Today’s quick review: Pride and Glory. For Detective Ray Tierney (Edward Norton), being a police officer runs in the family. His father (Jon Voight), his brother Francis (Noah Emmerich), and his brother-in-law Jimmy (Colin Farrell) are all on the force. So when two of Jimmy’s officers are killed in a raid, Ray’s investigation into the murder quickly turns personal. But when Ray uncovers evidence of corruption, it threatens to tear his family apart.
Pride and Glory is a crime drama about a family of New York police officers. The murder of two officers under Jimmy’s command sparks an investigation that threatens to blow the lid off years of corruption and intimidation. Caught at the center of the debacle, Ray must decide whether to cover for his family or let the scandal take them down. Pride and Glory features a strong plot, compelling themes, and fine dramatic performances all around.
Pride and Glory takes its premise in an interesting direction. As the investigation becomes too big to contain, the Tierneys begin to fracture over how to deal with the fallout. It’s not just a matter of guilt or innocence, though there’s plenty of both to go around. The scandal threatens to engulf not ony the Tierneys but the department itself. The different ways the four men react to this pressure is one of the film’s biggest draws.
The mechanics of the plot are solid as well. The investigation revolves around the hunt for the missing shooter, the only one who can say what happened during the disastrous raid. The story concerns itself as much with the political fallout of the investigation as the investigation itself. There are some bits of mystery as Ray unravels just how deep the corruption goes, but the primary focus is on the tensions that arise from his findings.
Watch Pride and Glory when you’re in the mood for a character-driven crime drama with a well-constructed plot. Pride and Glory doesn’t have as much action as some crime movies, nor is its mystery as comprehensive as others’. But in terms of plot progression, character development, and drama, it does quite well for itself, making it a tidy pick for fans of the genre. Skip it if you’re looking for a crime movie that’s upbeat or flashy.
For another crime drama about corruption in the police force, try Brooklyn’s Finest or Dark Blue. For a crime drama with a similar mood and a heavier focus on mystery, try Mystic River or Gone Baby Gone. For a tale of familial loyalty on the other side of the law, try Four Brothers.
6.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a well-conceived and well-executed story.