Dark Blue

Great. An Ellroy and Ayer screenplay = top-notch police thriller. Everybody sees Training Day in this and rightly so, Dark Blue complements it fairly well (the screenplay took eight years to write, so I think we can’t talk of stealing ideas). A beautiful build-up of tension at the ending, great lines and Kurt Russell on his best form. Shelton’s just average direction was disappointing, this could have been a real hit. The story and the actors had it in them. (2014.06.09)

An awfully average crime film that doesn't stand out in any way and instead drowns in tons of clichés and predictable plot twists. Not even the excellent supporting roles and the likeable Scott Speedman, whom I still have pegged as the medic from Underworld, can help. The showdown between good cops and bad guys couldn’t be more generic and less gripping. What’s surprising is that the screenplay was written by none other than Brian Helgeland. However, Kurt Russell fits the role decently and the biggest issue is the excessively slow pace. The action in this action film is truly minimal and the there aren’t that many skillfully filmed scenes, either. But there is a strong one that stands out and it is thanks to the doctor from ER. (2006.07.12)

I've probably always wanted to see Kurt Russell as a corrupt policeman alcoholic, because from the beginning of this film it was clear to me that this role was really for him and that he would be great at it until the end. And he was. Dark Blue is a surprisingly good crime story, a little longer than I'd like, but with an interesting story and an emphasis on human conscience. In addition to Russell, Brendan Gleeson also performed brilliantly. (2017.04.17)