PROTECT AND SERVE

US, 2019, 110 minutes, Colour.

Thomas Jane, Luke Kleintank, Josh Hopkins, David Krumholz, Bridget Moynihan, Scottie Thompson, Gregg Bello.

Directed by Joel Souza.

The original title for this police film is Crown Vic, after the cars used in LA, Lincoln Crown Victoria. Protect and Serve as a title for Australia. In the Web of Violence is the title for Germany. Bulletproof is the title for the UK.

While there is a great deal of action in the film, there is also a great deal of talk and discussion, especially about the role of the police, night patrols in the city, the variety of situations and characters that emerge, a lot of banter between the police, advice for the rookie by the experienced night patrol, the rookie reflecting on his family and his relationship with his police father who abandoned the family, with his pregnant wife.

The central character played by Thomas Jane, very effectively, says that his home is in his car, patrolling for almost quarter of a century. However, there have been hardships and setbacks in his life and he is very much concerned about finding a missing little girl. Luke Kleintank, who has appeared more in television series and television films than for the cinema, is the rookie, initially instructed by his partner, mocked by other police, forced into situations he was not anticipating, even challenges to his conscience.

There are quite a number of cameos throughout the film, the range of characters met throughout the night, especially Bridget Moynihan as a junkie and the issue of her abandoning her daughter. Very sinister is the presence of Josh Hopkins as a manic policeman, bravado, violence, attacking suspects, egged on by a differently sinister partner, David Krumholz.

In some ways, this is very documentary-like, the night in patrol by two LA cops. Ultimately, there is a very confronting sequence, the finding of the little girl, and the veteran shooting the perpetrator.

In many ways, though a heightened night, this is a much more realistic look at the life of ordinary police and the demands made on them professionally, continually in danger, and the repercussions for personal lives.

1. The variety of titles and their angles?
2. Los Angeles, one night, the Olympic area, the patrol cars, the officers on patrol, having to be alert, the variety of calls, the variety of situations, the dangers, guns, uncertainties?
3. The importance of dialogue, the discussions between Ray and Nick? Nick’s explanation of himself, motivations, training, in the country, the influence of his father and brothers, marrying, his wife expecting (and her continued phone calls and his exasperation), Ray taunting him about marriage fidelity, coming to the city, his training, his first night on patrol, his ambitions? Ray, 25 years experience, at home and his patrol car, his past mistakes? Instructing Nick, advice, repetitions?
4. Other members of the police, jokes and banter, especially at the expense of the rookie? The encounter with Jack and Stroke? Jack and his background, mania, shouting, insults, out of control, Stroke, small, giggly, encouraging Jack? The later encountering the Street, Nick threatening Jack, the guns, Ray and his intervention, Jack and his bashing of the prisoner, Stroke and his laughing, Ray taking charge? The repercussions of life on the beach?
5. The range of characters, the opening with the masked robbers, gunfire, the chase and their escape? The character who through a brick at the car? Claire, calling the police, high, sexually provocative, the husband arriving, her reaction to Nick, Ray searching, the confrontation and taking the husband to jail? The various chases, the characters in the back of the van?
6. The episode with Tracy, junkie, past relationship with Ray, the daughter, Floyd, the interview, stripping him in the street? The story of the girl? Ultimately, Ray taking off his badge, going to the house, getting the girl, the man and his defiance, Ray shooting him? The impact for Nick? The previous check on his conscience with Jack running over a suspect, beating him, Jack claiming that he was helping the police in their work?
7. The pause, having something to eat, talking, Nick learning, talking to his wife?
8. The end of the day, the audience sharing the night with the police and the patrol? The audience learning about police work, hazards, demands, effects?