Review: 16 Blocks (2006)
- From: "Steve Rhodes" <Steve.Rhodes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 05 Mar 2006 03:00:14 -0500
16 BLOCKS
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2006 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ***
Detective Jack Mosley, played in an endearing performance by Bruce Willis,
is worn out and depressed. Looking like he should have retired a decade ago,
he can barely make it up or down the stairs without getting exhausted. As he
lumbers along on his bad leg, Willis's Jack is miles away from an action
hero. In fact, he's not especially interested in anything but booze. He
doesn't just drink on the job, he stops at a liquor store while he's in the
process of transporting a prisoner who has to be at court by 10 a.m. in
order to testify in front of a grand jury whose term is about to expire.
The movie, which essentially happens in real time, follows Jack and his
wimpy prisoner, a two-bit hood named Eddie Bunker who once saw something he
shouldn't have, a cop killing an innocent victim. With a twangy accent that
is supposed to be annoying and is, Mos Def is terrific as the little guy
with a dream -- his own cake bakery -- who find himself in way over his head
with a whole host of bad cops out to kill him before he gives them up.
With his a perfect look of boyish innocence, David Morse plays Detective
Frank Nugent, the head of the forces of evil. A methodical and intelligent
officer, Frank leads his large herd of cats in a big chase for the two
little mice. But, as mice will, Jack and Eddie keep managing to escape in
the dense pedestrian and car traffic in New York City's Chinatown. They only
have 16 blocks to get to the courthouse, but Frank and his boys are all over
them. Logic isn't high on the agenda, but it is easy to suspend disbelief
with the exception of a key scene late in the film when Frank has Jack and
lets him go so that someone else can get him. This makes no sense since Jack
keeps slipping away.
By LETHAL WEAPON series director Richard Donner, 16 BLOCKS is a bit of a
surprise. His signature LETHAL WEAPON franchise is stuffed to the gills with
non-stop action and over-the-top humor. But, even at just 97 minutes, 16
BLOCKS is frequently slack. It's sweet, but it's slow -- sometimes too slow.
Several scenes feel like everyone on the set just got overwhelmed and
decided to take a break, but the editor forgot and left the scenes in
anyway.
Ultimately the story works because we grow to like Jack and Eddie quite a
bit, and we enjoy rooting for them as they flee a quite credible villain.
But most of all, it's just fun. It's a popcorn picture that is a perfect
pick for a cold or rainy March day.
16 BLOCKS runs 1:37. It is rated PG-13 for "violence, intense sequences of
action, and some strong language" and would be acceptable for kids around 10
and up.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, March 3, 2006. In
the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century
theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
Web: http://www.InternetReviews.com
Email: Steve.Rhodes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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