The Chocolate Review: Brooklyn's Finest

Antoine Fuqua’s Brooklyn’s Finest was not what we expected. We didn’t go in expecting it to be either good or bad- we just had a different interpretation of the film from its previews. That being said, Fuqua’s Brooklyn’s
Finest was a refreshing crime
drama that picked apart the world of law enforcement from every possible
angle. Writer Michael C. Martin did an excellent job at creating
characters with real conflicts we could instantly relate to. You didn’t
have to be a cop to understand the cops. You didn’t have to be a
criminal to identify with the villains. What Brooklyn’s Finest brought to our attention was the fine line
between the two lifestyles, proving that you’re only a good guy or a
bad guy depending on who’s watching.

The film was more like three smaller movies intertwined into one. Clarence Butler (Don Cheadle) is an undercover detective who has risen to the top ranks
of Brooklyn Drug ring. He can feel himself actually turning into the
monster he’s impersonating and longs for his normal life back. Detective
Procida (Ethan Hawke) is a pseudo-religious father of five whose wife
is expecting twins. When money becomes an issue of life or death,
Procida makes a decision that despite his badge he’ll do whatever it
takes to protect his family. Finally, Officer Eddie Dugan (Richard Gere)
is a suicidal and seasoned officer with one week left until retirement.
When Dugan is paired with new recruits to take on New York crime, we
witness the disparity between a jaded lawman and the result of eager
rookie ignorance.

Though these stories have little to nothing to do with one another, what each man discovers during Brooklyn’s Finest is that everything, even righteousness, comes at a price.
Question is, are you willing to pay it.

This film reminded us of Soderbergh’s Traffic with its series of interconnected stories, each possessing a different viewpoint and character to carry its theme. What you end up
getting is a well-rounded set of events that stays true to each
character. Ekemini wasn’t a fan of Officer Dugan’s participation in the
storyline. She didn’t understand the point of his character and believed
the movie wouldn’t have suffered without him. I on the other hand enjoyed his detached point of view. I call him the
finish line character. Some one who’s seen, done and been through
everything and represents the end result of a man beaten emotionally and
mentally by “the job”. Wesley Snipes made a
welcomed come back to the gang film genre. Watching him flex his on
screen muscle as Caz (Casanova) was reminiscent of his Nino Brown days.
Though he’s been MIA as of late, Snipes returns to remind us that he’s
still one of the great underrated actors of our time.

Overall, Brooklyn’s Finest was well done and deserves a pat on the back for restoring our faith in the modern crime drama. There’s lots of blood, lots of death and even more detestable behavior. Still, in the
face of all of this, you leave the theatre feeling warm inside. Why?
Cause you’re not a cop.

The Chocolate Review gives Brooklyn’s Finest 4 out of 5 stars for the following reasons: