Today’s quick review: Dark Blue. Against the backdrop of the Rodney King trial, Eldon Perry (Kurt Russell), a corrupt Los Angeles cop, and his rookie partner Bobby Keough (Scott Speedman) investigate a quadruple homicide that their boss Jack Van Meter (Brendan Gleeson) wants them to hush up. Meanwhile, Arthur Holland (Ving Rhames), a principled cop angling for the position of chief, hunts for the evidence to prove Perry’s misdeeds.
Dark Blue is a gritty crime drama about police corruption and the abuse of power. Kurt Russell stars as Eldon Perry, a chummy, morally bankrupt cop willing to break any rule for the sake of the department. His new partner, played by Scott Speedman, wants to follow Perry to the top, but has reservations at the crimes Perry asks him to commit in the name of justice. With Holland nipping at his heels, Perry sets about doing what he does best one more time.
Dark Blue is a grim but decent moral drama that relies heavily on its characters. None of its cast are all that remarkable, but they are just strong enough to set up a good final act where the moral conflicts of the movie come to a head. The lack of any clear heroes makes Dark Blue hard to get into, while the real-world events of the Rodney King trial keep the movie from feeling like any sort of escapism.
Watch Dark Blue when you are in the mood for a serious cop drama that touches on real-world issues. Neither the plot nor the characters are enough to make Dark Blue a standout, but decent execution and a worthwhile finale make the movie a passable watch. For a corrupt cop movie with better characters and more tension, check out Training Day. For a corrupt cop thriller with some heart, check out 16 Blocks.
6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a mediocre build-up culminating in a fairly strong ending.