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Amazon.co.uk Review
Street Kings is a pungent bouquet of corruption, violence, multi-ethnic mayhem, macho glee laced with macho angst, and fluorescently obscene dialogue from the mind of James Ellroy. Its hero, though he'd scarcely consent to be called one, is L.A. police detective Tom Ludlow (Keanu Reeves), for whom life is a wound that won't heal and dealing out retribution to scumbags is the ongoing treatment. Ludlow's the star player--"the tip of the [expletive] spear"--on a team of detectives headed by Capt. Jack Wander (Forest Whitaker). Coach Wander relies on his boys to keep breaking lurid cases, usually through deeply darkside underground work, and raising his profile with the media and the department. In pursuit of these goals, nothing is forbidden except failure, and the truth is what you make it look like. This is familiar Ellroy territory, most effectively translated to the screen in L.A. Confidential (which should have won the 1997 Oscar, and would have if Titanic hadn't launched that year). If you know Ellroy's ground game, you can pretty much guess where Street Kings is going, and where it's been. Still, the twists and torques of its urban road-rage course maintain the centrifugal force needed to hold us in our seats (a tactical highlight: refrigerator adapted as rolling barricade), and the movie keeps bopping us with oddball casting coups: comic Jay Mohr and Northern Exposure/Sex and the City veteran John Corbett as two members of Coach Warden's gonzo detective squad; Cedric the Entertainer doing a nicely nuanced turn as a street creature; Hugh Laurie doing a less-hyper version of House, if House worked Internal Affairs. The problem is that director David Ayer keeps everything intense. Dialogues are shot too close-up, line readings are too strident, the action is too nonstop slam. Recall Curtis Hanson's L.A. Confidential and the mind's eye summons up a whole spectrum of existence, mood, place, historical period, emotional investment; there's an amplitude to the picture and the sensibility bringing it to us, something besides the whodunit and the endless rap sheet of nasty what-they-done. Everything in Street Kings is one-note, and with Keanu Reeves playing it implosive and Forest Whitaker locked in crazier-than-an-outhouse-rat mode, that's no way to stay the course. --Richard T. Jameson
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
I'd never heard of it, it had Keanu in the lead role, and I bought it 2nd-hand. Everything hinted this film was a turkey, but it wasn't!
I'm really glad I took a punt and bought it despite my reservations, as it turned out to action packed, with a pretty good story line too, which centred on the relationship between corrupt LA cops and the LA gang culture.
Keanu plays a cop on the edge, who breaks in to crack dens and kills his suspects on site - shooting first and asking questions later, he plants evidence and does what he has to to make sure the bad guys don't get away. However, he uncovers that he may not be the only bent cop in the LAPD, and that other may be bending the rules for personal gain rather than to rid the streets of scum.
We get the usual wooden acting you'd expect from Keanu, but a supporting cast which includes Forest Whitaker and Hip Hop's 'The Game' and 'Common' (plus original Blood gang member and OG 'Bones') make for a believable cast, who carry him through every scene so it's never a problem. The sets and scenery are great, action sequences are tight and punchy, and overall the film was a really good watch.
The twists and turns are fairly expected - but then they always are these days - and you arrive at the bad guy you always knew you would, but the journey there is enjoyable. Plus their are a few suprises along the way - Hugh Laurie being one of them. I still can't get used to him and an American accent.
Overall the film reminded me very much of 'Training Day' staring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, and I think anyone who liked that film, will enjoy Street Kings too. The Blue Ray transfer is excellent and it made a change to be pleasantly surprised for once. I was expecting garbage but got gold.
There's the usual extras on script writing, filming, stunts, and cast - but then there's a history of the LAPAD, the gang problems in LA and even the police prodecures from police brutality complaints, internal affairs and so on. It even gives you a run down of the LA cops uniforms - they certainly didn't scrimp on the extras on the disc and they have all been considered.
Overall 7.5 of even 8/10 - Street Kings will be enjoyed by anyone who likes films about LA Gang culture or just wants a decent action flick. It's not great - but it's certainly not bad.
If you found this review helpful, please give it the thumbs up - and if not, comment on why so I can do a better job for you next time. Thanks :-)
I'm really glad I took a punt and bought it despite my reservations, as it turned out to action packed, with a pretty good story line too, which centred on the relationship between corrupt LA cops and the LA gang culture.
Keanu plays a cop on the edge, who breaks in to crack dens and kills his suspects on site - shooting first and asking questions later, he plants evidence and does what he has to to make sure the bad guys don't get away. However, he uncovers that he may not be the only bent cop in the LAPD, and that other may be bending the rules for personal gain rather than to rid the streets of scum.
