“21 Bridges falls short, and in a big way…” Kathy Kaiser, Matineechat.com
21 BRIDGES – Rated R – 1 hr. 39 mins.
DIRECTOR: Brian Kirk
WRITERS: Adam Mervis, Matthew Michael Carnahan
STARRING: Chadwick Boseman, Sienna Miller, J.K. Simmons, Stephan James, Taylor Kitsch and Keith David
As we are thrust into the life of NYPD Detective Andre Davis (Chadwick Boseman), it seems that there are two drug smugglers/Cop Killers on the loose, having just killed too many NY City cops to count. And, who better than to track them down than Davis, as his own father was sadly taken out by just these kind of thugs, when he was just a kid…
With Direction from Captain McKenna (J.K. Simmons) and with his partner Frankie Burns (Sienna Miller) by his side, Davis should have no issues catching these criminals and putting them behind bars, that is once he closes down all 21 Bridges out of Manhattan, until he gets these creeps!
But not so fast there, as Detective Davis comes face-to-face with a criminal underworld that’s full of his fellow NYPD officers, as he now must decide, who he’s going after…and who is ultimately trying to take him out every step of the way too…
I give 21 BRIDGES a rating of WAIT AND CATCH THIS FILM ON NETFLIX or other STREAMING SERVICE: As much as I love Boseman, Simmons and Miller, it pains me to tell you to wait and catch this film at home, but sadly, I must do just that. I think part of the main issue I have with this film is that it plays out just like an episode of a cop melodrama on TV, and since that is what Director Brian Kirk’s background of Directing is in, I guess it kind of makes sense. But for a feature film, I needed a lot more uncertainty throughout this storyline, as you totally know where we were heading throughout every inch of this film, every step of the way. And let me not totally put blame on Kirk’s Directing, because maybe this is exactly what writers Adam Mervis and Matthew Michael Carnahan had in mind, but as a movie goer, 21 BRIDGES is so obvious with the direction it’s taking at every turn, it takes away from the enjoyment of actually viewing the incredible actors they managed to secure for this film. Like I explained to the distribution studio rep last evening after viewing the film – “this is one film where the incredible actors they secured just didn’t have enough good material to work with.” I mean, don’t get me wrong, Boseman is good playing the Detective who’s focused on riding the NYC of its cop killers. And Miller is good too, playing his partner, while juggling motherhood as well. And Academy Award winning actor J.K. Simmons is good to view throughout this movie too, even though he has a pertinent, but rather small role. And you will also get to experience some good acting from Stephen James and Taylor Kitsch along the way too, but the storyline throughout this film just puts it all in your face so easily, that no one is forced to act to their full potential, thus leaving me with no choice but to suggest that you wait to catch 21 BRIDGES in the comfort of your own home, as I am certain it will be hitting a streaming service you have in just a few short weeks from now…
MATINEE CHAT with Kathy Kaiser 