The Bridge Is Over.
100 Mins. Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Sienna Miller, Stephan James, Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Siddig, Keith David & J.K. Simmons. Director: Brian Kirk.
Bridging the gap, here's a 21 gun salute to '21 Bridges' starring 'Black Panther' star Chadwick Boseman. Backed up and produced by the 'Avenger' Russo Brothers who helped bring him into this movie mainstream 'Civil War', as Iron Man put those metal rock 'em, sock 'em dukes up with the kid from Brookyn who can do this all day. James Brown, Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall. Before T'Challa, the Marvel of Boseman was the biopic king of black pioneer power, and now he sits on the vibranium throne of Wakanda...forever. But it was movies like '42', 'Get On Up' and 'Marshall' were the cat Chadwick truly cut his claws into acting. Three biopics not even a half decade into his mainstream breakthrough. Have mercy Jamie Foxx and Michael B. Jordan. This guys just the next Denzel. Or Leo, right there with Poe, Oscar Isaac as Hollywood's next great hope. And now like Netflix's 'Message From The King' before he and the streaming service sync with Spike Lee for 'Da 5 Bloods', he carries over his filmography with the force of '21 Bridges' with New York on lockdown like the Big Apple really is now months later along with the earth's core and this coronavirus, pandemic of planet panic. But now this should serve as a symbol of solidarity (New York, I love you) as we lift the Police 'Do Not Cross' tape it's time down the thin blue line that we get wrapped up with more movies we missed whilst in the DVD like in cinemas release date of Japan (that is even late to the lockdown). Whilst we stay quarantined and bundled up at home on the couch during this social distancing. Because what else can we do whilst stuck between these four walls saying hello like Willie Nelson and what we hope to soon be an open door (but not yet), when we just know we'll end up with our head in a fishbowl if we try that headstand challenge from the 'Spider-Man: Far From (Stay At) Home' stars Tom Holland and Jake Gyllenhaal? Because films shouldn't just last the two weeks they are out these days like 'The Holiday'. And from Bond to 'Top Gun' and 'Black Widow' to 'Mulan', with more movies in the popcorn hopper like Harbour quarantined until further notice, we don't need Netflix to at home on demand see what we've got left. Now we should appreciate all we took for granted when we could go out and just do stuff in a time were we need to chill on just scrolling past everything like social media and not actually settling on anything to watch. All if it helps you choose tonight as we continue our catch up trend here under the bridge.
90's nostalgic, this movie with more bridges than Leon feels like it runs back to the golden era, away with the blue blood, meat and potatoes, back to the action basics of movies like 'The Negotiatior', 'US Marshalls' and of course, 'The Fugitive'. DAM! Even Tommy Lee Jones would care about this one that has a train finale with 'Collateral' damage inspiration too that opens the door to an action movie that offers you everything you want like Subway. The meat. The veggies. The words 'Avenger' and 'Civil War' are dropped in the first five minutes of this Russo produced picture (like the forthcoming '12 Strong' like Chris Hemsworth military 'Extraction' on the triple frontier of Netflix) like by the red 'Homecoming' book that makes the 'Winter Soldier' ready to comply. But this shares more with the spy thriller namesake debut from the superhero siblings, that minus a metal arm and frisbee would just be your classic, run of the mill action figure. Or those Netflix, New York, street-level heroes for hire like 'Luke Cage' and the rest of the 'Defenders' that should have never been stream strewn to the sewers like a Ninja Turtle or a bad slice of pizza. As with courtesy, professionalism and respect in a Manhattan surrounded and bathed in blue like the Hudson, Chadwick goes all good cop amongst officers more crooked than the trees that spring rotten, bad apples. In a Stallone like 'Cop Land', getting between the meat locker, frozen steaks like 'Rocky' on the other side of the Meadowlands of Jersey that sees the five boroughs reduced to one in Manhattan, as tense as the anticipation for a neon New Year in Times Square before the ball drops like Dick Clark tradition the moment the classic NYPD undercover car crosses the Brookyn Bridge. Something that 'Run's All Night' like a veteran Liam Neeson movie across the same concrete battered and corrupt '16 Blocks' Bruce Willis had to escort rapper Mos Def down across town. Bruised 'Black and Blue' like the fellow cop shot thriller released at the same time with 'Moonlight's' Naomie Harris and singer Tyrese that's truly fast and furious like a 'Bloodshot' Diesel. But for all the people, Boseman has played. The Godfather of soul with real heart. Swinging for the Academy fences as the first African American baseball player in the Major League, who now has his number retired throughout the association like the reverse of 24, Kobe Bryant should be in the NBA. The courts first African American justice. And of course the King of Black Panther for a comic legend honouring the revolutionary party. But in this film, this king for a message for anyone that thinks dirty cop lives matter, he's never quite had his own self assured swagger quite like this. The compelling and engrossing Boseman has always embodies each character in all his epics like a chameleon. But now for the first time you're going to a picture lead by him because you don't want to see a superhero or superstar. But because like the signs of a legendary making leading man at his legacy, you want to see Chadwick.
