Street Kings

I had a surprisingly good time watching Street Kings. The cast delivered solid performances, and Keanu Reeves as the rogue cop with a gun really worked for me. That said, it got a little hard to buy into the idea that Keanu could single-handedly take down half the cast and still come out on top. It was tough to fully believe he was that much of a badass who could fight anyone for respect. But in the context of the film, he pulled it off well enough. The movie kept up a great pace, never dragging, and built up to a finale that definitely delivered the best moments. (25/06/2012)

I have a terrible weakness for films of this type. Watching a tough cop who cuts everyone down on sight and only needs to utter a few dry lines is always a treat, especially when that cop is the likeable Keanu Reeves, who doesn't take any shit or time off in his quest for the truth. David Ayer quickly won me over with his style, I liked both the well shot action sequences and, in particular, the portrayal of a corrupt police world where no one can be safe and the best solution is usually a bullet in the head. It may be a fairytale that has been rehashed over and over, but in tandem with an excellent cast and a straightforward story, no new retelling can ever offend. (17/10/2012)

And exhausted and stale story about a tough guy who eventually mans up and takes everything bravely into his own hands because he finally realizes he's doing the right thing. It's definitely cheesy, but the director knows it and we know that the director knows it. The action is quite tough – at least that. Keanu Reeves is surprisingly solid as a “punk” with a black car and Forest Whitaker is amazing. The buried bodies and the shots to the face are pleasant bonuses as well. The ending is clear after thirty minutes. (26/09/2008)

David Ayer is good. I've been putting Street Kings off for a long time, but I finally got around to it and I have to say it was a pleasant surprise. Keanu Reeves plays a troubled cop who kind of interprets the law to suit himself and the whole story is in his direction, but then unexpectedly bigger problems start happening that overwhelm him and the ride begins. Police corruption, action, suspense, and most importantly an A-list cast (Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Chris Evans) in a solid action flick that kind of rides its wave. In the last half hour everything takes an amazing surprising turn and the film throws one solid twist after another until the finale. I knew it’d be a good film all along, but the ending makes me throw in that extra fourth star due to its unpredictability and clever build-up. Satisfaction, and the result is a lot of fine, unpretentious "retro" fun with everyone's favourite Keanu, who is good to watch in just about any role. (06/12/2023)

David Ayer and the corrupt police (again?) in the suburbs of Los Angeles (yes, yes, again). This guy has proven himself both as a director and as a screenwriter. The second essential person for Street Kings is James Ellroy. He is certainly more than just good — that's an indisputable fact. Street Kings is like a cup of Turkish coffee. Although steeped for the third time in the same dirty mug where the grounds remained after Training Day and Harsh Times, only now it is the right kind of coffee: strong, dark, dense, bitter and, above all, shamefully delicious. But not everyone likes their coffee like that. To sweeten it up, they threw in sugar cubes in the form of perfect acting performances. Reeves, in particular, makes one forget about his recent dull performances, and Whitaker seems to be saying "sorry for the most ridiculous performance of my career in Vantage Point“ (but he's still pushing a bit too hard - he didn’t use to do that). Street Kings is on its way to being the Crime Movie of the Year, although judging by the feedback here, it seems I'm the only one who thinks so. It's enough to make me happy anyway. Five stars in the context of the genre, otherwise a strong four. I admit that there are a few hiccups here, but nothing that would matter very seriously in a crime movie. Next time, however, Ayer could try a different cup of tea. He’s far too talent to be tucked away in a one-genre box. (01/06/2008)