Movie: Street Kings

Director: David Ayer

Production: Fox
Searchlight Pictures

The film was directed by a veteran writer of many films
based in Los Angeles, California. David Ayer was the writer of the award
winning ‘Training Day’ that starred Denzel
Washington. Ayer took the role to direct this interesting film after
veteran directors Spike Lee and Oliver Stone turned down the role. The
film itself included many cameo appearances of known actors playing minor roles
just for their face and credibility. The synopsis is basically set in the world
of crooked cops covering each other’s back when it gets too close to home, all
the skeletons are cleaned out the closet and your closest friends become the
initial suspects.

The setting is Los Angeles, present time; acclaimed actor Keanu Reeves plays Detective Tom Ludlow
as a rogue cop to a corrupt LAPD Special Forces team. The way they developed Reeves’
character in the film gave the exact impression that they were aiming for, a miserable
cop who spends his life stuck in the past and the only thing keeping him sane
is life on the beat. His chief is played by another acclaimed actor Forest Whitaker as Captain Jack Wander.
The chemistry that these two portrayed on screen gave an excellent performance
on their back and forth segments. The plot of the film is set around the murder
of an L.A. police officer who is thought to be an informant to Internal Affairs,
who just so happens to be ex-partners with Reeves’ character, played by Terry Crews (i.e. Friday After Next,
White Chicks).  Between the team and
Crews’ character, they made him out to be an informant to the cover ups that Reeves’
character was involved in with Whitaker’s character. As the whole film goes forth investigating the death of a cop, trying to find the murderers leads them into a deeper world they didn’t plan on uncovering. Not to reveal anymore
spoilers, the film has its twists and turns giving little about the true
suspects, but when it all comes together in the end, it will amaze you. It also
includes cameos from The Game, Common, Cedric the Entertainer, and Hugh
Laurie of House M.D.

On the real, the theme of the film revolves around a lot of
ideas based in the corrupt world of cops, it entrails a synopsis of what we all
conclude of the police organization in general. Either way, I can honestly say the movie was
a 3 out of a 5 because of the unique screenwriting that Ayer and James Ellroy depicted in the script
with the interesting dialogue it portrayed amongst the characters. Note:
Pay close attention to other familiar faces in the film, you just might
recognize some of them as they do stand out.