Cast. Chadwick Boseman, Stephen James, Taylor Kitsch, Sienna Miller, J.K. Simmons.
Rating. 56%
21 Bridges is a solid, if unspectacular, crime drama. But what a wasted opportunity of an interesting idea.
The premise - shut down all the exits off Manhattan Island, including the 21 bridges and four tunnels, and begin a city-wide manhunt for two criminals responsible for the shooting of eight NYPD officers. It's a neat gimmick and certainly makes for a catchy title. I was expecting a storyline akin to The Dark Knight Rises or Escape From New York, but director Brian Kirk makes little use of this city-wide lockdown scenario. There is no public backlash or escape attempt from the cornered criminals.
Nonetheless, Chadwick Boseman offers an even-keeled on-screen presence and a solid performance as Detective Andre Davis. Sienna Miller is almost unrecognisable - and, as it turns out, surprisingly well cast - as the dowdy narcotics detective, Frankie Burns.
Brian Kirk creates a gritty, after-hours feel to 21 Bridges and the continual reminder of the countdown adds to the tension. There is a sense of the story unfolding in real-time, the police have five hours before the bridges are re-opened. Not quite, the 90 mins of High Noon, but still a sense of urgency.
Unfortunately, the plot twist is telegraphed well in advance, early in the film and therefore the reveal is long overdue and somewhat of an anti-climax.
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