Pride and Glory (2008)
Now why I torture myself by going to a 10:15 PM show on a Monday night is beyond my imagination but in this case it was actually worth the trip. This is one of the those types of movies that I don't think is going to get the recognition that it deserves. Partly due to the fact that several other big time movies came out on the same day, but its all good.
Before watching this movie, I had an idea of police corruption (specifically NYPD) and the maddness that it creates, but this movie brings it to a slightly different level. This 2008 American crime drama film directed by Gavin O'Connor takes into a multi-generational New York police family trying to solve a troublesome case. Ed Norton who plays Ray Tierney is brought back into the fold along with his older bother and brother-in-law (Colin Farrell). Once brought back to help catch this drug dealer/killer, Tierney is faced with having to sacrifice his marriage and potentially his immediate family. The viewer can almost assume that Ray has many second thoughts returning back to the field. But somehow his father (Jon Voight) assures him that this is the best thing to do, to bring them out of the valley and at the same time keep their pride and glory intact. And in the midst of this drama his brother Francis, Jr. (Noah Emmerich) who is the main Lieutenant in charge of this case has to check his presiding officers who seem to have a hand in the debacle. And through thorough investigation of the crime, Ray reveals a police corruption scandal which tests his moral and family ties.
"Pride and Glory" seemed to have one central theme and that was departmental police corruption and then several small themes that branched from it. It somewhat took you in many circles whether it was the potential loss of a wife, an overbearing father, or a depressed officer trying to overcome a divorce. What we see in this movie is the same story of crooked cops but just to a different crime. One may even question why the director (O'Connor) felt it necessary to place a disclaimer before the beginning of the movie (maybe their were too many real-life situations in the movie...you be the judge) However, I will say that it was interesting to see Ed Norton as the good cop versus Colin Farrell the bad cop. Both have had their share of playing both good and bad guys but these roles seem to fit them (although some may disagree). Norton and Farell had an interesting chemistry that I wish could have developed more, instead of the rushed outline.
For the movie to be a little over 2 hours it did seem to drag out to a degree as if they were trying to fill in open holes. Even the ending somewhat leaves you hanging as to what really happens? But, overall it was a pretty good drama performance a classic example of a famous cast that was just maybe to big for the plot.
"Truth, Honor, Loyalty, Family...What are you willing to sacrifice?"
Grade: C+/B-
2 comments:
G Breezy whats the deal Miss? I like the review and I give this a solid B,..possibly B+. The typical cop scandal and curruption movie is usually filled with sex drugs and money--all of which this movie has. But this actually goes a little deeper,which is why this movie has a high rating to me. Me, I'm BIG on charater develpmt. The characters are VERY well developed (what type of people they are-not at all one-dimensional) even the scenes with players that contribute to the plot moving along...the little boy, Jon Voight's character as the dad (Excellent!, He really did a great job, to me!), the shop keeper (who saw that coming??), Finally, Colin Farrell absolutely Nailed the bad cop! and Norton was the perfect guy to play good cop. I couldn't see them as opposite, it would have been like Norton and Deniro in THE SCORE (A+ movie) or THE ITALIAN JOB (A- movie) where he has played the smart (or smartass bady guy). Colin was a great choice for the bad guy. tough, a bit more rugged looking, smartmouth. The ending could have been better but I can't see the hearings/questioning being better they camera angle of the final shot.
No doubt I agree that character development was probably the highlight of the movie however, the plot did jump to some degree. indeed each character was perfect right in the respective places. I just think there could have been a bit more plot development.
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