Street Kings DVD Review
Director David Ayer (who wrote Training Day, Dark Blue, S.W.A.T.) and writers James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential, Dark Blue) and Kurt Wimmer (The Recruit) bring together a star-studded ensemble cast that drive a tense who-dun-it thriller. Keanu Reeves (Constantine, The Matrix) stars as detective Tom Ludlow, who has just solved a notorious kidnapping case involving California’s Asian community.
His Captain, Jack Wander (Forest Whitaker—Vantage Point, Panic Room) brings bad news Ludlow’s way—apparently Ludlow’s ex-partner, Terrence Washington (Terry Crews—“Everybody Hates Chris”) turned Ludlow in to Internal Affairs’ Captain James Biggs (Hugh Laurie—“House”), who is looking for someone to testify against Ludlow’s illegal activities and bring him down. When Washington turns up dead, all fingers point to Ludlow, and he and Homicide Detective Paul Diskant (Chris Evans—Fantastic Four, Cellular) try to find out just who is guilty and who is ultimately behind it.
Street Kings also stars Cedric the Entertainer (Be Cool, Intolerable Cruelty), Jay Mohr (“Gary Unmarried”, Go), Naomie Harris (Miami Vice), Common (American Gangster, Smokin’ Aces), John Corbett (“Sex and the City”, My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and Amaury Nolasco (“Prison Break”).
When films like The Negotiator, Training Day and, more recently, Martin Scorsese’s The Departed have already done such a good job with this subject, it seems redundant to keep putting out the same type of film. But with the against-type casting of several roles in Street Kings, the story manages to remain fresh enough to be interesting and captivating. There are lots of twists and turns, and in the end, the resolution is neither pat nor comforting, but just is.
The film is presented in 2.35:1 widescreen anamorphic image, with audio in Dolby Digital 5.1. and optional Spanish and French Dolby 2.0 stereo tracks, as well as optional English and Spanish subtitles.
Extras include 15 deleted scenes with optional director commentary and 10 alternate takes. Featurettes include “Street Rules: Rolling with David Ayer and Jaime FitzSimons,” which is a ride through the real-life streets and alleys of South Central Los Angeles; “L.A. Bete Noir: Writing ‘Street Kings’,” which covers the script process; “Street Cred” gives attention to minor roles with major impact in the plot; and four “vignettes”: “Crash Course,” “Heirs to the Throne,” “Inside Vice Special Unit,” and “Training Days,” all of which cover various film aspects such as stunts, casting, etc.
Although the premise has been done before, Street Kings keeps things fresh and entertaining enough to make it enjoyable for those who like this type of thriller. The film is rated R for “strong violence and pervasive language,” so it’s best for adults only.