John McClane in the Guantlet
Added 2/7/2010
The Amazon synopsis does justice to the movie. An otherwise-routine plot lifted from "The Guantlet" instead turns into a great suspense flick. The casting was perfect. Mos Def annoyed the hell out of me for the first ten minutes but by the time the first guy gets shot, he had me hooked. Like all well-written suspense movies, the plot moves briskly and the characters are not dumber than the audience.
But if this were just a well-written and -directed cop suspense flick, it would get just four stars. What I find most appealing in the movie is its theme of redemption, and how that theme ties the two main characters together and to each other. Redemption does come at a cost, as true redemption must, and for Jack Mosley that cost is high, but not too high to not make it worthwhile.
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a man can tell a thousand lies
Added 1/21/2010
"16 Blocks" is one of Bruce Willis' greatest movies since "Die Hard." I just watched it recently and I enjoyed it completely. Bruce plays Jack Mosely, a hard on his lock NYPD detective who will tie one on at a drop of a hat. First of all, Bruce looks so different in this role. I barely recognized him. He gained weight and his hair was gray and he wore glasses and just looked generally disheveled and harried. Bruce played this role precisely because his character was so believable, yet he was also against type and did exactly the opposite of what one would expect at first. Mos Def was excellent as the prisoner gone good, Eddie Bunker. I really enjoy "16 Blocks" because unlike just about every other action movie (I've seen them all) this one really causes the viewer to think outside the box. It's not just a story of good verses evil. Instead, it's a complex and intricate yarn that goes way past the point of no return. Instead of using his trademark action-packed moves that made John McClane a household name, Bruce relies heavily on his dramatic skills to give his character a beating heart. I especially enjoyed the part when Jack and Eddie were hiding behind the wall as Jack talked to Frank Nugent (played exceptionally by David Morse). Because we really to see what made both of these men tick and at least this viewer, got a view of evil and a view of blatant corruption that rarely gets depicted in such stark honesty and realism. Anyone who likes Bruce should see this movie. Bruce Willis is a very underrated actor and IMHO probably the very best of my generation.
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A troubled NYPD officer is forced to take a happy, but down-on-his-luck witness 16 blocks from the police station to 100 Centre Street, although no one wants the duo to make it. This movie has it's twists, turns and "on the edge of your seat" moments. Willis, as always, gives a first class performance. The chemistry between him and Mos Def (who really is turning into a very good actor)is great. This is a really entertaining movie.
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ONE TENDS TO FORGET THAT WILLIS CAN ACT
Added 11/14/2009
With not much effort one can add footnotes to the script showing the most recent sources for a good deal of the action. That would be of interest to film historians, but for most of us, it is enough to know that Bruce Willis is not only given the opportunity to please us and build box office with some good action sequences, but , also, is given a chance to show us that he is, indeed, an actor of some quality when given the opportunity (or, insisting on the opportunity, I should think, given his box office clout). Mos Def and David Morse very ably play his garrulous prisoner and ex-partner. Not much else need be said in the light of the attention reviewer have paid to the film in the years since it was issued on DVD. I should think that fans of Willis and the other actor-actioneers will be much pleased by this offering.
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A little long, but good
Added 10/20/2009
This is a good story, but it's about a half hour longer than it needed to be. Bruce, David and Mos Def played their roles well.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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John McClane in the Guantlet
Added 2/7/2010
The Amazon synopsis does justice to the movie. An otherwise-routine plot lifted from "The Guantlet" instead turns into a great suspense flick. The casting was perfect. Mos Def annoyed the hell out of me for the first ten minutes but by the time the first guy gets shot, he had me hooked. Like all well-written suspense movies, the plot moves briskly and the characters are not dumber than the audience.
But if this were just a well-written and -directed cop suspense flick, it would get just four stars. What I find most appealing in the movie is its theme of redemption, and how that theme ties the two main characters together and to each other. Redemption does come at a cost, as true redemption must, and for Jack Mosley that cost is high, but not too high to not make it worthwhile.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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a man can tell a thousand lies
Added 1/21/2010
"16 Blocks" is one of Bruce Willis' greatest movies since "Die Hard." I just watched it recently and I enjoyed it completely. Bruce plays Jack Mosely, a hard on his lock NYPD detective who will tie one on at a drop of a hat. First of all, Bruce looks so different in this role. I barely recognized him. He gained weight and his hair was gray and he wore glasses and just looked generally disheveled and harried. Bruce played this role precisely because his character was so believable, yet he was also against type and did exactly the opposite of what one would expect at first. Mos Def was excellent as the prisoner gone good, Eddie Bunker. I really enjoy "16 Blocks" because unlike just about every other action movie (I've seen them all) this one really causes the viewer to think outside the box. It's not just a story of good verses evil. Instead, it's a complex and intricate yarn that goes way past the point of no return. Instead of using his trademark action-packed moves that made John McClane a household name, Bruce relies heavily on his dramatic skills to give his character a beating heart. I especially enjoyed the part when Jack and Eddie were hiding behind the wall as Jack talked to Frank Nugent (played exceptionally by David Morse). Because we really to see what made both of these men tick and at least this viewer, got a view of evil and a view of blatant corruption that rarely gets depicted in such stark honesty and realism. Anyone who likes Bruce should see this movie. Bruce Willis is a very underrated actor and IMHO probably the very best of my generation.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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A troubled NYPD officer is forced to take a happy, but down-on-his-luck witness 16 blocks from the police station to 100 Centre Street, although no one wants the duo to make it. This movie has it's twists, turns and "on the edge of your seat" moments. Willis, as always, gives a first class performance. The chemistry between him and Mos Def (who really is turning into a very good actor)is great. This is a really entertaining movie.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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