You may only find cliche about this movie: good cop, bad cop, family legacy, corruption scandal. You may only find cliche about the casting: Collin is the bad cop, Ed is the good cop, family legacy clashing with police corruption scandal. Somehow the story just doesn’t seem very interesting. And yet, impressive acting makes it an impressive piece.
Do me pride: it’s a family union the Tierney’s have achieved in NYPD. Two sons and one son-in-law have been serving the Washington Heights area. Though it didn’t get elaborated in the movie, the second son Ray took a bullet for a bad cop in front of grand jury once. Because of that, he has been going through hard time with his wife, getting divorced within a month. One night, four policemen got shot down in a house. Ray’s father, chief head of the region ordered to organize a task force to investigate the case. Ray was recruited back on the case. His elder brother Francis Jr., whose wife is suffering terminal disease, has been informed by Ray that there are police corruption right in his team under his own roof. Moreover, it is led by their brother-in-law Jimmy. At Christmas Eve family gathering, it is such a happy family sitting all together. Francis Sr. took great pride in his family by saying, Fran is a born leader, Ray is a born thinker and Jimmy’s wife is born carer. So much for the talk, it’s definitely the pride moment.
Show you glory: it’s a family moral ground to test in the case. The price of revealing truth is to ruin what all Tierney family has earned in law enforcement field. Fran may lose his job. Ray may get indecent record. Jimmy may go even deeper in corruption. To undo what has been done takes more than courage. Fran wants to warn Jimmy to take him in. Ray intends to protect his elder brother and even being cornered by IAB, he still plans to reveal nothing against Jimmy. On the other hand, Jimmy has also a family to protect. He knows what is waiting for him if he is taken by Ray and Fran. Therefore, we have the ending conclusive and inconclusive at the same time. It is conclusive as we know all the bad cops are identified and the gangster rage finally eats them up, literally. The inconclusive part is we don’t know what would happen next. After all, 65 grand annual salary ain’t gonna cover long enough. You may take one inccident revealed. What is the plan for the long run?
We have noticed the fact that there ain’t any extremes about being good or bad. As a human being born with flaws, we are somewhere in between. As Fran mentioned to Jimmy, we are given room to do what we have to do but just remember not to cross the line. And once you cross it, it is never too late to cross over back. Colin Farrell has this thing which is very special about him. He can make the bad role more acceptably or believable. Yes, we almost instantly notice his phish business with the mobs. Still, he poses as a loving husband and father to his children. And he has this expression in his eyes which make you believe inside he is in deep in pain and so vulnerable. The last line, “Tell her I love her”, is almost heart breaking as the last redemption coming out of a bad cop. Sometimes, I have to admit, I am so confused about this actor. I don’t even know whether he could do well in a movie until I watch it with my own eyes. Just always a comfort for me to know that he could act this good. Standing against Colin, it is Ed. I watched every single movie he has taken part in, or even just made voice appearance. The amazing thing about Edward Norton is he knows when to shine and when to hide. He doesn’t mind standing in the second row in a bigger picture. But when it is required in the story development, he totally has what it takes to stand in front and blow you away with absolutely convincing performance. I know he could pull anything off if he wants to. Even when he didn’t really want to do so, you still could feel his trying to make acting more interesting. And yes, that is again, the famous remake of The Italian Job. Except the cars, I don’t see any good out of that movie. I see the remake is almost an insult to its original. Seriously…
P.S. I see the relationship with Salma finally pays off in this movie for Ed. Well, you have to admit he might be the only person in that movie could handle that much Spanish lines. Good for you.
