Kurt Russell -- whom I like, even in bad movies -- has never gotten much respect in Hollywood. Why he is considered B-list, while the monolithic Vin Diesel is at the top of the A-list, escapes me.
In this film, Russell is a revelation for those who don't already like his work and just plain fantastic for those who do.
His character, Eldon Perry, is a mad dog. He is ruthless in his methods and corrupt to the bone. He is not particularly likeable (although Russell is) and has a tendency to prefer bullets to discussion. His violence is legendary, even prompting a fellow officer to ask, "Jesus, how many is that now?"
Perry responds, "What does it matter?" It matters quite a bit to Assistant Chief of Police Holland (Ving Rhames in a near-cameo), who is investigating Perry's entire department on the grounds of corruption.
Oh, and all this takes place during the last five days of the Rodney King trial.
There is a smart story about race relations here, but for the most part, it's pushed aside for a traditional thriller. That's not necessarily a bad thing. The King affair creates a cloud of despair, but not one that overwhelms the film. While we hope that Perry can come to his senses and return to the light, we know that regardless of whether he does, the riots will still take place. Things start in hell and keep descending.
Director Ron Shelton ("Bull Durham," "Tin Cup") is not known for his gritty police examinations. He does know how to direct dialogue, and the scenes of Perry and partner Bobby Keough (a depressingly flat Scott Speedman) discussing the finer points of police brutality and corruption are far more tense then the car chases thrown in for the sake of tradition.
Cops take it pretty hard in this movie, and I'm not sure there was always enough evidence to back up the abuse. Despite the real-life backdrop, "Dark Blue" is fiction. Plain and simple.
And despite a few bumps along the way, it tells a good -- if dirty -- story.
Daniel McLellan lives in Olympia. He is a film correspondent for The Olympian.
Rated R (violence, nudity and brief sexuality). 116 minutes. Playing at Lacey 8 Cinemas.