Dark Blue (2002)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Ron Shelton

Writers (WGA):

James Ellroy (story)
David Ayer (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 February 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Sworn to protect / Sworn to serve / Sworn to secrecy

Plot:

A robbery homicide investigation triggers a series of events that will cause a corrupt LAPD officer to question his tactics.

Plot Keywords:

Lapd | Police | Robbery | Riot | Neo Noir

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Kurt Russell	...	Eldon Perry
Scott Speedman	...	Bobby Keough
Michael Michele	...	Beth Williamson
Brendan Gleeson	...	Jack Van Meter
Ving Rhames	...	Arthur Holland
Kurupt	...	Darryl Orchard
Dash Mihok	...	Gary Sidwell
Jonathan Banks	...	James Barcomb
Lolita Davidovich	...	Sally Perry
Khandi Alexander	...	Janelle Holland
Dana Lee	...	Henry Kim
Chapman Russell Way	...	Eldon Perry III
Marin Hinkle	...	Deena Schultz
Jim Cody Williams	...	Suspect
Eloy Casados	...	Rico

Also Known As:

4-29-92 (USA) (working title)
The Plague Season (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA | UK | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #38722) | Germany:16 (w) | Australia:MA | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

La Verne, California, USA

Company:

Alphaville Films

Trivia:

This was an original screenplay written by James Ellroy entitled "The Plague Season". It was in development for eight years. One time the film was set up at Universal Pictures.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Perry goes to 12657 Juliet, the number of shotgun shells remaining in the storage clip on his shotgun after he loads it alternates between two and three between shots.

Quotes:

Jack Van Meter: Your whore's dead.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Latin Lingo

The Other Side of the Police Department and Justice System, With Corruption in All Levels

In 1992, in Los Angeles, Homicide Detective Eldon Perry (Kurt Russell) is a member of the third generation of detectives in the Los Angeles Police Department. His partner is the rookie Bobby Keough (Scott Speedman), the nephew of the Chief of the Department Jack Van Meter (Breendan Gleeson), one of the best friends of Eldon's father. Eldon follows his orders without questioning, being protected by his superior, when interrogated by the Internal Affairs. Jack and Eldon do not have ethics, using intimidation, corruption and blackmail to achieve their targets and defeat their enemies. However, Assistant Chief Holland (Ving Rhames) is a honest officer, who fights against the corruption in the department and wants to destroy Jack and Elson. Bobby does not fit well in such a corrupted environment and is in love with Sargent Beth Williamson (Michael Michele), who works with Holland and had a love affair with him five years before. When four persons are executed in a Corean store by two criminals protected by Jack, Eldon and Bobby are in charge to find two scapegoats to take the blame. Meanwhile, tension is increasing on the streets of Los Angeles due to the trial of four white officers, who spanked the black motorist Rodney King. Having the backdrop of the real case of Rodney King, and consequent violence on the streets of LA after the absolving of the four white officers responsible for his aggression, and many plot points, "Dark Blue" is a very different, realistic and dramatic police story. Themes like racism, police excessive (or brutal) use of force for intimidation, corruption, blackmail, violent crimes, redemption etc. are presented in this film. The corruption in all levels of the police department and the justice system is explored in this movie. Although being in Los Angeles, it could be in most of the police departments of different nations. The performance of Kurt Russell is once again amazing, in the role of a man who goes to hell, destroying his personal and professional life in all the aspects, and looking for redemption in the end. "Dark Blue" is a highly recommended movie. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "A Face Oculta da Lei" ("The Hidden Face of the Law")