100 minute, romantic comedy runtime gives way to a relentless pace which feels like a chapter out the Grand Central hit on Wick or the anxiety attack of an 'Uncut Gem'...and it's still a good time. Cop killers key a drug bust beginning that holds even more weight as these crooks and the NYPD engage in some 'Heat' in this town that Michael Mann of even 'The Way Back' of Ben Affleck would be proud of for a cruiser glass smash from 'Game Of Thrones', 'Boardwalk Empire' and 'Luther' director of dynamite fuse Brian Kirk that breaks new ground in the control stage, first act of a movie that is anything like a slow drive across the bridge to Manhattan like the start of 'The Sopranos' down this wire. Got yourself a gun? These set-pieces are going to need one in an action flick that takes on everything from those who use the trend 'Blue Lives Matter' without realizing what they're saying in the grand scheme of things and those who also fail to see the real people behind those badges and bulletproof vests. And this movie as New York as the reflecting puddles on the sidewalk, shimmering below the neon and fire escape ladders of the speakeasies has a roster, roll call cast that reads like a rap sheet of the best of the best. Partnering up, there's the always amazing 'Layer Cake' star Sienna Miller over the last half decade has been on the 'Foxcatcher', 'American Sniper' and 'Live By Night' form of her life (and from Broadway to the West End, anytime we talk about her we HAVE to mention how magnificent she is in the stage adaptation of Tennessee Williams great American play, 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof') and is on her world weary Pacino like police state here. And if the moonlight of what should have been another Oscar winning movie, 'If Beale Street Could Talk' it would tell you that a stellar Stephan James and the 'Friday Night Lights' of 'American Assassin' and T.V. 'Waco' and 'True Detective' star Taylor Kitsch on the wrong side of the law, show so much more depth of character underneath the bandanas of their criminal activity and amazing action. It's the Gambit of the 'X-Men', 'Battleship' and 'Lone Survivor' actor and the 'Race' Jesse Owens groundbreaking one this (would have been) Olympic year that make these characters more than clichés. Just like a cameo from 'Gotham' and 'Peaky Blinders' Alexander Siddig in robe that could be tied back to both and an underused but undeniable 'Platoon' and 'The Thing' legend of 'Crash' and 'E.R.' Keith David. And this drum roll is symbol crash punctuated by 'Whiplash' Oscar winner and 'Patriots Day' Boston blue blood cop (not to mention like Gary Oldman or Jeffrey Wright, the perfect Commissioner Gordon in 'Justice League'. Who is also on his Spider-Man homecoming if you spoiler alert know what we mean), J.K. Simmons. This vet cop can't be beat. And neither can this movie from the police captain Kirk, which one Sunday night you'll watch with your old man on the sofa, on some syndicate on whatever channel you hop to and think to yourself, we had it pretty good when we had to stay at home. Cop this right now. 21 and over. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Black & Blue', '16 Blocks', 'Captain America: Civil War'.
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