On CLIPS In March, 2010
BROOKLYN'S FINEST

Three Brooklyn cops question their dangerous lives in this drama starring Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke and Don Cheadle.

TRIVIA: Richard Gere played an LA cop in which 1990 crime drama?

ROG'S VIEWPOINT

     (3 CAMS)       RATED R

Three unconnected members of Brooklyn's law enforcement are reaching crossroads in their lives. Eddie (Richard Gere) is near retirement and wants to get off the streets. Sal (Ethan Hawke), desperate to find a new home for his family, is getting too close to breaking the law. Tango (Don Cheadle) must get out of undercover duty, but has to set up an old pal (Wesley Snipes) to break free. All three are unknowingly headed towards one dangerous location. "Brooklyn's Finest" is a brutal and occasionally compelling look at the downside of police work. Director Antoine Fuqua tries hard to mirror his success with "Training Day". But there are too many characters to follow here and the actors portray them with little depth. Only Don Cheadle comes close to being multi-dimensional and sympathetic. If only some of the supporting players had more visibility. Will Patton and Ellen Barkin are great as the agents who control Tango's destiny. Lili Taylor commands a couple of scenes as Sal's pregnant wife who becomes ill from the mold in their too-small house. The drama unfolds much like a very familiar television series and Vincent D'Onofrio does have an odd cameo in this movie. There is just enough in this film to earn a marginal recommendation. Surely not Fuqua's finest work, the violent "Brooklyn's Finest" is short on law and order.