We get the usual wooden acting you'd expect from Keanu, but a supporting cast which includes Forest Whitaker and Hip Hop's 'The Game' and 'Common' (plus original Blood gang member and OG 'Bones') make for a believable cast, who carry him through every scene so it's never a problem. The sets and scenery are great, action sequences are tight and punchy, and overall the film was a really good watch.
The twists and turns are fairly expected - but then they always are these days - and you arrive at the bad guy you always knew you would, but the journey there is enjoyable. Plus their are a few suprises along the way - Hugh Laurie being one of them. I still can't get used to him and an American accent.
Overall the film reminded me very much of 'Training Day' staring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, and I think anyone who liked that film, will enjoy Street Kings too. The Blue Ray transfer is excellent and it made a change to be pleasantly surprised for once. I was expecting garbage but got gold.
There's the usual extras on script writing, filming, stunts, and cast - but then there's a history of the LAPAD, the gang problems in LA and even the police prodecures from police brutality complaints, internal affairs and so on. It even gives you a run down of the LA cops uniforms - they certainly didn't scrimp on the extras on the disc and they have all been considered.
Overall 7.5 of even 8/10 - Street Kings will be enjoyed by anyone who likes films about LA Gang culture or just wants a decent action flick. It's not great - but it's certainly not bad.
If you found this review helpful, please give it the thumbs up - and if not, comment on why so I can do a better job for you next time. Thanks :-)
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
starring keanu reeves and forest whitaker primarily, this is a tale very much in the style of the tv show "the shield", though perhaps not quite as good. also similar to a film called "dark blue" a few years ago starring kurt russell. keanu reeves plays it in his usual understated method, allowing for the showier actors to steal the stage - notably forest whitaker who is, as usual, absolutely breathtaking. also watch for the cameo by hugh laurie, playing a variation on his "house" persona, apparently.
overall i rate this film highly - it's dark, brutal and well-made with great performances throughout.
overall i rate this film highly - it's dark, brutal and well-made with great performances throughout.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
Street Kings made little impact at the box office, but it's actually a very decent film. Keanu Reeves is excellent in the lead role and his character has great depth. The film had me gripped from the first five minutes right through to the end. Although it offers up little in the way of surprises at the end, I found myself asking all kinds of questions about the characters for the first hour.
Great support from Chris Evans and Forrest Whitaker - Street Kings has a great script that takes the time to develop the characters. The script was co-written by James Ellroy which probably explains why for large parts it feels like LA Confidential set in modern day.
This is a film that is definitely worth a watch if you like a good thriller where all of the characters have depth. The bad guys have genuine reasons for being the way they are, and the good guys are flawed.
Overall, a well written thriller, with a solid cast.
Great support from Chris Evans and Forrest Whitaker - Street Kings has a great script that takes the time to develop the characters. The script was co-written by James Ellroy which probably explains why for large parts it feels like LA Confidential set in modern day.
This is a film that is definitely worth a watch if you like a good thriller where all of the characters have depth. The bad guys have genuine reasons for being the way they are, and the good guys are flawed.
Overall, a well written thriller, with a solid cast.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
You won't sleep well after this one...!!!
This film with Reeves makes Speed look like a Disney movie! Totally out there!
Action from start 'till finish, and well done David Ayer! Read more
Action from start 'till finish, and well done David Ayer! Read more
Published 13 months ago by Vincent Smith
Really great
Luv watching reeves in action and this must be one of his best films. Training day directer knows exactly what he's doing!!! Great film
Published 14 months ago by Movie Don
Tense, Gritty Saturday night in watching.
I've had a run on buying mediocre DVDs but this is where it stopped. Never heard of this film but it's from the same director as TRAINING DAY which was good but not this good. Read more
Published 15 months ago by A. S. Edwards
Street Kings
Item supplied speedily and efficiently. Product in very good order, just as described, and played very well. Good action thriller which I enjoyed. Read more
Published 18 months ago by D. G. Watson
A good all rounder
This film is very gritty and violent like Training day before it although not quite in that league. There are some good twists and Keanu Reeves plays a really good washed up cop... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Dottie33
Thanks!
Unfortunately, the package did not arrive. But I immediately get my money back. Many thanks again.
Published on 30 Jan 2010 by Bernd
Not Extraordinary
'Street Kings' is a typical story of Cops using alternate methods to fight the crime. Result... some of the schemes does not look ethical. Read more
Published on 17 Jun 2009 by Debjyoti Guha
Street Kings - average Keanu fare
The film started off pretty fast paced despite deliberate racist dialogue which was there to shock, but was not too effective. Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2009 by Al
Street Kings - middle of the road
The film started off pretty fast paced despite deliberate racist dialogue which was there to shock, but was not too effective. Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2009 by Al
Street Kings = middle of the road
The film started off pretty fast paced despite deliberate racist dialogue which was there to shock, but was not too effective. Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2009 by Al
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