Street Kings

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Street Kings ★★ 2008 (R)

Ellroy had a hand in the script (adapted from his novel) but this over-the-top violent melodrama more closely resembles what director Ayers did as a writer with the equally preposterous “Training Day.” Widowed vice cop Tom Ludlow (Reeves) drinks on the job and is possibly more violent than the L.A. criminals he's after. Ludlow's commanding officer Wander (Whitaker, practically pop-eyed and frothing) seems to have his back until Tom's ex-partner Washington (Crews) is gunned down after he talks to Internal Affairs, which puts a bullseye on Ludlow's back. 109m/C DVD . US Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, Jay Mohr, John Corbett, Amaury Nolasco, Cedric the Entertainer, Terry Crews, Naomie Harris, Common, The Game, Martha Higareda; D: David Ayer, James Moss; W: Kurt Wimmer, James Ellroy; C: Gabriel Beristain; M: Graeme Revell.

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