The last time that I was speaking about Wesley Snipes, the Government had just quietly lost it's attempt to railroad him to jail. Since the debacle, many have wondered if Snipes' carrer would ever have the chance to flourish again. That question may be answered in Brooklyn's Finest.
Brooklyn's Finest is the latest film by director Antoine Fuqua. The film is a gritty and somewhat realistic view of the "ghettofabulous" lifestyle, from the perspective of the police. It takes place in and around some of the worst, most drug-ridden projects in New York City (filmed in part in Brownsville and the Van Dyke Houses).
The focus of the film are 3 police officers. One, Richard Gere, is on his way out to retirement after a career that was just mediocre. Another, Ethan Hawke, is facing the struggle of providing for his family and trying to ensure they never have to endure the hardships he encounters every day. The 3rd officer, Don Cheadle, is a successful undercover officer that has been dabbling in the shadow far too long to be clear where his loyalties ultimately lie. Wesley Snipes rounds out this top notch cast as a notorious drug dealer Caz, who is a friend of Cheadle's Tango character.
In many ways this film is a continuation of what we saw in Spike Lee's New Jack City. It is the result of the progression of drugs and criminal life after decades of abuse and general lack of enforcement. It is the less glamorous, far more violent and real look at the toll drugs and criminals have on themselves, the police that pursue them, and the people that are caught in the malestrom of these two forces.
A question might be asked how good the film is. Wesley Snipes has long been removed to the direct to DVD sector of Hollywood. Gere hasn't had a major hit in decades. Hawke has never seemed to live up to the expactations that continue to surround him. Even Fuqua has not revisited the universal acclaim of Training Day.
But I think the answer is that most of the cast have not had the chance to really shine. Snipes was long ago stereotyped into action based roles, and then almost outcast as a result of the Government. Cheadle has only once been given the opportunity to step out into the lead of a film. Often he is deprived of the time to showcase his abilities. The same can be said of Hawke. And Gere has finally hit an age for male actors where most are found to be uninteresting and unappealing to young viewers, though their talent has not faded.
Looking at the movie trailer the feeling that this film will be a powerful drama is inescapable. Still there is no question that an excellent editor can make the worst movie look incredible. But when I consider the fact that in addition to the trailer, there is such a rich cast - who all took pay cuts so the film could be made at the modest $25 million budget - and that director Fuqua is back to a subject and theme that he has been most successful at, I come to a conclusion that this may be a sleeper hit.
Characters will take their paths to conclusions you may not expect in this film. The outcome may not be as obvious as it first seems. But the journey that each of these actors take us on looks as if it will make the 140 mintues fly.
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