Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Directors: Joel Souza, Defiant Screen Entertainment.
Cast: Thomas Jane, Luke Kleintank, Bridget Moynahan, David Krumholtz, Josh Hopkins.
Right and wrong isn’t always black and white, but the intensity with which this reality-style cop thriller jumps into action from the first frame, you know you’re in for an interesting ride.
Writer-director Souza delivers a film that’s absorbing, and doesn’t pull any punches, and tells it like it is. This is not your typical cop movie (out on DVD).
Driven by alarming intensity and committed performances, Protect and Serve takes us on a drive over one night in the life of veteran patrol officer Ray Mandel (Jane) and ambitious rookie Nick Holland (Kleintank) in the LAPD’s Olympic Division. As Mandel points out: “People sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men are ready to do violence, on their behalf”.
With two cop killers on the loose, hunting for more targets, Mandel and Holland must contend with a city about to boil over, as well as Jack Van Zandt (Hopkins), an unhinged rogue cop out for payback who speaks unkindly and runs wild in their patrol zone.
As the night wears on, Mandel also finds himself in a desperate race against the clock to find a missing girl as he and Holland cruise the dangerous streets of LA in their police car – shielded by each other and protected only by some pieces of glass and metal.
Sure it has clichéd cop movie scenarios we’re familiar with – assault, misconduct, false alarms – but they are not overdone. The film is stark, but not gloomy and the dialogue feels realistic. It’s almost as if you are riding along with the police, realising that it’s the opposite of glorifying them.
They follow a distinct code when it comes to protecting their own. Jane puts in a composed performance as he also protects the daughter of his partner of a decade, who was killed on duty.
Kleintank (as Holland) delivers an admirable performance, while Moynahan, Krumholtz and Hopkins add quality.
Who plays the ambitious rookie policeman in this film? If your answer is correct, then you could win one of three DVDs of Protect and Serve. Entries should be sent to [email protected] by Monday, 11 May 2020. Names of the winners will be announced in Frank Cassidy’s PS-sssst…! column on 12 May 2020.
