Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse. Spoilers will be included in this review.
21 Bridges is an action thriller from Director Brian Kirk and stars Chadwick Boseman, Taylor Kitsch, Sienna Miller, and J.K. Simmons. It follows an embattled NYPD detective who is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers after uncovering a massive and unexpected conspiracy.
Under The Lens: Producers and Characters
Producers: Much was made that this was the first picture from Avengers: Endgame producers the Russo Brothers and starred Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman in the lead role. The touch of the Russo Brothers is felt very strongly here, as the picture despite being a cop thriller has a superhero vibe to it. Boseman’s character is very much a Punisher style hero, and this is not a bad thing. He plays the role well and he has a strong moral center like any MCU hero. In the end, the superhero tint actually made this picture stand out a bit from the crowd. It is very unrealistic and seems to exist in a parallel earth to ours, a very black and white world, one that we may wish our own cops and city existed in.
Characters: 21 Bridges’ main strength is its characters, they are fairly well developed, and give us backstories for why our heroes and villains act the way they do. The two cop-killing villains are fleshed out and we feel for them in a way, Boseman’s Detective is also given a reason for his moral center, and it’s his past experiences that end up being why he takes down the main villain in the end. Being a mystery thriller at its heart, 21 Bridges may villain suffers, as we know little about him, and his reasons for committing his acts are somewhat cookiecutter and bland.
Highlights
The action scenes are fluid, fun, and well shot
The city of New York is very much a character in the movie and we see various locations that are interesting.
The picture developed its mystery well and kept one guessing as to who the real villain was.
Quotable Quotes
Andre Davis: We got twenty-one bridges in and out of Manhattan. Shut them down. Three rivers. Close them. Four tunnels. Block them. Stop every train and loop the subways. Then, we flood the island with blue.
Something to think about
How did you feel about the villains motivations? Do you think that he was justified in his actions?
Conclusion
Overall 21 Bridges is a well shot and enjoyable police thriller, its central mystery is delayed till the end of the 2nd act and its delay makes one keep second-guessing what was seen before. Its actors are dedicated and seem to be putting in their best effort, what drags the picture down is its 3rd act plot revelation. While the villain’s motivations make sense within the pictures universe, they are somewhat bland and drag down the otherwise decent mystery. 21 Bridges is a thrill a minute experience and one you will not regret watching.
