Today’s quick review: 21 Bridges. After a late-night cocaine robbery that leaves eight police officers dead, Detective Andre Davis (Chadwick Boseman) of the NYPD orders the island of Manhattan sealed off to trap suspects Michael (Stephan James) and Ray (Taylor Kitsch). Davis has less than four hours to lead a borough-wide manhunt before the island opens up for the morning commute, even as his fellow cops pressure him to shoot the suspects on sight.
21 Bridges is a crime thriller about a robbery that spirals out of control, resulting in a high-stakes manhunt for two criminals who are in over their heads by a city of cops who want their blood. Chadwick Boseman stars as Andre Davis, a detective with a strong moral compass and the only one willing to let Michael and Ray come in peacefully. His attempts to arrest the killers and avoid further tragedy form the basis of a tidy crime thriller plot.
21 Bridges has just the right pieces to tell its story. Chadwick Boseman makes for a capable lead and has the calm presence needed to counterbalance Andre’s hotheaded fellow officers. The plot has a good setup for a thriller. The twists aren’t entirely unexpected, but the movie handles them well. Finally, the question of whether to kill Michael and Ray or bring them in alive adds an extra moral dimension to the usual race against time.
Still, 21 Bridges is too focused for its own good. The tight deadline for the manhunt is a double-edged sword. The time pressure keeps the tension high and the story moving, but the short time frame makes the events of the film seem rushed. There simply aren’t enough hours in the story to make it feel like the long night it was meant to be. 21 Bridges also opts for a linear plot with few subplots, missing the chance to flesh out its story more.
21 Bridges is a solid pick for anyone in the mood for a crime movie. Its premise isn’t groundbreaking and its narrow scope keeps it from being as robust a movie as some of its competition. But its strong lead and well-constructed plot make it a worthwhile watch all the same, and anyone who enjoys the crime thriller template will appreciate 21 Bridges’ take on it. Skip it if you’re looking for a story that’s deeper or more intricate.
For a character-heavy crime thriller about crooked cops, try 16 Blocks. For other crime dramas in the same vein, try Street Kings, Pride and Glory, Brooklyn’s Finest, or Triple 9. For one with a sprawling plot and a historical setting, try L.A. Confidential.
6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for being a tightly plotted thriller that sticks to the basics.