The Plot
In Brooklyn’s Finest, veteran actor Richard Gere plays Eddie Dugan, a weary, seasoned cop on the verge of retiring to enjoy the life of leisure he longs for, Don Cheadle plays undercover cop Tango Butler who is starting to identify more with notorious drug dealer Caz(Wesley Snipes) and Ethan Hawke plays narcotics cop Sal Procida, desperate to make more money to care for his large family. This flick basically deals with the hardships, temptations and pressures their job forces them to deal with.
The plot encompasses 7 days in which all three of these men, though unconnected, are caught up in danger, corruption and more as their precinct hones in on a housing project nearly destroying itself with the illegal drug business and they each move closer to the same place and their ultimate fate.
The Good
- An excellent cast. No lightweights here. While Richard Gere does a decent job, Ethan Hawke and Don Cheadle give the strongest performances.
- Richard Gere may have lost his “pretty boy” looks, but he is still on his game as an actor.
- Wesley Snipes’ brushes with the IRS haven’t affected his acting game, although his occupation in the flick as a drug dealer was kinda ironic, considering they don’t pay taxes either.
- Excellent direction by Antoine Fuqua.
- If you like gritty, edgy movies, this one fits the bill
- As difficult as some scenes may be to look at, you are compelled to keep watching.
- A well-constructed, though gloomy plot.
The Bad
- This is a very dark movie, so, if you’re easily depressed, it can be excruciating to sit through
- The pace could have been a little faster
The Verdict
- Brooklyn’s Finest was worth the price of admission. Antoine Fuqua did his usual - directed a compelling flick that will keep you enthralled throughout - with the help of four outstanding veteran actors - Gere, Cheadle, Snipes and Hawke
Wacky Meter: 7.5 out of 10
