Street Kings

NEW YORK (CNS) -- A corrupt Los Angeles police detective investigates his ex-partner's death in the bleak and gritty police drama "Street Kings" (Fox Searchlight/Regency).

As one of several evidence-planting rogue cops, Ludlow (Keanu Reeves) has always been protected by the group's ringleader, Capt. Wander (Forest Whitaker). But when reformed colleague Washington (Terry Crews) informs on Ludlow to Internal Affairs officer Capt. Biggs (Hugh Laurie), Ludlow is determined to intimidate his former friend into silence.

Ignoring Wander's injunction to stay away from Washington, hotheaded Ludlow trails him to a convenience store. On his way in, he notices two heavily armed gang members pull into the parking lot. Realizing they're out to rob the store, he tries to warn Washington that he's in mortal danger, but it's too late.

As Ludlow takes cover, Washington is cut down by a barrage of bullets, at least one of which comes from Ludlow's gun. (Whether Ludlow was aiming at Washington or past him at the robbers is never made clear.)

Once the resulting investigation, led by rookie detective Diskant (Chris Evans), gets under way, it becomes apparent that the only way for Ludlow to avoid being implicated is for the killers to go free. Unsatisfied with this outcome, Ludlow gradually convinces the action-hungry Diskant to help him track the perpetrators down and murder them in retribution.

The two embark on a twisted trail of evidence with torture-driven interrogations, shallow graves and bloody gunfights along the way.

Lead screenwriter James Ellroy's adaptation of his own novel, directed by David Ayer, has a convoluted plot and conflicted morals, at times seeming to justify its hero's brutal shortcuts, at others offering him as a candidate for redemption.

The film contains gory murders, torture and beatings, brief rear nudity, relentless rough and crude and some crass language, seven uses of profanity, and rape and prostitution references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

---

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops