Movie maniacs sort of have this temperamental relationship with Director Antoine Fuqua. The guy blew our minds as well as our expectations with Training Day, then sort of went on a running hit and miss spree that would make Chris Webber's career seem like an anthem of stabilty.
Tears of the Sun seemingly had everything going for it, but then went absolutely nowhere. (sorry McDohl...) And though I may have liked King Arthur, it flopped horribly, maybe even more horribly than this kid flopped. Then came Shooter...
Between Danny Glover's severe hissing sound, and yet another flat as Texas toast Mark Wahlberg performance, Shooter took off from the gate fairly strong but ultimately ended in a choking cloud of ash and ass. This wasn't the guy that made Training Day. In fact we haven't seen that guy since Training Day. Which is why I'm so excited about Brooklyn's Finest.
This new film, which Fuqua made outside of the studio system, (he recently sold Brooklyn's Finest at Sundance 2009) puts this Director back in front of the subject matter that made him such a hot product to begin with. If you can make killer cop films, make killer cop films. Especially of they star Ethan Hawke.
Scorsese didn't get where he is because of variety - I mean of course Marty has variety in his film catalog, but he wouldn't be the name he is without Mean Streets, Goodfellas, Casino, Gangs of New York, and The Departed. When Scorsese makes any film we all still go see it, (confession time - I skipped Kundun) when he makes a mob film its release date is marked on the calender and we all go see it that day - as many times as affordable.
Fuqua needs another hardass cop flick. Brooklyn's Finest just may be that very thing. Plus it marks the return to cinema for Wesley "The Tax Man Cometh" Snipes. As of yet there isn't a film trailer for Brooklyn's Finest. Just a synopsis and a terrific interview Comingsoon.net did with Antoine Fuqua at Sundance this week.
Here's the synopsis: Richard Gere plays Eddie, a 20-year vet who is just a week away from retirement, who turns to alcohol and a prostitute named Chantel, to get him through what has been an unfulfilling career as a police officer. Don Cheadle is Tango, who has been working undercover in the thick of drugdealers and killers, trying to maintain that cover while desperately wanting to get away from all the death and violence. Brooklyn's Finest also reunites Fuqua with Ethan Hawke, who plays Sal, a narcotics officer trying to make ends meet to support his family, who gets into a lot of bad situations as he tries to get what he thinks he deserves.
As a very big fan of Training Day this is a 2009 movie that I will not miss for anything. As soon as the trailer hits look no further than Examiner National.
Comments
Yes, I am a giant fan of Tears of the Sun, and I accept your apology.
The subject of your column though? Brooklyn's Finest does look interesting, the lineup looks promising, thats for sure.
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