A very realistic taste of L.A.

Rating: Null/10 (7 April 2002)

For someone who lives in L.A., it is easy to overlook the "holes" in the story, including the forced coincidences or the flawed final. There's too much emotion in this daring story to leave room for cool, logical judgment. This created a paradox: the story may be flawed, but still 100% realistic. Welcome to L.A., where the most dangerous killer gang is the police, and where half of the city's officials belong in jail. Both crowds share the same contempt for anything straight, and see the public as enemy.
I can fully understand why the authors may have been too carried away by emotion (by their "beef" with the cops and corrupt officials) to analyze their own story in detail. Denzel is one of the nicest, straightest guys you can imagine in real life - and so are most of the others. Yes, even the rap singers. Previous critics said all that needed to be said about this movie, excepting its amazing realism outside the story. That's because most critics live outside Southern California. Planning a visit to L.A.? You don't need it - just rent this movie and save a few bucks for a trip somewhere else. The joke with the snail, in the movie, sums it up. Don't visit L.A. unless you "get it" - otherwise it may be quite a dangerous trip.