16 Blocks
1 witness... 118 minutes...
Jack Mosley (Bruce Willis), a broken down NY detective, is assigned to escort a petty criminal (Mos Def) from the precinct to the courthouse. The seemingly simple 16 block journey becomes a test of character for them when Jack’s ex-partners attempt to stop them. It's the gripping story of how two men change each other during a tense 118-minute struggle between life and death.
Member Reviews
underrated - basilbenz
I wasn't entirely sure this movie would stick out from the rest but I chose to go since I had nothing else to do. Hell am I glad I was bored. 16 Blocks is a wonderful thrill ride with lots of action/suspense and mild comedy. Any Bruce Willis fan would love this like they did Hostage. Willis plays Jack Mosley, a drunk/hungover cop that seems to have lost his touch. He gets all the scrap jobs that no one wants and one of these jobs brings him straight to Mos Def who plays Eddie, a very hard to understand, very talkative guy who has apparently witnessed something and is due to testify at 10 sharp. It's about 2 hours until he has to be at the court house which is 16 blocks away and a hell of a lot of cops standing in the middle. Mosley doesn't entirely know what to believe, the kid or his ex partner of 20 years but he puts his faith into the kid and the thrill ride begins. Hands down the best dirty cop film I've seen in a while.Gritty Cop Drama - Chavez
When you find Bruce Willis in a role where he does not save the world, you need to take notice and likely mark it on your calendar. Bruce plays a washed-out, nobody cop of questionable moral fiber, who, when tasks with the simple job of getting a witness to court just down the street, starts down a path of self-discovery, enlightenment and redemption. Considerably strong roles are played by Mos Def, as Willis' witness-under-the-gun and David Morse, the stop-at-nothing bad cop.
With Richard Donner at the helm, the picture has a decent tempo and ramps up the intensity when needed. The cinematography should also be noted as the inescapable claustrophobia translates well on screen, where the chess game plays out in the congested streets, alleys, apartments and basements.
Not a blockbuster, nor Oscar contender, it is no less a good, entertaining movie. If you liked Copland, you will likely enjoy this movie. If you have not seen Copland, it is another under-viewed movie of a similar ilk.Genuine & sentimental - wingfield
This is a movie that comes across as being geuine and you can't help but feel sentimental towards Eddie as the movie progresses near the end. It teaches the audience to open their eyes & minds in regards to the police vs bad guy genre.
Bit by bit, we learn more about the many depths to both characters and discover the real person within. Eddie is a rarity in terms of being honest and trying to improve his past life while Jack is beating himself up for becoming a dirty cop and needs to find redemption.
This movie is a little bit gritty but down to earth with a hint of sweetness (you can't help but feel sorry for both characters, Jack & Eddie).
This is not another "Die Hard" or a heart thumping fast paced action flick. It's like a good novel full of discoveries and hidden surprises. There are a lot of familiar faces in this movie and excellent casting, a good job overall.
Member Reviews
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underrated - basilbenz
I wasn't entirely sure this movie would stick out from the rest but I chose to go since I had nothing else to do. Hell am I glad I was bored. 16 Blocks is a wonderful thrill ride with lots of action/suspense and mild comedy. Any Bruce Willis fan would love ...Gritty Cop Drama - Chavez
When you find Bruce Willis in a role where he does not save the world, you need to take notice and likely mark it on your calendar. Bruce plays a washed-out, nobody cop of questionable moral fiber, who, when tasks with the simple job of getting a witness ...Genuine & sentimental - wingfield
This is a movie that comes across as being geuine and you can't help but feel sentimental towards Eddie as the movie progresses near the end. It teaches the audience to open their eyes & minds in regards to the police vs bad guy genre.
Bit by bit, ...