21 Bridges
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Sienna Miller. J.K. Simmons, Stephan James, Taylor Kitsch, Keith David, Alexander Siddig
Directed by: Brian Kirk
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
2019

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Two detectives (Chadwick Boseman, Sienna Miller) launch a manhunt in Manhattan for two cop killers (Taylor Kitsch, Stephan James).

Review:

Tim: I have to say, I'm quite disappointed with 21 Bridges. It's a film that had a lot going for it, had many of the right pieces in place. However, it always feels like it falls below where it should. It's a film that squanders its potential and ultimately becomes a generic, forgettable movie. I was a little surprised how harsh I was with this movie, but it's out of frustration of what it should have been.

Brian Kirk made his feature film directorial debut here. I've seen his word on "Dexter" and more notably, "Game of Thrones", but he may need to stick to the small screen. This movie feels strangely uncinematic. The elements are all here, but he isn't able to weave them together in any kind of compelling manner. The film often feels "color by numbers". So much of what happens is telegraphed, while other aspects of the film feel unexplored. I continually felt a desire to like the movie but struggling mightily to do so. The script had some flashes of intelligence, but ultimately fails this test. That's why this movie will be so unmemorable.

I really, really like Chadwick Boseman and I was so excited to see him in this role. I felt a bit letdown that the movie around him wasn't better. You really can't fault his performance- he delivers a strong one. That aspect of the film was the strongest We're introduced to his character at the beginning of the film and we immediately learn he's a trigger happy detective (side note, this aspect of the film feels very different watching it in August 2020 with the nationwide protests against unlawful murders by police, as opposed to 2019 when the film was first released). You kind of expect the film to be about this shoot-first cop getting the chance to shoot a lot of people, but it takes a very different approach. Boseman's character's development is one of the most interesting aspects of the film. It often feels too on-the-nose, but it was mostly effective. I truly did enjoy Boseman here.

In almost every review of a Sienna Miller film I've done, I criticize her. I'm a little tired of doing it. She was fine here. She didn't do much to impress me, but she was somewhat believable as a cop. It's not a great performance, but it's a serviceable one. I really enjoyed seeing Taylor Kitsch in this supporting role. I hope Hollywood has moved on from trying to force him into a protagonist role. He's not a leading man. He is much more effective in a supporting role and he works quite well here. I always love seeing J.K. Simmons, but I was disappointed he didn't get more to do. If you're going to cast Simmons, you have to leverage his talent more. This role felt like one he's done a hundred times before. He makes the movie better, but you wish he had something compelling to do. I liked Stephan James, he gave a strong supporting performance. I was glad to see Keith David, but disappointed he didn't have more to do.

It felt like there were so many things in this film that could have been more effective. Even the title, 21 Bridges, comes from a throwaway line in the movie. They are going to close Manhattan, which means blocking the twenty-one bridges leading out of the city. That seems so cool, but it's never really as big of a deal as the film seems to think it is. The movie never focuses on this aspect after mentioning it. The movie should have had a better title, or I suppose, make the movie more about closing off the city. As is, the story exists in the middle and it leads to a lackluster result.

Even now, I continually am asking myself if this was actually decent and I'm being too hard. I want to like the movie because I liked the cast and Brian Kirk did solid work on "Game of Thrones". I like cop movies like this. However, I didn't like this one. It was okay, but it squandered the talent it had amassed. 21 Bridges is a movie I won't remember much about a few months from now, and that's not good enough.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6



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