Director and screenwriter Gavin O'Connor makes yet another film about corruption within the American police force in "Pride and Glory." Like recent films such as "The Departed" and "American Gangster", this film questions our trust and hope in cops. However, O'Connor does not beat around the bush. "Pride and Glory" needlessly leaves the audience feeling sick and disconcerted about the men and women who are supposed to "protect and serve" citizens.
The film stars Academy Award-nominee Edward Norton as Raymond Tierney, a former NYPD detective who rejoins the force after the slaying of four police officers who served on his brother, Francis' (Noah Emmerich), team. Raymond comes from a family of cops that include his father, Francis Sr. (Jon Voight) and his brother-in-law, Jimmy Egan (Colin Farrell).
As Raymond investigates the police murders, he discovers his family (specifically Jimmy) has been involved in some "dirty" work including drug dealing, murder and torture. Raymond struggles with the betrayal of his loved ones as well as the decision to either turn in his family or protect them.
The film predictably has many twists and turns and the audience must sit still and pay attention in order to get the full effect of what is truly going on. This is probably hard to do as the movie clocks in at an unnecessary two hours and ten minutes.
There is a lot of great acting and many intense moments (one stand-out scene is when Raymond discovers what Jimmy has been up to), but the audience is given no pay-off in the end. When the credits roll, it is difficult not to feel physically ill and be haunted with the idea that, at the end of the day, life really does suck and most people are usually evil.
The acting, however, is close to superb. Norton - who never disappoints - is the most refreshing part of the movie. His conflicting emotions of love, distrust, hopelessness and disgust are palpable. He is the obligatory hero of the story; however, he is thankfully given realistic flaws including trouble with his soon-to-be ex-wife, a questionable past with the police department and a trusted information confidant who just so happens to be a crackhead. He is at his best during a scene where he has to question a little boy about a suspect.
Farrell is crazy-intense as a "bad cop" who is ruthless in his actions. Unfortunately, the audience is not given a reason for why Jimmy chose to become what he has become - we just have to accept it. Farrell gives the character a slight sense of remorse; specifically in a revolting scene in which Jimmy intimidates information out of a man by threatening to burn his new-born baby's face with a steaming iron.
People who can get past the usual cop movie formula and the depressing themes will enjoy the film for what it is - Good acting and in-your-face drama. But that is really all this film has to offer.
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