21 BRIDGES
Brian Kirk (2019)
3 STARS
A genre that hasn’t really provided any cutting-edge developments since the early 80s, the New York cop film can often seem stale and repetitive. 21 Bridges falls in to this generalisation, but does so with remarkable gusto and is truly enjoyable as it leads its audience to the inevitable, but thoroughly satisfying, conclusion. A strait-laced detective follows a pair of cop killers through the locked-down Manhattan as a cocaine robbery gone wrong unravels itself as much deeper rooted than it would first appear.
The standout hero of this film is the cinematography. Within ten minutes we are treated to a beautiful birds-eye shot of police officers in formation saluting a fallen colleague. This inventive use of camera-work thankfully follows us through the entire film. Establishing shots reminiscent of neon-lit, smoky, dystopic 80s films remind us of the grim underbelly of New York. Excellent tracking shots follow characters through kitchens and storage rooms in chase scenes that any Bond film would be proud of.
Chadick Boseman is believable as the detective with something to prove and the supporting cast is excellent too, namely Sienna Miller and J.K. Simmons who breathe life to characters that can often be two dimensional in films of the same ilk. A solid script ensures that the plot is excellently paced and comes to its conclusion in due course. However, Minor contrivances let the film down at times, any audience will be tired of hearing the sentence ‘What the fuck is going on?!’ long before the end credits roll, as various characters elude to the notion that there is more than meets the eye, as though a modern audience needs reminding of this.
The exciting and enthralling 99 minutes is well worth watching, this film has more at the heart of it than merely another action film. Great production values result in a satisfying film that can sit comfortably alongside Serpico and 16 blocks on the shelf. Forget the titular ‘bridges’, the film certainly does, and soak up the latest installment of the New York cop film.