21 Bridges

“21 Bridges follows an embattled NYPD detective (Chadwick Boseman) who is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers after uncovering a massive and unexpected conspiracy. As the search intensifies, extreme measures are taken to prevent the killers from escaping Manhattan as the authorities close all 21 BRIDGES to prevent any entry or exit from the iconic island.”

Chadwick Boseman follows up his role as Black Panther with something a bit more dramatic, showing the range he has as an actor to take on any type of genre, playing Detective Andre Davis, a hard-working police officer dedicated to justice, following in the footsteps of his father who died when Davis was very young. Nineteen years later we see the type of man he’s become, taking care of his elderly mother, confident in his abilities and actions as a police officer. But, when a pair of hired thugs walk into more than they bargained for resulting in several dead cops, Davis is assigned to the case, given only several hours to catch the killers before they have to re-open Manhattan for public access. In the course of the night, things aren’t what they seem, and some cops have an ulterior motive for catching these killers.

21 Bridges was unlike anything I expected. Put the blame on poor marketing, but the resulting film really highlighted a lot of the best qualities in storytelling, with compelling, strong characters, an in-depth story with multiple layers, and a setting that has an important role to play. What I found most enjoyable about the film by far was the characters and how well they were portrayed by their respective actors. Chadwick Boseman certainly has a commanding presence, playing the morally just and unimpeachable detective Davis very well. Although this type of character archetype is quite common in these types of stories, the straight and narrow outside cop in a sea of bad ones, it isn’t quite that simple in this film. Davis loves the job, has loyalty to the force and his fellow officers, and more than once gives people the benefit of the doubt, but nonetheless seeks justice for those who have done wrong. Sienna Miller’s Frankie Burnes adds another element to the mix as she’s assigned to work with Davis on the case. You can’t quite get a read on her character at the beginning, part of the mystery that leaves you guessing until the very end with her. J.K. Simmons as Captain McKenna was also one of the more enjoyable parts of the film, as he perfectly plays the emboldened authority figure who cares more about the safety of his men and bringing justice to those that were killed, no matter what form. I also really enjoyed the hired thugs, Ray (Taylor Kitsch) and Michael (Stephan James). These two had a very interesting dynamic between one another, with one being much more heartless than the other, despite their actions, thrusting them into a situation they both did not want to be in. These two have more depth than some of the main characters and it is nice to see such care taken with them. In a sense, they are also victims of a greater antagonist, so you start to care what happens to them, especially Michael, who really seems to be a good person at heart.

Right or wrong, good or bad, 21 Bridges doesn’t distinguish these lines. Davis knows some of these cops that were killed, who may be into something bad, and feels that loyalty toward them. The antagonist’s reasoning behind everything is for a noble reason, but can the ends justify the means? These blurred lines is what sets this film apart from others of the same type, making it more relatable and more real.

The story of 21 Bridges is woven so flawlessly that even through there are multiple layers to it, a lot of time taken with the B-story of Ray and Michael, things are connected so well that you have no trouble navigating its complexities. At its core, it’s a mystery story as Davis has to discover the evidence and piece together all the clues before he, and us, figure out exactly what is going on. The story itself isn’t anything groundbreaking, and it honestly is pretty predictable who the orchestrator of all of this is and who is involved, but the journey getting to that point and the resulting confrontation is enthralling and will keep you entertained.

Video

21 Bridge is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 2.39:1. The picture looks great, especially for the fact that it takes place entirely at night. The tone of the film and gritty nature of the underbelly of New York give the film a very unique look: muted and dark colors contrasted against bright artificial lighting. The picture is very detailed, crisp and clear with no defects noticed. The film is also beautifully shot, highlighting New York in some pretty interesting ways.

Audio

The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This track sounds great as well, with a great mix of dialogue and action sequences. Levels sound good, with the surrounds providing some great atmospheric effects, utilized heavily in the shoot-out sequences, also providing some great range for the soundtrack which fits the tone of the film perfectly. Dialogue is clear and concise from the center channel.

Special Features

There aren’t many extras on this set, but for those wanting to learn more about the film will be satisfied with the commentary. You’re also going to see:

• Deleted Scenes
• Trailers
• Feature Commentary with Director Brian Kirk and Editor Tim Murrell

21 Bridges didn’t get a lot of attention, and admittedly isn’t anything new, but the care they take with the characters and story to make a more relatable and real mystery put this film over the top for me. Going in and expecting little versus what I brought away, for me, is well worth the time to check out 21 Bridges.