One of the films outstanding features is the all-star cast that provides riveting performances that keep audiences drawn into the story. Renowned actors such as Wesley Snipes, Richard Gere, Lili Taylor, Jesse Williams, Ethan Hawke, Ellen Barkin, Don Cheadle and more take viewers through the hardships and problems faced by the men and women of the NYPD on a daily basis. The story reveals the personal and professional problems of three officers who must do almost anything to survive in this precinct.
Although the movie is primarily based in Brooklyn, filming was also completed throughout the New York area including Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn itself. Through the eyes of the three principal police officers, the worst and best an urban city has to offer is presented and interwoven with complications in their daily lives which often influence decisions. The action and intrigue begin in the opening scene where a thug is shot and robbed which conversing in a car with another man. We later find out that the shooter was himself a cop.
The complexities of personal lives are revealed throughout the movie which helps viewers understand how Brooklyn's finest often walk a very thin line between right and wrong. Whether desperate for money, close to retirement, or tired of working undercover, the decisions they make are ultimately affected by the difficulties faced in their personal lives. The story climaxes when the three key Officers, who have developed their characters while on extremely different career paths, end up in the same, deadly setting at the same time.
The writer grew up in this area and based much of the story on personal experience. As such, the story line has that quality of helping the viewer grasp the reality of the situation. With a modest budget, the importance of sharing the story with a mass audience was felt by many of the key actors, who took significant pay cuts in order to see the production of the film materialize.
It was first viewed at the Sundance 2009 Film Festival as well as in September of the same year at the Venice Film Festival. It was here that it was picked up for distribution, but financial problems with the company delayed the release. It was only after it was acquired by Overture Films for $3 million dollars did it finally hit the big screen and what an acquisition it was. The critics found it predictable, but mass audiences seemed to disagree due to excellence in acting by the cast.
Despite the reviews, in March 2010 the film opened in the #2 position grossing over $13 million dollars. To date that has increased to over $27 million in the US with an additional $34 million earned in the international market ranking it at #11 in the "Dirty Copy" movie field which covers all movies from 1973 to the present.
Brookylns Finest is currently #1 in DVD sales which indicates that the mass audience is much better than predicted. It is rated R for nudity, language, sexuality, drug content, and violence and runs a little over two hours. For those who love to live life on the streets through film, it is definitely one that should be viewed.
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