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"BROOKLYN'S FINEST" (2010) (Ethan Hawke, Richard Gere) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Extreme Extreme Extreme Heavy Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Heavy Moderate Extreme Extreme Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Extreme Heavy Heavy Heavy Extreme QUICK TAKE: Drama: A number of cops with varying degrees of service in Brooklyn's 65th police precinct must contend with any number of personal matters and external issues as they work in a notoriously crime-ridden neighborhood. PLOT: In Brooklyn's 65th police precinct, a number of cops are at different stages in their careers. 22-year veteran Eddie Dugan (RICHARD GERE) is just 7 days away from retirement, but has long ago given up really caring about doing his job, and thus isn't pleased when he's assigned to mentor rookie cops such as Melvin Panton (LOGAN MARSHALL-GREEN) and then Eddie Quinlan (JESSE WILLIAMS). Needing a drink when he awakens and having suicidal thoughts, about the only thing that keeps him going is his growing fondness for hooker Chantel (SHANNON KANE) who makes him feel special, at least during their regular sessions. Then there's Sal Procida (ETHAN HAWKE) in the narcotics division who's so desperate to obtain enough money to move his pregnant wife, Angela (LILI TAYLOR), and their five kids out of their small, mold-infested home that he's taken to robbery and murder to get his hands on the cash he needs for a down payment on a new place. Another cop in his squad, Ronny (BRIAN F. O'BYRNE), is concerned about Sal's worsening state (although he doesn't know of the homicides), but other cops in the group are more of Sal's mindset than his. Similarly unhappy about his situation is Clarence "Tango" Butler (DON CHEADLE) who's been working undercover for years infiltrating a notorious drug operation. He wants a regular detective job, and his immediate supervisor, Lt. Bill Hobarts (WILL PATTON), tells him to be patient, but things become far more complicated when his longtime friend, Caz (WESLEY SNIPES), is released from prison. Federal Agent Smith (ELLEN BARKIN) wants Tango to bring the dealer down, but given their past and the fact that Caz saved his life in the past clouds the undercover cop's mind. With the public in a growing anti-cop frenzy due to an officer allegedly killing an honor student during a botched robbery, the various cops go about their daily duties, unaware that their desires and lives are about to collide. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of anyone in the cast or gritty cop dramas, they might show some interest, but younger kids likely won't have much, if any, with this offering. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For bloody violence throughout, strong sexuality, nudity, drug content and pervasive language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: Considering what occurs in the film (murder and other harsh violence, nonstop profanity, the use of hookers, suicidal tendencies, taking the law into one's own hands, etc.) it's unlikely many if any parents would consider any of the major characters as good role models. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 270 "f" words, while many other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue is present, as are several sexual encounters (intercourse with movement, nudity and sounds, as well as oral sex), and other nudity (bare breasts). Violence consists of many graphic shootings (with bloody/gory results), beating, fighting and otherwise hitting others. Those scenes and moments of potential peril could be unsettling and/or suspenseful to viewers, especially those sensitive to such material. That action and other behavior might be enticing for kids to imitate, while all sorts of bad attitudes are present. Characters drink and smoke, while drug use (coke) briefly occurs, and drugs and drug dealing are integral parts of the plot. Tense family material is also present. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there's some flicker of light in an apartment (but not full strobe). Some flashing police lights at night are present at the end of the film. