16 Blocks

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Summary:
After a long shift, an unhappy alcoholic detective (Bruce Willis? Doing this kinda role?) is asked to make a quick trip sending a witness to a high profile case a mere 16 blocks to the courthouse. Everyone wants Eddie Bunker dead, though, so Jack is stuck trying to protect his ass even though he doesn't like the guy.

Review:
My hopes going into this one was "Please, God, have this movie be better than TIMELINE!!" Richard Donner is an awesome director, making some of my all time favorite movies. Timeline, on the other hand, makes me think that he must've been seriously fucked up while making it.
Initially, I wasn't much of a fan of Mos Def's performance, but I soon realized that it wasn't an act to put on Jack. After noting that fact, I once again was impressed with Mos Def as an actor. This guy's got it, man! Don't believe me? See The Woodsman. He was fantastic. Bruce Willis does his beaten down cop act again, and I couldn't help but accept it. He's great at being morose and unhappy, so how could I not like him?
There's not much about 16 Blocks story-wise that shoots above expectations. However, I had a great time. That's what's most important! The second that David Morse shows up onscreen, you know he's the bad guy (don't worry, it's within the first 10 minutes). Willis brings his usual self to the role of Jack, and with the help of Donner's strong hand in action directing, he gets his bursts of cool action mayhem. Donner also knows how to make a great car chase, and we get one of those, too!

I don't really have much to say about 16 Blocks. I found it to be entertaining, Mos Def does a great job again onscreen, and it was much better than timeline. What I found especially enjoyable was the ending. I wish it didn't start off at the beginning with a moment near the end - that's a very tiring opening to movies. It should have started with the apartment doors being busted open, not with the moment BEFORE that. This is just one of those movies that I found to be good, but there isn't much they leave open for discussion. I enjoyed it, and that's that.
Anyhoo... If you're in the mood for a movie that isn't trying to fuck with your mind, and can provide the occassional scene of fleeting action, 16 Blocks might do it for ya. Great ending, too!

GRADE: B-

Reviewed: 3/6/06