One of the more stellar arcs of the movie is the enmity expressed between the two homicide teams vying for the lead on the murders. John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg deliver understated yet believable performances as the rival detective team.
Carla Gugino, beautiful as ever, portrays a hard-nosed forensic cop involved with De Niro’s character. I had really mixed feelings about her character, but I think I was supposed to have those. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson plays a gang banger leader who becomes interwoven in the plot. Brian Dennehy is the crotchety boss that’s in every crime flick, leaning on the heroes and threatening to pull them off the case.
The city shots and action in the streets is well done. I felt like I was out there with them, running through alleys, and surrounded by cavernous buildings.
However, the murders and the notes accompanying them just feel like retreads. Playing with the time, shooting back and forth between the past and the present, helps offset some of the plodding nature of the investigation, but not by much.
I enjoyed watching De Niro and Pacino. I always do. But they just needed something stronger to do in this movie than what they had. When the final frames played through, with the terribly predictable ending after all the secrets had been revealed, I felt robbed in a way. I got De Niro and Pacino, but I didn’t get the movie that I was led to believe would be delivered.
If you missed it in the theaters, the movie will be a good DVD rental. I’ll pick up a copy for nostalgia and watch it again when I’m not feeling so critical, but I don’t think I’ll change my opinion about the package.
Article comments