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there are varying amounts of camera movement in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE A guy chatting with Sal in a car talks about a past incident of being "drunk off my ass" due to leaving a bar after being attacked (none of which is seen). Eddie wakes up and immediately drinks some booze in bed. We see many "bricks" of cocaine in a car trunk, and some are removed. We see a bottle of booze on a drug dealer's table. Another cop mocks Eddie being at work, asking if the bars are closed.. A placemat in a restaurant shows various cocktails on it. We see a miscellaneous liquor store sign (that reads "Liquor"). Tango (acting undercover as a thug) picks up an empty beer bottle and throws it at a parking enforcement officer's small vehicle (for getting a ticket that he then throws away). Miscellaneous people drink in a club. Tango and various thugs raise a toast to celebrate Caz's release. Caz and Tango talk about the amount of coke sold each day in their operation. Some men (later identified as kidnappers) have bad attitudes toward a drugged or drunk woman in their company, with one calling her a "nasty ass whore" and "bitch." Chantel snorts coke after having sex with Eddie, all as the drug-related song "White Rabbit" plays in her place (or on the soundtrack) including lyrics about pill taking, etc. Sal, Ronny and other cops have beer in front of them while playing poker. Sal's oldest daughter comes down and complains about a younger sibling or other kid looking for (what sounded like) drugs in her room. There's talk that a teen or young adult in a convenience store incident was found with a small amount of pot on him. People have drinks in a club. Caz (after checking out a bottle of booze), Tango and two other men raise a toast and drink. Eddie drinks beer in his parked car. Some men put a drugged or drunk woman (dressed in a bra or similar top and short skirt) in a van, with Eddie recognizing her as a missing woman. Ronny tells Sal they should go get a beer, but that never happens. BLOOD/GORE A guy chatting with Sal in a car talks about a past incident where he felt like he was going to "sh*t a bowling ball." Sal suddenly shoots that man in the car seated next to him, killing the man (with bloody results). Sal does that to take the bag of money the man possessed. Sal ends up with blood on his hand from that bag of money he's brought home (from the above scene) and hurriedly washes that off. A young woman vomits. During a raid, Sal pins a young thug against a wall and holds his handgun to his head. The raid then proceeds to the main apartment where several thugs are shot (with bloody results). Agent Smith implies she or other feds will dig up dirt on Tango if he doesn't agree to bring down Caz. When he refuses she tells him he doesn't want her putting a microscope "up your ass" (metaphorically). Some leader thugs rough up a younger member they believe gave up information to the cops. As a result, one slams the younger man's head to the roof's surface and pistol whips him (leaving his face bloody). Sal finds a wounded thug with blood from his mouth and shoots him twice. Sal shoots another thug, with bloody results. A man comes into a restroom and states he needs to "take a piss," but Tango angrily tells him to get out. A man is shot several times in a drive-by shooting, leaving him and Tango (who was behind him, but is unharmed) bloody. Eddie shoots a thug in the chest, with bloody results, while Eddie is then bloody after the two men struggle and fight. Some thugs complain about stepping in "piss" outside an elevator. Tango suddenly shoots several men dead, with bloody results, while an injured one stumbles out, but he doesn't shoot another man who drops the clip from his gun. Tango then follows that other bloody man out onto the street where he shoots him many times, with additional bloody results. Ronny shoots a man who's been shooting another out on the street, realizing too late it was an undercover cop who's now quite bloody. Sal shoots three thugs dead, with bloody results, and then tears apart an apartment, searching for their money. A man is repeatedly shot in the back. Blood runs from his mouth and he falls to the floor where a pool of blood flows and grows behind and next to him. He and other dead and bloody men are seen again moments later. