def, a rapper turned actor, but one who has chosen
quirky and exciting roles rather than action heroes and gangsters. His
work here is bizarre to say the least. He mumbles, slurs and speaks in
a high-pitched whine. My initial reaction was that of annoyance…then,
I started to realize that this is a full-fledged character…he is
supposed to be annoying. He is supposed to bother Willis’ character.
It’s certainly better than a flat and boring character. He actually
becomes real.
With two engaging leads, Donner is able to invest us in the story, so
we actually care that our two heroes are in danger.
Despite this caring, there is nothing truly remarkable about the
action that follows…and then the film ends with an anti-climax and a
trite, overly sentimental conclusion.
The movie itself, however, isn’t hurt too badly by this. This is a fun
movie, worth checking out on DVD at least. It’s no masterpiece, but
it’s effective entertainment. |
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© Written by Jacob Hall |
TC Candler's Comment
I liked
Willis' gritty performance, but the bad guys
were dull clones of every other cops-turned-bad
you've seen in other recent films. Also,
Mos Def decided to utilize one of the dumbest
voices this side of Cartman from South Park.
It was so hideous as so drag the film below the
Mendoza line... I cannot quite recommend this
film.
Richard
Propes' Comment
n/a
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