There's worst flicks out there. This is quite watchable

Rodrigo_Amaro

Gee, I'm gonna have to play the devil's advocate with this film, shamelessly called as being the worst movie ever or things close to such remark. If "Streets of Blood" is the worst thing people are seeing lately then it's better they stay away from movies. It's just another direct-to-video flick that is filled with poor moments and some average acting but it overcomes some of those obstacles and becomes something watchable, easy to digest. Good and that's it.

The plot goes to show that corruption is everywhere, no one is safe but some corrupt cops are better than the others. It follows Val Kilmer and Curtis Jackson (50 Cent) as two cops investigating the deaths of several criminals in the New Orleans post-Katrina, a place now devastated, trying to recover from its problems. They're not 100% honest but they're better than their strange partners (played by Brian Presley and Jose Pablo Cantillo), also cops, but with no discipline whatsoever, committing crimes on several occasions, and in one of those they've killed an undercover agent. Parallel to the deaths and the cops routine, there's the Internal Affairs investigation made by Sharon Stone's character trying to figure out if there's dirty cops in the police force when she's positive that there is.

Action scenes are okay, nothing so outstanding. The drama was very problematic with flashbacks that were badly presented, hard to put in order and they diluted the possible chance of suspense. However, the biggest problem is that it tries too hard to impress with its scenes (like the shooting in the drug dealer's house with a horny couple that couldn't stop with the sex while bullets were flying next to them; or when the cops are trying to get information from the hookers.) without making any relevant statement about New Orleans problems after the Hurricane Katrina. To the writers it's far more interesting to say that the crime got worse after the natural disaster but let's show this on a action generic picture than to make dramatic and real statements. But it's so much better than "Hard Luck" whose premise is very similar (in dealing with the tragedy in New Orleans) but that was a pretty bad movie with no chance of redemption. And Hollywood still hasn't made one decent movie about this issue, it's about time.

When it comes the acting department, well, Kilmer and Stone are not on their best form; Jackson goes okay so does Presley playing the redneck cop who always accidentally fires at somebody; Barry Shabaka Henley saved the day playing the only good cop in town; Michael Biehn already tired me out countless times while playing villains.

Really, this is not that bad as viewers tend to say. It offers some good entertainment, a distraction and some good scenes like the repeated exchange between Jackson and a lawyer one cursing each other. I've seen worst things than this film and I trust that some of you as well. 6/10

score 6/10

Rodrigo_Amaro 30 June 2012

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2635282/