Director: Gavin O’Connor
Cast: Colin Farrell, Edward Norton, Jon Voight
The delayed release – and subsequent claims and counter-claims - of this gritty police/family drama would make a film in itself.
The original delay was because the makers, New Line, were involved in a protracted take-over by Warner Brothers, the claims and counter-claims were over whether the film was any good, or not.
And it is … very good, with outstanding performances from Farrell, Voight and Norton as New York cops – and family members – involved in the investigation of corruption and scandal where one of them might be the chief culprit.
OK, so on one level it is merely another Big Apple cops-gone-bad story, but O’Connor draws from his excellent cast performances of depth and humanity that push it well above the genre average.
There is much to commend the film: the atmosphere, the strong directing and the acting give it an edge.
Star Rating: 4/5