DARK BLUE
US, 2002, 118 minutes, Colour.
Kurt Russell, Scott Speedman, Michael Michele, Brendan Gleeson, Ving Rhames, Kurupt, Dash Mihok, Jonathan Banks, Lolita Davidovich.
Directed by Ron Shelton.
Hard action, hard hitting and hard sounding, this is a very interesting film about police work and police corruption in Los Angeles. The setting is 1991. The film opens with footage of the Rodney King beatings by a group of police. The action of the film takes place during the trial of these police and their subsequently being found not guilty. This acquittal sparked off riots and looting as the African American population expressed anger at the verdict.
The story is by James Ellroy, author of another book about police corruption, LA Confidential, which was made into a very successful and Oscar-winning film. Dark Blue is even more gritty, focussing as it does on a staunch, 'redneck' officer played by Kurt Russell in one of his best performances. His grandfather was a plicman when Los Angeles was a frontier town. His father was a respected officer. He has tried to live up to his father's expectations but his views and his disgust at criminals have taken him into a dangerous vigilante path, especially under directions from his father's partner, a bent chief of police, played all to believably by Brendan Gleeson.
Things come to a head when his apprentice partner (Scott Speedman) is investigated for a fatal shooting during a surveillance. Ramrodly upright officer, Ving Rhames, who has ambitions to be the first African American police chief, is unrelenting in his pursuit of corruption, especially in the context of the King incident.
This makes for strong courtroom style drama as well as the portrayal of violence in the streets and the manipulation of evidence to frame known criminals and their cold-blooded execution. When it becomes too much for his partner and he himself becomes a target (as well as his wife leaving him), Russell has to reassess his life and values and make a decision with integrity.
Impressive direction from Ron Shelton, better known for his sports films including Bull Durham and The Tin Cup.
1. The writings of James Elroy? On Los Angeles? On the police from the 40s to the 90s? Police corruption?
2. The background of the Rodney King riots in the 1990s, race issues, the background of the Watts riots in 1966, danger in Los Angeles? The use of news footage? The tone, sense of realism, picture of the police?
3. The title, police uniforms, pride in the uniform? The opening, the cars, the chase, the police voices?
4. The special squads, Jack Van Meter? His role, accountability, his selection of Eldon and Bobby? The meetings with them, his hold over them, his orders? The informants? His hold over Darryl Orchard and Gary Sidwell? Using them for the robbery? His treatment of them? Standover tactics? Taking the money?
5. The inquiry, Bobby and his role in the shooting, young, presentable, the members of the panel, the attitudes of sympathy towards him, especially by James Barcomb? The stance of Arthur Holland, hostile? The disagreement in the verdict, the white men congratulating Bobby, the cover-up? Internal Affairs? Eldon, his intervention, the news of his promotion, the celebration with Jack Van Meter? The truth?
6. The robbery, the attack on Kim’s shop, the assistant and his death, Sidwell and Orchard, their callous behaviour, their chatter, black and white, the killing of the shoppers, the robbery, the safe, the bystander and his being wounded, their reporting to Jack Van Meter?
7. The character of Eldon, his father and grandfather as policemen, the LA frontier, his reminiscences about them and what they taught him? The memory of Watts and the riots? The attitudes passed on? His relationship with Sally, her drinking, watching the TV, his meal to be heated up, the loss of love? His son? Sally’s decision to leave, the packing of the boxes, the men transporting them? The accusations? Eldon deciding to leave? Sally and the son coming to the medal ceremony, her love for him, his statement that he would not pass on his father’s and grandfather’s attitude towards his son? Sally and her phoning the lawyer to help Eldon?
8. Bobby, his affair with Beth? The anonymity? The discovery of the truth, spying on each other? Beth’s relationship to Holland, the past, its being brought up, Holland as a strong character, his relationship with his wife, the possibility of divorce, her saying she would support him? His going to the church, his fervent speech, his ambitions, the community supporting him? His being upset, Bobby and Beth and the visit, the effect on his wife? Holland listening to the truth, his decisiveness?
9. Eldon, his suspicions, yet following Jack’s orders, the stakeout on the alternate criminals that Jack indicated instead of Orchard and Sidwell? His argument with the attorney about signing the search warrant? His going to the judge, the judge’s drinking? The build-up to the raid, Bobby and the use of force, Eldon pressurising him to shoot, the effect? Bobby and his dismay at killing someone – and his decision to inform Beth?
10. The medal ceremony, Eldon preparing, Jack and his contacting his informants, that they stake out Eldon and kill him? Eldon and his going to their apartment? Bobby and Beth also going? The counterpoint? The shooting, Bobby’s death? The arrest?
11. The speeches, the praise of the police, the background of the riots and loss of control by the police in Los Angeles? Eldon’s arrival, his long speech, the various reactions, Jack and his trying to smooth things over, the authorities? Eldon and his telling the truth, for the benefit of his son and wife? The arrest? Eldon and the media, his previous meeting with the reporter and his swearing at him, the reporter now saying he would publicise Eldon’s speech exactly?
12. Los Angeles on fire, Eldon being freed, the story of a man who had to come to terms with his conscience? Elroy’s insights into the corruption in the Los Angeles police?
