TRIPLE 9

US, 2016, 115 minutes, Colour.
Casey Affleck, Chiwitel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie, Woody Harrelson, Aaron Paul, Kate Winslet, Gal Gadpt, Norman Reedus, Teresa Palmer, Michael Kenneth Williams, Clifton Collins Jr.
Directed by John Hillcoat.

This is a grim picture of an ugly America, a police story, International crime, investigation and police corruption, set in the city of Atlanta.

The film was the work of Australian director John Hillcoat who made an impact with the prison drama Ghosts of the Civil Dead in the 1980s, made a bigger impact with his 19th century Australian “Western”, The Proposition, both films working in collaboration with Cave. His two previous American films were The Road, the post-apocalyptic story by Cormac McCarthy? and then, Lawless, a powerful story of bootlegging in the 1930s.

There is very little gloss in this picture of Atlanta. The film shows a background of Russian Mafia types, with strong Jewish emphasis and Israeli connections, the deals, their brutality, the leader being put in prison but his little kingdom in Atlanta being ruled by his wife, a very hard-to-recognise Kate Winslet. She enters into the role of the Mafia matriarch with fierce zest. She commissions a group to stage a robbery to get back documents that will enable her husband to get out of jail. This leads to some strong action scenes.

The group is led by a former arms dealer played by Chiwitel Ejiofor – there is a link with the Russians because he has married the sister of the matriarch and has a son who is used to support for their hold over him. There is a friend, also a former arms dealer, a driver played by Norman Readers. And then there is his younger brother, Gabriel, played by Aaron Paul, a former policeman who shot someone during action and is now very nervy. The surprise is that the other two members of the gang are a homicide detective, played by Clifton Collins Jr, and an active detective played by Anthony Mackie.

The film shows the double lives, especially Mackie, who is assigned a new partner from another part of the city, a dedicated and tough officer, played by Casey Affleck. His uncle is a significant presence in the Atlanta police force, also a detective, played by a scene-stealing Woody Harrelson.

While the film gives some personal background to the characters, especially of Casey Affleck, his wife (Teresa Palmer) and his son, and the interactions with his uncle, most of the film concentrates on the corrupt police, the need for a second robbery for more documents.

This is where the title comes in, 999, the code for officer down – and the group decide that they will target Casey Affleck, shooting him by using a gang member whom he had humiliated, draw all police action to that site while the robbery is underway (another powerful action scene). And this is what happens – though not in the way that was anticipated, not at all.

The final part of the film is some detection of who was responsible, some deaths (well, quite a few deaths), and, probably and unfortunately, only a pause in grim activities in Atlanta.

1. A police thriller? Crime, police corruption? International crime? The title, the code for a policeman down, the setup for the plot?

2. Atlanta, the police precincts, world of crime, slums, the bars, offices, venues for the action? The musical score?

3. The international dimension, Russian Mafia, connection with Israel, the Jewish background on aspects? The gangster and his being in prison, links, issuing orders? His wife, her ruthlessness? Gratitude towards her sister, towards Michael and his son?

4. The corrupt group, Rodriguez and his cover in homicide, his control? Marcus Belmont, his cover as a detective? His motivations? Michael, his arms dealing background, ruthless, his Israeli wife, his son, communicating with him, the human touch? Russell, the mercenary, the driver, his observation posts? Gabriel, his past, police, the shooting, upset and unreliable? The meetings, the discussions, the plans? Motivations? Ruthlessness?

5. The robbery, the execution, Russell and his watching, his advice? The object of the robbery? Engineering the escape, the chase? Contacting the wife, her wanting a second job to be done?

6. The meetings, the cover, the plans, Michael and the decision that Chris be killed? The murder of Russell? Gabriel and his upset, talking to his woman friend? The decision to choose Chris as the target, the 999 plan, no mercy?

7. Chris in himself, his wife, his son, his uncle and the domestic sequences?

8. Jeff Allen in himself, tough, drinking, drugs, contacts, getting information?

9. Marcus, the meetings, Chris as his partner, the initial clashes, driving together, the critique? The gang and the confrontation in the street, Chris and the deputy, the angers of the gangs? His return? Getting information? The deputy leader, arrested, release, his participation in the setup?

10. Chris and Marcus at the club, Gabriel causing a nuisance, his fight with Marcus? Chris remembering?

11. The situation of the setup, the plan for the death of Chris, the gang deputy and his presence, the gun? The search of the building, Marcus being shot? The triple 9 call, the information to Jeff Allen, hurrying to the scene?

12. The robbery, the security guards, Michael and Rodriguez and their success, getting the information?

13. Chris, the investigation, Rodriguez, Jeff Allen suspicious, Chris going to the hospital, Rodriguez accompanying him out? The roof, the car?

14. Michael, and his wife, their holding his son, his gift? The confrontation, the gift, the bomb and his detonating it? Rodriguez and his killing Michael?

15. Jeff Allen, checking on Rodriguez, going to the hospital, in the car, his also being killed, his death?

16. A grim picture of police work, corrupt police, international criminals?