Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: S. Craig Zahler, Icon Film Distribution, R 159 Minutes.
In one of the most exasperating movies to be made comes this tedious crime drama from third time director Steven Zahler (‘Bone Tomahawk’) depicting two suspended cops being driven to extremes by delving into the criminal world’s coffers.
The slow-burn storyline basically revolves around two policemen – the older, more experienced Brett Ridgeman (Aussie Mel Gibson –‘Braveheart’) and younger partner Tony Lurasetti (Vince Vaughan –‘Seberg’) who receive a six week suspension for using excessive force in a drug dealer’s arrest.
Without any pay coming in Brett will be unable to cover the medical bills for his crippled wife Melanie (Laurie Holden -TV’s ‘The Americans’) struggling with multiple sclerosis; nor will he be able to prevent his teenage daughter Sara (Jordyn Ashley Olson –‘The Shack’) from being continuously harassed by African-American boys living within his poorish and racially divided neighbourhood.
The movie then crosses over to a corresponding storyline concerning African-American Henry Johns (Tory Kittles –Man Down’) on being released from prison returns home to find his mother involved in prostitution and his disabled brother having to care for himself.
Desperate for money and in a similar situation as the suspended detectives, Johns, together with friend Biscuit (Michael White –‘Accident Man’), decide to join members of a ruthless gang as getaway drivers in a daring bank heist.
This robbery also coincides with Ridgeman and the reluctant Lurasetti’s intention to steal from the criminal underworld with both parties clashing in a brutally-fought shootout leaving Ridgeman and Johns to divvy-up the gold bullion provided they survive the ordeal.
Zahler’s excessively-violent crime drama that screens for 159 minutes is a further drag on what is a dreary storyline compared to Director Michael Mann’s gripping blockbuster movie ‘Heat’ with its similar cops and robbers theme running for 170 minutes.
Most of the entertainment is delivered in the final 40 minutes, especially the end game which is somewhat spoilt by the pointless and excessive violence.
As many of the performances appear mundane the only glimmer rests with Gibson and Johns in providing the only pleasing portrayals of their characters as they are ‘Dragged Across Concrete’ in this overlong production.
Vic’s Verdict: 2 Stars
