Richard Donner returned to the director's chair for the first time since 2003's disappointing Timeline with this Bruce Willis vehicle. 16 Blocks is an entertaining mismatched buddy film that, while not breaking new ground, I found to be immensely entertaining. Seeing the film again on DVD, I found myself enjoying it even more.
16 Blocks tells a straightforward story. Willis plays a troubled drunk detective named Jack Mosley who is given the assignment of transporting a petty criminal, Eddie Bunker (Mos Def), from his cell to the courthouse; you guessed it, 16 blocks away. The problem lies in that journey and there are forces out to keep Eddie from making his appointed meeting. The action kicks up when Jack stops on the way to pick up some booze to get him though the morning. While inside, a gunman shows up to relieve Eddie of his life. From there, we learn there are a number of dirty cops who don't want to see Eddie make it to court on time.
Now the race really gets under way. The movie is told in nearly real time as they evade dirty detectives out to kill them both. As soon as Jack decided to help Eddie, he signed his own death warrant in the eyes of his former partner, Frank Nugent (David Morse), and his team.
While the chase and the action are exciting and what initially caused my enjoyment during its theatrical run, watching it again brought something else to the table. The developing relationship between Willis and Def is very good. It really grows and develops over the course of the movie as they change each other.
The two are a complete mismatch, but they play off each other and learn new aspects of life as their respective layers are peeled away and they become more vulnerable to the opposing personality. Mosley looks at Eddie and sees a lowlife, someone not deserving his respect, while Eddie sees Mosley as someone who is not cut out for doing the transport job. It is great watching them see the signs and change, which are a couple of themes explored.
Bruce Willis does a fine job playing the rundown detective turning a corner in his life. He has made something of a cottage industry of playing these cop roles. While they are not the same roles, they are related and have portrayed a natural progression in his career. Where he used to be the straight-up hero, or a reluctant hero, now his characters are reflecting his increasing age. Not that he is getting old, but the characters tend to be a little further in their careers and have more flaws. Willis is adapting very nicely.
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