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE All of the various drug dealers, kidnappers and other thugs obviously have bad attitudes. Sal suddenly shoots a man in the car seated next to him, killing that man (with bloody results). Sal does that to take the bag of money the man possessed. Throughout the film, Sal tries to get his hands on criminal-related money, and again kills (criminals) later in the film. Sal tries to absolve his sin (murder) by going to confession, asking the priest if it's possible that God isn't carrying his end of the weight. He then says he doesn't want God's forgiveness, but just wants "His f*cking help." Another cop mocks Eddie being at work, asking if the bars are closed. We see a flashback to a white cop behaving in a racist way toward Tango after pulling him over (while at least one thug in Tango's car readies his handgun, but doesn't use it). A miscellaneous man argues with a miscellaneous woman and then slaps her face hard. Melvin goes to intervene and must physically separate the two, with Eddie then yanking him away for intervening in a district that's not their own. Tango (acting undercover as a thug) picks up an empty beer bottle and throws it at a parking enforcement officer's small vehicle (for getting a ticket that he then throws away). Some men (later identified as kidnappers) have bad attitudes toward a drugged or drunk woman in their company, with one calling her a "nasty ass whore" and "bitch." Agent Smith implies she or other feds will dig up dirt on Tango if he doesn't agree to bring down Caz. When he refuses she tells him he doesn't want her putting a microscope "up your ass" (metaphorically). A cop sarcastically asks another "Are you retarded?" A cop makes a racist remark during a poker game, prompting Sal to punch him in the face. There's talk that a teen or young adult in a convenience store incident was found with a small amount of pot on him. Police authorities want Eddie to lie that's the reason his younger partner got violent with the young man (in order to get the rookie cop off serious charges), but Eddie refuses. Agent Smith (who's white) makes a comment about not wanting to go back into the "jungle" (a bad Brooklyn neighborhood) to clean up the "monkey sh*t." Some men put a drugged or drunk woman (dressed in a bra or similar top and short skirt) in a van, with Eddie recognizing her as a missing woman. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence," "Blood/Gore" and "Jump Scenes" may be unsettling and/or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. Eddie wakes up and immediately drinks some booze in bed. He then takes his revolver, puts the barrel in his mouth and pulls the trigger, but the gun turns out to be empty. Some leader thugs rough up a younger member they believe gave up information to the cops. As a result, one slams the younger man's head to the roof's surface and pistol whips him (leaving his face bloody) before he and another man lean the younger one over the edge of the building, with both holding their guns on him. One then puts a lit cigarette near the young man's eye, but Tango and Caz intervene (with Caz slapping one of the leader thugs), although one of the thugs kicks the young man in the body. When one complains about never seeing Tango get violent, Tango punches that thug and holds his handgun to his face. Eddie prepares to commit suicide (retrieving a handgun and putting a bullet in it), but is then distracted by criminal behavior and abandons the suicidal quest. Eddie cautiously enters an apartment building, gun drawn, hoping to find a kidnapped young woman. After seeing a man (who's shirtless and presumably had sex with her or another young woman) exit a room and go across the hall to the shower, Eddie enters and finds three bound and gagged women, two of which are topless. He tries to free and remove them, but hears the man come back. He then aims his gun on that man and cuffs him down. Another man then enters and recognizes Eddie, saying he's the guy who comes around there with his "d*ck" in his hand. He then adds that Eddie came there to get his "d*ck" sucked and orders one of the young women to do that, but they don't as Eddie aims his gun at that man. That man then comes at Eddie who fires his one bullet at him, hitting the man in the chest. But he comes at and struggles with Eddie, with both hitting and bashing the other about, leaving Eddie bloodied. But he manages to grab, place and tighten a plastic tie-wrap around the second man's neck, resulting in him choking and falling to the floor. GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns/Machine guns/Automatic weapons: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others. See "Violence" for details. Eddie wakes up and immediately drinks some booze in bed. He then takes his revolver, puts the barrel in his mouth and pulls the trigger, but the gun turns out to be empty. We see a handgun on a drug dealer's table. We see a flashback to a white cop behaving in a racist way toward Tango after pulling him over (while at least one thug in Tango's car readies his handgun, but doesn't use it). Chantel notes that Eddie doesn't have any bullets in his gun. A first-person shooter video game shows a gun being fired and an animated character falling. We see a burning police car as well as cops carrying automatic weapons. Eddie prepares to commit suicide (retrieving a handgun and putting a bullet in it), but is then distracted by criminal behavior and abandons the suicidal quest. