BLACK AND BLUE

US, 2019, 108 minutes, Colour.

Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Frank Grillo, Mike Colter, Reid Scott, Beau Knapp, Nafessa Williams, James Moses Black, Dineen Tyler.

Directed by Deon Taylor.

For audiences who enjoy police thrillers, this is of interest, action entertainment, the action taking place over a vigorous 24 hours.

There is a prologue with a rap song about the state of American cities played over a plane landing in the US, indicating someone returning. In this case it is an Afghan veteran, played by British actress Naomie Harris, notable as Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond films with Daniel Craig and Oscar nominated for Moonlighting). There is a filling out of her story throughout the film, coming from a neighbourhood of oppression in New Orleans, opting out, enlisting for Afghanistan, serving there, trained there, returning to take up a job in the local police force.

However, there is corruption in the police force, being cracked down on by the authorities. The corrupt police are led by Frank Grillo in yet another villainous role. His name is Malone. The corruption is widespread throughout the police, drug busts, the group keeping half of the financial proceeds and dividing them up.

Alicia, on night duty, witnesses the killing of the nephew of a drug lord, recording it all on her body cam. And she is shot at, wounded, but skilled at escaping. However, she enlists the help of Mouse, Tyrese Gibson, whom she had known in the past, and who runs a local supermarket. She glues her wound together, able to escape, but finally going to his apartment.

There are quite some complications with the action, the police wanting to get the body cam and destroy the evidence, a meeting with the drug lords, Malone explaining that it was Alicia who killed his nephew.

There is some tension in the action, Alicia holding her own, using her wits, and Mouse able to disguise himself as police and upload the evidence from the body cam.

While many praise Black and Blue as interesting and exciting police action, there are a number of critical comments, rather racist, criticising the film for stating that police were corrupt, especially white police.

The film is directed by Deon Taylor, veteran of many action films, including feature films, The Intruder and Fatale.

1. The title? Police thriller? Corrupt police? Heroism and principles?
2. The new audience sitting, the city, the neighbourhoods, poor neighbourhoods, police precincts, old warehouses, interiors? The streets, chases? The musical score?
3. The prologue, the song about the US, grim picture? The plane landing in New Orleans? Alicia, the gradual revelation of her story, in the neighbourhood, friendships, broken, her enlisting, service in Afghanistan, training and skills, return to the police? Her not being accepted on return?
4. Police work, Alicia and Kevin, rapport, going to the supermarket, meeting Mouse, meeting Missy and Jamal, her spurning Alicia, his going to the family function, her being allotted to Brown, seeing him in the company of Malone? The night’s work, going to the warehouse, told to stay, hearing the shots, approaching, seeing Malone kill Zero, Smitty shooting her, wounded, her escape?
5. The importance of the body cameras, Alicia filming the events, Malone and the others pursuing her for the body cam?
6. Alicia, using her Afghan training, eluding the pursuers, going to the supermarket, the encounter with Mouse, the past, his wariness, the threats to him, his decision to protect Alicia? The continued pursuit, her going to his apartment, talking, Jamal seeing her, Jamal and the phone image about her killing Zero? The discussions with Mouse, getting some rest?
7. Malone, the background of the drug deals, splitting the proceeds, the number of police in on the plot? Local government clamping down on corruption? The link with the dealers, with Zero, his uncle, the killing of Zero? The need to eliminate witnesses? His power over the rest of the men? Smitty as his henchmen?
8. Alicia, in the street, picked up by the police, her having the radio connection and hearing the truth? Ringing Kevin, his being in on the act? His explanations, change of heart, helping Mouse get through?
9. Alicia, the wound, gluing it together, her skills, escaping? Hiding the body cam? Being taken by the drug had, his wanting vengeance on, her explanations, the body cam, the tension, discovering the truth? Her getting away, giving the body cam to Mouse, his disguise as police, going to headquarters, uploading the material, the threat from the policeman with the gun, turning the tables, the police chief, her earlier discussions with Malone and the others, her issuing the arrest warrant?
10. Malone, Smitty, his fight with Alicia, his death? Out in the open, the crowd, Alicia taking charge, the snipers aiming at her? The fight? The onlookers photographing? The order coming through, Malone and his arrest?
11. The earlier scene of Alicia visiting her mother’s grave, the finale, the flowers, her gratitude towards Mouse?
12. Some American criticisms against the film showing corrupt police, corrupt white police and the African-American lead?