A Good Deed goes Unpunished

Rating: 10/10 (25 May 2014)

In this Modern Film Noir classic, Denzel Washington is Detective Alonzo Harris, who runs an elite narcotics task force. Ethan Hawkes is Jake Hoyt, newly "recruited" to it and even eager to join.
Hoyt immediately sees that Harris is not your run of the mill detective, he appears to have a unique style of "detecting" - Which involves all kinds of bullying and fear tactics- And he does not limit this to suspects, he uses them on Hoyt as well.
In reality Harris has a specific agenda. Hoyt goes along with it but each activity of their day raises the red flag level higher and higher.
Harris actually rules over a small section of hell, a gang-ridden neighborhood called "The Jungles" where his son and girlfriend Sara (Eva Mendes) live. Harris expressly instructs Hoyt never to enter "The Jungles" by himself. Harris appears to be the "benevolent protector" of this neighborhood and we get that impression as well. Remember, this is all appearances- This whole film depends on our "First Impressions" and how they are wrong.
We get to meet many of Harris' "friends" and acquaintances, who are either "retired" drug pushers who have served their time (Scott Glenn as "Roger") or Judges and DA's (Harris Yulin and Tom Berenger and Doug Rosselli and Stan Gursky respectively). In fact, the two categories of people are interconnected in some way through Harris. And Harris plays them like finely tuned instruments.
And now Harris has chosen Jake Hoyt. The only question we can ask as the body count rises is "Why"?
Alonzo likes Hoyt because he has a good eye for what is happening around him, this is proved when Hoyt sees a rape happening in the corner of his eye, jumps out of the car and takes on the two gang-bangers who are piling on a hapless girl. In the process she loses her wallet and Jake picks it up: File for future use.
This film puts a new slant on the words "Patsy" and "Double/Triple/Quadruple Cross".
Washington plays this as if he's the guy, just like he does any other role, Hawkes follows suit with the "Innocent Look" that hides the fact that he's seen more than he lets on. Look for the likes of Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg, and veteran character actors Nick Chinlund and Raymond Cruz- Several real gang-bangers from the LA neighborhood called "The Jungles" were used as well.
Antoine Fuqua mimics Tony Scott's style of directing with a great score by Mark Mancina peppered with some decent Rap tracks and other interesting music.