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "F*cking cops/pigs," "Un-f*cking believable," "Get your m*therf*cking hands off me," "I want his f*cking help," "F*cking burn-out," "What the f*ck /is wrong with you?" "F*ck those racist crackers," "More than f*cking enough," "F*ck it," "M*therf*ckers," "I'm f*cked up," "Get a real f*cking job," "I'm the m*therf*cking party planner," "F*ck yeah," "Mean f*cking universe," "F*ck this sh*t," "Shut the f*ck up," "Do not f*cking move," "Who the f*ck is this?" "F*cking kidding me?" "Get the f*ck out of here," "Sloppy f*ck," "He's so f*cked," "F*ck you," "Jesus f*cking Christ," "F*cker," "Kick the f*ck back," "Holy f*ck," "Are we on the same f*cking planet?" "M*therf*cking knuckleheads," "F*ck you care?" "Don't f*ck with me," "You're a f*cking piece of work," "That sh*t's f*cked up," "(All that) bullsh*t," "I felt like I was going to sh*t a bowling ball," "Sh*t crazy right now," "The sh*t's really gonna hit the fan," "Birds of a feather sh*t," "You ain't got sh*t," "Sure as sh*t," "You look like sh*t," "Tired of this sh*t," "Monkey sh*t," "Nasty ass whore," "You racist pr*ck," "Bastard," "I'm drunk off my ass," "Righter and wronger," "N*gger" (said by black characters), "Bitch" (woman and man), "Stupid ass," "Are you retarded?" "You lucky bastard," "Your bitch ass," "Nuts" (testicles), "Hell yeah," "G*ddamn right" and "Gotta take a piss." The action and other stunts might be enticing for some kids to try to imitate. Eddie wakes up and immediately drinks some booze in bed. He then takes his revolver, puts the barrel in his mouth and pulls the trigger, but the gun turns out to be empty. Various scenes in the film show miscellaneous background graffiti. Tango (acting undercover as a thug) picks up an empty beer bottle and throws it at a parking enforcement officer's small vehicle (for getting a ticket that he then throws away). Sal has a very large tattoo on his back and a much smaller one on his chest. We see a tattoo on Eddie's bare chest. Chantel has a tattoo on her neck. Eddie prepares to commit suicide (retrieving a handgun and putting a bullet in it), but is then distracted by criminal behavior and abandons the suicidal quest. JUMP SCENES Sal suddenly shoots a man in the car seated next to him, killing that man (with bloody results). Sal does that to take the bag of money the man possessed. Tango suddenly slams a table hard with his hand. A man is repeatedly shot in the back. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of suspenseful, ominous and heavily dramatic music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) A rap song has many uses of the "f" word and several of "p*ssy," while others include uses of "n*gger." We couldn't fully hear and/or understand the lyrics of other rap songs playing in the background of various scenes (thus presenting the possibility that there might be objectionable material in them). Chantel snorts coke after having sex with Eddie, all as the drug-related song "White Rabbit" plays in her place (or on the soundtrack) including lyrics about pill taking, etc. PROFANITY At least 270 "f" words (39 used with "mother"), 90 "s" words, 6 slang terms using male genitals ("d*ck" and "pr*ck"), 2 using female ones ("p*ssy"), 1 for breasts ("t*tty"), 18 asses (5 used with "hole"), 5 damns, 2 hells, 1 S.O.B., 3 uses of "G-damn" and 2 uses each of "Jesus Christ" and "Oh God." SEX/NUDITY We see Eddie in his boxers and a t-shirt when he wakes up. A drug dealer talks of others off to visit hookers that will make their "d*ck" look like a trophy (or something along those lines). There's talk of prostitution, among other social and criminal ills, afflicting a certain neighborhood. One cop asks another if he has his Playboy (the magazine is not seen). We see Sal shirtless. Some men (later identified as kidnappers) have bad attitudes toward a drugged or drunk woman in their company, with one calling her a "nasty ass whore" and "bitch." We see Chantel on top of Eddie having sex with him. There's movement, related sounds and talk, and nudity (her bare breasts, including seen in close-up and then Eddie groping and then kissing them). About something else, Chantel playfully asks Eddie, "Or do I need to suck it out of you?" She then moves down his body as he's seated shirtless and starts to perform oral sex on him (her body/head blocks our view