Haiku Review: Fruitvale Station (2013)

Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Octavia Spencer, Kevin Durand & Chad Michael Murray
Written & directed by Ryan Coogler

Based on a true story, this film follows the last day in the life of Oscar Grant, a young African-American who, in 2008, was shot in the back by a white police officer while being detained in handcuffs at the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland, California.


It’s the racist cops
in America that keep
this cesspool classy.

Grade: B+


c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
Fruitvale Station is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2334649/

Haiku Review: The Heat (2013)

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Demián Bichir, Marlon Wayans, Michael Rapaport & Jane Curtin
Written by Katie Dippold
Directed by Paul Feig

An uptight FBI agent and a crude Boston cop team up to stop a high-level drug dealer.


This is what Lethal
Weapon looks like now that Mel
Gibson’s gone crazy.

Grade: B


c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Heat is playing now in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404463/?ref_=hm_cht_t3

Haiku Review: The Place Beyond the Pines (2013)

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes, Ben Mendelsohn, Bradley Cooper, Rose Byrne, Bruce Greenwood & Ray Liotta
Written by Derek Cianfrance, Ben Coccio & Darius Marder
Directed by Derek Cianfrance

When the lives of a motorcycle stunt rider and a rookie cop collide, their children suffer the devastating effects.


The film opens on
Gosling’s abs and then just goes
downhill from then on.

Grade: B-


c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Place Beyond the Pines is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1817273/?ref_=sr_1

Haiku Review: End of Watch (2012)

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena, Anna Kendrick, Natalie Martinez & America Ferrera
Written and directed by David Ayer

Two Los Angeles police officers find themselves in danger when they stumble upon a violent drug cartel.


I don’t remember
any cops on Cops looking
like Jake Gyllenhaal.

Grade: B+


c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
End of Watch is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1855199/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

(Blu) Haiku Review: Dredd (2012)

Starring: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Wood Harris & Lena Headey
Screenplay by Alex Garland
Directed by Pete Travis

In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, two law enforcement officers, known as “Judges,” must survive being trapped in a 200-story apartment slum where they are hunted by a ruthless drug kingpin and her well-armed minions.


It doesn’t co-star
Rob Schneider, thus instantly
better than Stallone’s.

Grade: B


c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
Dredd is available on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/8/13.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343727/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

(Blu) Haiku Review: Premium Rush (2012)

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Shannon & Dania Ramirez
Written by David Koepp & John Kamps
Directed by David Koepp

A bike messenger finds himself chased across Manhattan by a crooked cop who’s looking to steal his valuable delivery.


You’ll have to settle
for a perfectly above
average rush, thanks.

Grade: B-


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Premium Rush is available on Blu-ray and DVD tomorrow.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1547234/

(Blu) Haiku Review: The Raid: Redemption (2012)

Starring: Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Donny Alamsyah, Yayan Ruhian & Pierre Gruno
Written and directed by Gareth Evans

When an elite SWAT team raids an apartment building run by a vicious drug lord, they find themselves trapped and under siege by the gangster’s well armed bodyguards and tenants.


Plot dies a gory
death – but at least it’s a cool,
martial art-y death.

Grade: B


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Raid: Redemption is available on Blu-ray and DVD tomorrow.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1899353/

Haiku Review: Scenes of a Crime (2012)

Directed by Grover Babcock & Blue Hadaegh

A documentary that profiles the case of an African-American man who, after over 10 hours of police interrogation, was manipulated into confessing to the murder of his infant son and is currently serving a 25 year sentence, despite the fact that evidence revealed the child had died of natural causes.


Guess who doesn’t like
to admit when they’re wrong? The
U.S. court system!

Grade: B


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Scenes of a Crime has not yet been released.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1906456/
TCFF 12-14

Haiku Review: Compliance (2012)

Starring: Ann Dowd, Dreama Walker & Pat Healy
Written and directed by Craig Zobel

Based on the true story of a 19-year-old fast food employee who was humiliated and horrifically violated by her manager and other people who were all acting under the orders of a man on the phone who claimed to be a police officer.


‘Cause working fast food
isn’t degrading enough.
Disturbing but true.

Grade: A


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Compliance opens in select cities on 8/17/12.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1971352/
TCFF 12-11

(Blu) Haiku Review: 21 Jump Street (2012)

Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle & Ice Cube
Screenplay by Michael Bacall
Directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller

Two rookie cops are sent undercover to stop a drug ring at the high school where they were once adversaries.


The Street‘s been repaved
and despite a few bumps, it
makes for a good ride.

Grade: B+


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
21 Jump Street is available on Blu-ray and DVD on 6/26/12.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1232829/