Title: Great performances, dumb ending
Product review: Because of the poor reviews this movie received from critics, I wasn't expecting much, but I rented it anyway because I'm a big Edward Norton fan, and the previews looked interesting. While the corrupt cop premise is nothing new, the film is surprisingly well-made and engaging, with strong performances by Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Noah Emmerich, and Jon Voight. My only two problems with the film are the over-the-top violence (I know there are bad cops, but are they *that* sadistic?) and the lazy ending, which is a deus ex machina of sorts. Rather than have the good guys take down the bad guys, they're ultimately brought down by a series of contrived circumstances. Even a cliche stand-off would have been better than that.Bottom line: Despite a lack of originality and a couple other flaws, this is a well-acted cop drama.Richard Yee, author of Deliveries: A Collection
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