16 Blocks
Much like Hostage, the last Bruce Willis action flick to hit theaters, this film surprises at how well it works.
I’ve never hidden that I am a Bruce Willis fan. I enjoy the films he is in and find that he isn’t typecast into a particular role. He will play almost anything and has enough of a range that, for me, he usually pulls it off.
In this near real-time action thriller, Bruce Willis is charged with transporting a witness 16 blocks from the station to the courthouse before the grand jury adjourns for the session. The only obstacle in his way happens to be most of the city police force who is trying to keep the criminal (Mos Def) from testifying against a cop.
Bruce Willis, actually playing ‘older’ in this movie, is very credible as an old beat up cop. Mos Def plays his role quite well. Many will find his mannerisms quite annoying in this film, but as the film plays on, they start to feel like the character and you just start to buy it. David Morse is great as the ‘bad’ cop in this film. I’ve always felt that Morse is a solid actor who always serves up a good performance and this movie is no exception.
The movie’s action builds and builds and then climaxes surpisingly with a conversation instead of a bang down action scene. And it works.
I would recommend going to see this movie in the theater. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.