Other Titles • Dark Blue • 4-29-92 (2001) • The Plague Season (2001)
Synopses for Dark Blue (2002)
1.
The Rodney King riots of April 1992 hang like a keg of dynamite over Dark Blue, a crackling tale of Los Angeles police corruption that gives Kurt Russell one of the best roles of his underrated career. Adapted by Training Day screenwriter David Ayer from a story by L.A. Confidential novelist James Ellroy, the plot finds Russell's rule-bending detective teamed with a promising young partner (Scott Speedman) whose ethics have yet to be tainted. Their boss (Brendan Gleeson) is a lawless maverick, maneuvering the unwitting detectives into covering up a lucrative robbery scam, while L.A.P.D.'s Deputy Chief (Ving Rhames) campaigns to bring them all down. While adhering to familiar cop-thriller formula, director Ron Shelton (Bull Durham) escalates tension with forceful impact, drawing a climactic parallel between the King riots and the fallout from Russell's cynical behavior. It's a powerhouse combination, allowing Russell to find shades of complexity in a character who realizes, almost too late, that he's a devil in the hell of L.A. --Jeff Shannon
(38 votes)
2.
IN THEATRES: FEBRUARY 23, 2003
There aren't many cops left like Eldon Perry (Kurt Russell). A member of the Los Angeles Police Department's Special Investigations Squad (SIS), veteran Perry is no stranger to the violence of the streets and the tough decisions that come with the job. He rarely questions the orders given by his powerful boss, Jack Van Meter (Brendan Gleeson). When Van Meter's nephew, Bobby Keogh (Scott Speedman) joins SIS and becomes Perry's partner, the stakes are raised. Keogh, who idolizes both his uncle and Perry, is eager to prove himself. But the naïve rookie has no idea how deep the corruption in the department runs. Set during the racially charged days before the Rodney King verdict and the ensuing L.A. riots, DARK BLUE also looks at racism within the department through its focus on Assistant Chief Arthur Holland (Ving Rhames), who questions the SIS brotherhood and is determined to be the first black chief of the LAPD. Russell is a powerhouse as Perry, a man who has made some difficult decisions in the name of justice. Directed by Ron Shelton (BULL DURHAM, TIN CUP) and based on a story by James Ellroy, the film also stars Michael Michele, Lolita Davidovitch, and rapper Kurupt.
(37 votes)
3.
From the writer of Training Day comes this “terrific corrupt-cop drama” (Entertainment Weekly) set in the days leading up to the LA riots. Starring Kurt Russell (Escape From New York) and an acclaimed ensemble cast, this gritty police thriller “keeps you on the edge of your seat with white-knuckle suspense” (The New York Observer).
Adrenaline is high, tempers are hot, and racial tensions are boiling over. Against this explosive backdrop, LAPD detective Eldon Perry (Russell) tutors his rookie partner (Scott Speedman) in the realities of police intimidation and corruption as they investigate a high-profile homicide case. But as the body count rises – and the evidence just doesn't add up – Assistant Chief Arthur Holland (Ving Rhames) threatens to end Perry's brand of “justice”…if Perry's own demons don't destroy him first.
(36 votes)
4.
In America, the police are sworn to uphold the law and protect the innocent. But on the streets, it's everyone for themselves - and the streets are where police Eldon Perry (Kurt Russell) honed his craft.
Perry is a veteran cop in Los Angeles, one of the toughest cities in the world. A member of the LAPD's elite Special Investigations Squad, Perry is known for his tough street tactics, fiery temper, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to bring someone to justice. Perry plays fast and loose with the rules and goes over the line - until another cop vows to bring him down.
When the SIS is assigned a high-profile quadruple homicide, Perry is put on the case along with SIS rookie Bobby Keough (Scott Speedman). Investigating the murders alongside Perry, Keough soon learns the grim realities of police intimidation and corruption. Meanwhilte, Assistant Cheif Holland (Ving Rhames) is the only man in the department willing to stand up to the SIS and its powerful, dangerous boss, Jack Van Meter (Brendan Gleeson). The SIS is a tight brotherhood, and no one has ever dared to take them on - until now. While Perry and Keough are trying to solve the murder, Holland is trying to end Perry's brand of singlehanded "Justice."
Over the course of four days, the brutal murder and racially charged trial trigger an explosive chain of events that resonate throughout Los Angeles. While navigating through the tumultuous neighborhoods of South Central L.A., Perry and Keough must track down cold-blooded killers and also face their own demons, which prove to be more ruthless than the criminals they pursue.
(33 votes)
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