of the actual contact). He reacts and tells her to be easy, slow and to just use her tongue, and enjoys the act when she gets it right. We see a bare-breasted woman and another in her bra and panties ironing money for a drug dealing operation. We then see another bare-breasted woman in that place. We see Sal shirtless. Talking about the way various prison ethnic groups kill people, Caz jokes that one squeezes your "nuts" (testicles) before setting you on fire. We see topless and otherwise scantly clad dancers in a club, including one who has a man directly behind her (we can't see what he's doing, but the contact -- most likely just body rubbing -- appears sexual in nature). We see some shirtless guys playing basketball, while another is seen washing a car. Eddie walks in and sees a man thrusting away on top of Chantel in the missionary position (the view of their torso contact is blocked by foreground objects, but we see the thrusting movement, hear her sounds, and hear sexually related talk). Eddie then waits outside until the man leaves, and then goes back inside. He finds her seated on the toilet, wiping between her legs (nothing explicit seen). She then gets up (in a sheer and partially see-through negligee that shows her bare breasts and butt) and sprays some perfume on herself, including at her crotch area. As she walks about, we briefly see views of her bare breasts, but nothing sexual occurs between her and Eddie. Some men put a drugged or drunk woman (dressed in a bra or similar top and short skirt) in a van, with Eddie recognizing her as a missing woman. About a drug bust being called off, cops discuss what they're going to do now, with one mentioning something about "t*tty." Eddie cautiously enters an apartment building, gun drawn, hoping to find a kidnapped young woman. After seeing a man (who's shirtless and presumably had sex with her or another young woman) exit a room and go across the hall to the shower, Eddie enters and finds three bound and gagged women, two of which are topless. He tries to free and remove them, but hears the man come back. He then aims his gun on that man and cuffs him down. Another man then enters and recognizes Eddie, saying he's the guy who comes around there with his "d*ck" in his hand. He then adds that Eddie came there to get his "d*ck" sucked and orders one of the young women to do that, but they don't as Eddie aims his gun at that man. A poster on a wall shows a buxom woman in a cleavage-revealing bikini or similar attire. SMOKING Sal and Tango each smoke various times, Chantel smokes once, and various miscellaneous characters also smoke. TENSE FAMILY SCENES There's talk that a cop shot a young man and we see the sheet-covered body, as well as what may be grieving family members. Bill delivers Tango divorce papers from Tango's wife. We hear that Eddie is separated from his wife. A doctor informs Sal that Angie is suffering from wood mold in her lungs, and that the condition has affected her unborn twins, with one being smaller than the other. This puts additional stress on Sal to steal more money so that they can move to another house. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The work and lives of cops. Cops who work deep undercover for long periods of time. Suicidal thoughts. The notion of "righter and wronger" (terms used in the film -- meaning doing something wrong that has a result for the right, or at least in the right direction). Sal trying to absolve his sin (murder) by going to confession. New, idealistic cops vs. veteran, jaded/realistic ones. Eddie saying he doesn't watch the news as it's depressing. Chantel notes that Eddie doesn't have any bullets in his gun. Sal and other cops complain about where confiscated drug money goes and doesn't go, including to them, stating that rookie cops only make about twenty-thousand a year. The comment that many cops are worth more to their families dead (for the insurance money) than alive. VIOLENCE A guy chatting with Sal in a car talks about a past incident of being "drunk off my ass" due to leaving a bar after being attacked (none of which is seen). Sal suddenly shoots that man in the car seated next to him, killing the man (with bloody results). Sal does that to take the bag of money the man possessed. There's talk that a cop shot a young man and we see the sheet-covered body, as well as what may be grieving family members. A miscellaneous man argues with a miscellaneous woman and then slaps her face hard. Melvin goes to intervene and must physically separate the two, with Eddie then yanking him away for intervening in a district that's not their