Movie Info

RATING:

PG-13 for violence, intense sequences of action, and some strong language.

RELEASE:

Mar. 3, 2006

GENRE:

Thriller, Drama

STARRING:

David Zayas, David Sparrow, Bruce Willis, Dante 'Mos Def' Smith, David Morse

DIRECTOR:

Richard Donner

DISTRIBUTOR:

Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution

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MOVIE REVIEW

16 Blocks

By Justin Loudermilk
Assistant Editor, Movieguide Magazine

What's This?

CBN.com - 16 Blocks is a crime thriller based on the story of an aging, washed-out cop who faces a series of dangerous hindrances as he attempts to escort a witness from an NYPD police station to a courthouse.

Jack Mosley (played by Bruce Willis) is a slow-moving, weary-eyed New York police officer with a drinking problem and a cheerless, cynical demeanor. He begrudgingly accepts an assignment to transport jabbering criminal witness Eddie (played by Mos Def) to testify before a grand jury at a courthouse 16 blocks away in Lower Manhattan.

Although Mosley’s mission should be a routine 15-minute task, he soon discovers that several of his colleagues are opposed to the two reaching their destination, and are willing to use whatever force necessary to prevent them from making it to the courthouse. Among their armed opposition is Mosley’s ex-partner Frank (David Morse), who is the supervisor of one of the detectives Eddie is set to testify against. The trip, which soon spirals into a perilous game of hide and seek, not only challenges Mosely’s weathered skills as a cop, but also forces him to confront his own dusty skeletons dangling in the closet.

At the movie’s outset, it becomes quickly evident that Mosley is an unhappy individual tired of life. He limps around like a sad old, sluggish dog, with bags under his eyes and sweat beading from his brow, and he initially approaches his assignment as an unfortunate nuisance with which he must contend before returning to his whisky bottle. He responds to Eddie’s incessant talking by jibing, “Life’s too long, and you’re just making it longer.”

Eddie, by contrast, is an amusingly annoying, nasal-voiced blabber mouth who becomes increasingly endearing as the movie progresses. Despite having spent over half his life in prison, he remains eternally optimistic, toting around a scrapbook of recipes to remind himself of his dream to one day head his own bakery.

As the odd couple faces life-threatening circumstances, their interaction between sequences of running, hiding, and dodging gunshots is compelling. Eddie senses that Mosley is unhappy with his life, and urges him to improve his situation, but Mosley banters, “Days change, seasons change, but not people ... I’m not a good guy, Eddie.”

Eddie cites Chuck Berry and Barry White, who both served time in prison before becoming famous musicians, as a response to Mosley’s pessimism. While initially unconvinced, Mosley seems to transform as the movie transpires, protecting both himself and his unlikely friend, while fighting to triumph over his crooked co-workers.

With strong moral elements commending justice, compassion, and perseverance under difficult circumstances, 16 Blocks is an entertaining movie about redemption. On the other hand, media-wise viewers should be warned that the movie contains excessive foul language and moderate action violence.

Address Comments To:
Barry M. Meyer, Chairman/CEO
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522-0001
Phone: (818) 954-6000
Website: www.movies.warnerbros.com