Customer Rating:  
Summary: Another Movie that Tries to be Something Special...
Comment: This film was BS. When I first saw the trailers during it's theatrical release, I thought that it looked empty and the name did not do anything for me either. After watching it, I was correct again!
This is one of those poorly written BS productions that just throws you into the middle of a "story" and the "actors" have a lot of emotion, but it all adds up to nothing. There was no back story, no setup no anything. The producers just got two stars and put out a film hoping for a quick money grab.
This is no action-packed, no good story, no good drama, the death scenes are silly and Forest Whittaker's accent does not fit a professional police Captain.
Add useless use of the "N" word by various peoples and the unnecessary racial language (calling Reeves and others "white boy" when I suppose this is just some white reassurance for Reeves who is half Asian) with this fake rendition of the "hood," makes this film a phony. They put rappers in here and even Cedric the Entertainer in here to at least make it seem cool, but it is poorly written and unbelievable.
If this did not appeal to you form looking at it, trust your sense and leave it alone!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Forget what you've probably read
Comment: I realize the irony. I almost caught this in the theater, but after constant bashing from most critics, I skipped it. Upon DVD review, I realized my mistake. This is one of the best action/dramas I've seen all year.
This movie portrays the cesspool of LA, from the criminal AND the law enforcement side, and asks the question whether the ends justify the means, which we learn pretty quickly in DO NOT. All the acting is top notch, even Keanu Reeves, who usually has the acting chops of a tree. Here, he actually plays a convincing tortured bad-cop who has done whatever it takes for far too long.
There arent many likeable characters in this movie (actually, there arent any), but its quite a ride and worth your time.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Vigilante cop to the rescue?
Comment: This is a pretty good story if you can get into the idea that a certain amount of evil needs to be done to preserve the good in a society full of evil.
Reeves plays a fairly convincing reluctant anti hero, and the plot is fast paced if a bit predictable. Someone has to stop the bad guys and Reeves is that guy. Kind of like Jack Nicholson in "A few good Men" Reeves does the work that lets citizens sleep at night, because they don't know what has to be done.
If you are in the mood for a modern "Cowboy Justice" movie, "Street Kings" should do you just fine!
4*
Customer Rating:
Summary: Everything about this movie is so over-exaggerating that it's unbelievable.
Comment: Everything about this movie is so over-exaggerating that it's unbelievable. For example in the first scene when Keanu Reeves, as an udercover detective tried to sell guns to Korean gang members. He talked to them in a provoking manner. That's not true in reality. He's supposed to make them to trust him not to hate him in the meeting.
Another thing is he killed all the dirty cops around him, I mean everybody. That won't happen in real life.
The action is non-stop but that does not save the film.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Give Back the Gun
Comment: "Street Kings" is a gritty tale about police corruption. David Ayer who wrote the screenplay for "S.W.A.T." and contributed to the script of "Training Day" directs. Keanu Reeves shifts from a romantic lead in The Lake House (Widescreen Edition) to this action-packed character-based drama. Reeves has the distinction of being nominated six times for Worst Actor awards at the Razzies without ever winning [or should I say "losing"]! As Tom Ludlow, we see standard Reeves, close to his personality, intense, but interesting to watch. His boss is played by Forest Whitaker who assumes a less than likable role, similar to the award winning portrayal of Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland (Widescreen Edition). Hugh Laurie from TV's "House" plays internal affairs' Capt. Biggs. Laurie plays well in the supporting role, neither stealing the limelight nor allowing his scenes to go unnoticed. The ending reversal where he hands Ludlow back his gun is effective. Chris Evans from "The Fantastic Four" comes to this realistic drama and holds his own with Reeves as Detective Diskant. His death scene may be one of his best moments on film. Cedric the Entertainer plays Scribble who drives a vintage convertible & makes connections for Ludlow. Common who was also in "Wanted" plays the trigger-happy Coates with nervous abandon. John Corbett -- who I frequently confuse with Ben Affleck for some reason -- does a good job as Detective Dante Demille who winds up with a shank through his lip while driving. Jay Mohr from TV's "Ghost Whisperer" and who I also recently saw in Even Money does a journeyman's job as Sergeant Mike Clady. He is particularly effective as he assaults Linda Washington, a police widow, played by Naomi Harris who was in Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End (Widescreen Edition). Ludlow seems to keep getting shot or scraped and needs nursing from Grace Garcia, well played by Martha Higareda who was in Volver. "Street Kings" is a well done gritty police drama. It is shot starkly by Ayer, but moves briskly. While it is a story that has similar genre films to which it may be compared, it is a decent story well played. Enjoy!
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