own. Tango (acting undercover as a thug) picks up an empty beer bottle and throws it at a parking enforcement officer's small vehicle (for getting a ticket that he then throws away). During a raid, Sal pins a young thug against a wall and holds his handgun to his head. The raid then proceeds to the main apartment where several thugs are shot (with bloody results) and others are manhandled. Sal then chases one who's run off outside and eventually tackles him on some steps. He then punches the man twice in the face, but lets him go when he realizes he doesn't have any drug money on him. A cop makes a racist remark during a poker game, prompting Sal to punch him in the face. We see a burning police car (from unseen violence). Eddie and his rookie partner must separate a shop owner, armed with a hammer, and a teen he's accused of theft. When Eddie goes back to his car to call in details, the situation escalates again, prompting the rookie to aim his gun at the teen and then pin him to the floor while arresting him. During this, the gun goes off (and we later hear two shots were fired that barely missed the teen). Some leader thugs rough up a younger member they believe gave up information to the cops. As a result, one slams the younger man's head to the roof's surface and pistol whips him (leaving his face bloody) before he and another man lean the younger one over the edge of the building, with both holding their guns on him. One then puts a lit cigarette near the young man's eye, but Tango and Caz intervene (with Caz slapping one of the leader thugs), although one of the thugs kicks the young man in the body. When one complains about never seeing Tango get violent, Tango punches that thug and holds his handgun to his face. During a police raid, cops hit and manhandle thugs, with one of the latter shooting back through a closed door at them. A cop then fires his automatic weapon (like a machine gun) back through that door, striking the thug. Sal then finds a wounded thug with blood from his mouth and shoots him twice. Sal shoots another thug, with bloody results. Tango throws his bugged cell phone to a wall, shattering the phone. A man is shot several times in a drive-by shooting, leaving him and Tango (who was behind him, but is unharmed) bloody. Tango swipes things off a counter in anger and then must be held back by Bill from attacking Agent Smith after she makes a racist comment. Sal shoves Ronny when the latter tries to intervene in the former's life. After going back to his car, Sal then turns and returns with his gun drawn, and we think he's going to shoot Ronny. Instead, he shoots his tire, thus preventing Ronny from following him in his car. The following scenes are inter-cut with each other, but are listed here as standalone sequences. Eddie cautiously enters an apartment building, gun drawn, hoping to find a kidnapped young woman. After seeing a man (who's shirtless and presumably had sex with her or another young woman) exit a room and go across the hall to the shower, Eddie enters and finds three bound and gagged women, two of which are topless. He tries to free and remove them, but hears the man come back. He then aims his gun on that man and cuffs him down. Another man then enters and recognizes Eddie, saying he's the guy who comes around there with his "d*ck" in his hand. He then adds that Eddie came there to get his "d*ck" sucked and orders one of the young women to do that, but they don't as Eddie aims his gun at that man. That man then comes at Eddie who fires his one bullet at him, hitting the man in the chest. But he comes at and struggles with Eddie, with both hitting and bashing the other about, leaving Eddie bloodied. But he manages to grab, place and tighten a plastic tie-wrap around the second man's neck, resulting in him choking and falling to the floor. Tango suddenly shoots several men dead, with bloody results, while an injured one stumbles out, but he doesn't shoot another man who drops the clip from his gun. Tango then follows that other bloody man out onto the street where he shoots him many times, with additional bloody results. Ronny shoots a man who's been shooting another out on the street, realizing too late it was an undercover cop who's now quite bloody. Sal shoots three thugs dead, with bloody results, and then tears apart an apartment, searching for their money. A man is repeatedly shot in the back. Blood runs from his mouth and he falls to the floor where a pool of blood flows and grows behind and next to him. Reviewed February 17, 2010 / Posted March 5, 2010

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