Repulsive and stupid

Rating: 3/10 (26 January 2003)

I was eager to see this film, having missed its theatrical release. I wanted to see Denzel Washington's Oscar-winning performance. Unfortunately, it was a waste of 2 hours.
Ugly scenes pile up one after the other in this film, one more repulsive than the other. The film makes a weak gesture at introducing an interesting moral dilemma: is it possible to fight the evil of drug-dealing while holding onto one's own sense of morality? But ultimately, it has nothing complex or thoughtful to say about that dilemma. The best performance in the film is actually Ethan Hawke's, a character torn by conflicting impulses. Hawke does a fine job of conveying that inner turmoil. Washington's performance is mostly just showing off, but then his character is largely a cartoon character. The Oscar is a make-up for other better performances that have gone unrewarded.
And isn't it enlightening that all of the film's people of color are despicable drug dealer or corrupt cops while the film's conscience is the white cop?
I was generous; I rated the movie a 3.