Not exactly a mood lifter

Rating: Null/10 (17 February 2003)

For some reason, the word I associate with this film is depression. Lots of the writing and the acting is solid, but are we really this bad? Do we really live among people who are like some of the characters in this film? Unfortunately, I think the answer is yes. No, I don't think there are cops like Denzel. (But I don't think there a hell of a lot of 'em like Elliot Ness, either, sad to say). To me, this film tells us something about where we are as a society, and it doesn't speak too prettily. Every man is a bad ass(yeah, right), latino gangstas from the hood have no respect for life, and in just a little way, the movie seems to want us to think these people are cool. I ain't buying it, but I suspect lots of people are. I guess I would compare this movie to Goodfellas and "No Fear" stickers. It is partially in love with the idea of its own toughness and ruthlessness. It kind of makes me want to say, "Oh, really? Wanna dance?"