BROOKLYN’S FINEST

US, 2009, 140 minutes, Colour.
Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Will Patton, Lily Taylor, Brian F. O’ Byrne, Shannon Kane, Ellen Barkin.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua.

Brooklyn’s Finest is a very interesting police story set in New York, specifically in Brooklyn. While much of this material has been seen in many films, it is particularly well done in this instance, from the writing by Michael C. Martin, whose first script it was and who worked on it after observing police. The film was directed by Antoine Fuqua, who traced some of the difficulties in policing in his effective film, Training Day.

The structure of the film is to focus on three different policemen and their crises and gradually to bring them together at the finale – with some tragic results. The film opens with a confrontation between one of the police, played by Ethan Hawke, with a dealer and criminal and his killing him and taking his money to help his family.

The film focuses on the ordinary policeman, the possibilities of corruption and violence, yet his love for his family and his Catholic faith. Richard Gere portrays a burnt-out policeman, trying to be a man of integrity but finding it very difficult, especially with his fellow policemen. He is also involved with a friend who is a prostitute. Don Cheadle portrays an investigator, trying to come to terms with the whole range of policing in Brooklyn. He also has been working undercover, deep undercover, and this has an effect on him and his family. It also affects his relationship with the gangster to whom he had come close. He is played by Wesley Snipes. Ellen Barkin has a strong role as a tougher-than-tough district attorney and the supporting cast includes Will Patton as a policeman, Vincent D'Onofrio and Brian F. O’ Byrne as gangsters.

The film explores the pressures on police life, on individuals, on the structures and the hierarchy, on the relentless pressures from the criminal world.

While the Richard Gere story is familiar, Gere, such a durable presence on screen, makes it convincing. Don Cheadle’s story is a desperate one, making one question why anybody would volunteer to work undercover. The Ethan Hawke story offers the pathos of an ordinary man, genuinely wanting to help his family but overwhelmed by pressures and financial difficulties.

1.The popularity of American police films? The quality of this contribution? New York, Brooklyn, heroes, ordinary police, corrupt?

2.The streets of Brooklyn, the precincts, the Projects, drug houses, clubs, homes? The dark atmosphere? Musical score?

3.The title, real, ironic, cynical?

4.Issues of right and wrong, criminal behaviour, conscience, manipulation, confession? The religious dimension, the statues and holy cards? The prayers?

5.The three stories, three different aspects of the police: the ordinary, the undercover, the police in crisis?

6.Eddie’s story and Richard Gere’s performance? Waking, drinking, shooting in the mouth, alone, his wife gone, seven days to pension, twenty-two years of service, weary, not wanting to disturb anything, make his mark? Being mocked for drinking? The new job, taking the rookies, with Panton, the ex-marine, earnest, his going out to stop the quarrel and Eddie ordering him back into the car, his getting a transfer, the hostile look, the notice that he had been shot? Eddie as a role model, not? The young Eddie, obedient, in the store, the young man shouting at the old man, Eddie trying to make peace, going out to check the ID, leaving the rookie in the shop, the fight and shouting, pulling his gun, the shooting? The investigation by Internal Affairs, Eddie claiming all responsibility, defying the board? Handing in his badge and gun, the severance? His relationship with the prostitute, her friendship, going early, seeing her at work, waiting, talking with her, the gift of the watch? Her abandoning him? Taking his gun, putting in the bullets? Contemplating suicide? Seeing the missing girl, following the van, going to the rescue, the vigorous fight, the heroism, the final image? Some hope?

7.Sal’s story and Ethan Hawk? The opening, listening to the criminal’s story in the car, issues of right and wrong, the law, shooting him, taking the money, hiding it at home, the blood? Greeting his children, his pregnant wife, the issue of mould and her asthma, wanting to move house, the issue of the deposit for the new house, the continued phone calls, putting the owner off? Going to the daily briefings, his buddies, playing cards? The fight, the issue of race? His not having enough money, going on the job, the raid? The temptation with the money, his friend intervening, his shooting the assailant dead? The proposed medal? Going to the hospital, concern, his wife’s phone calls? His friend confronting him in the street, his argument about being happy with what he had? Sal shooting the tyre, going into the house, shooting the drug dealers, finding all the money, taking it, being shot? His death, pathos?

8.Clarence’s story: Don Cheadle’s performance? The difficulties of the undercover police, his different identity, Tango? With the various gang members, participating in the violence, the driving, the confrontations? His friendship with Kaz? Sharing prison with him, the bond, Kaz saving his life? Going to the clubs, the members of the gang, giving advice to Kaz, saving the boy from execution? His visits to Bill at the restaurant, the control? Discussions of his promotion, his being tired of undercover, his wife divorcing him, wanting out? The special agent and her toughness, the set-up, plan to cover for the dead student being shot by the police, the media? The plan for the sale of the drug empire, going to the club, the discussions? Advising Kaz to leave, take the money and go, suddenly being shot? The agent and her anger? Going home, his wealthy house, getting his badge, his gun, confronting the gangs, shooting them? The discussions with Red in the street, shooting him? The policeman shooting him and not realising who he was?

9.Bill, the man in control, promises, demands? The agent and her hardness, wanting cover for the student killed, the media, promotions, her harsh and cynical behaviour?

10.The ordinary police, Sal and his friends, his close friend, the issues, discussions, his being married to a black woman, wanting children, his advice to Sal to be satisfied? His horror at having killed the policeman?

11.The confession sequence, the role of the priest, Sal not wanting God’s pardon but his help?

12.The prostitute, her life, friendship with Eddie, her clients, the police? The gift of the watch, urging him to go?

13.The missing girl, Eddie glimpsing her, seeing her again, recognising her, following in the car, her being abused with the other women in the club, his intervening, the fight, the deaths?

14.Kaz, criminal, drug lord, friendship with Tango, audience sympathy or not?

15.The overall impact of the film and this portrait of police, the hardships, the burnout, the challenges to conscience?