Black Cop

This movie was recommended by my cousin who knows the filmaker but hasn't seen the film yet. Generally we have the same taste in 'movies' so I decided to watch it and I was pleasantly surprised but not disappointed. It is one of the few films that I have seen that I have really considered the layers to the plot, the characters and the message. In this case, the filmaker, instead of presenting a clear message, he presents varying points of view and allows the viewer to interpret and gain their own persepctive. The film introduces us to Black Cop, played by Ronnie Rowe Jr., a cop who is ridiculed and distrusted by the people in his own community and after being racially profiled off-duty, Black Cop reaches a breaking point and we follow a day in his life as he struggles with identity, who to trust, where to belong and the all too often blurred lines between right and wrong. Rowe brings an intensity to the role of Black Cop and the filmakers use of voice over narration allows us to see into the depts of the character and his unique battle as we follow his indignant quest for retribution through anywhere streets in an anywhere city. Black Cops erratic quest to make things right in his own head while wreaking havoc in the privileged white communities he has sworn to protect forces the viewer to question their own beliefs and racial literacy. I felt like Black Cop was not only believable, he was relatable and Sophia Walker in the supporting role had me question how I would feel and react in her situation. With interesting satire and effects Black Cop does a formidable job at exploring the relationship between african americans and law enforcement in cities everywhere.

Cory Bowles's Black Cop is anchored by a fine performance by Ronnie Rowe Jr, as the title character, a cop tipped over the edge by the intrusiveness and shame of his being racially profiled by other cops , whilst off duty. Unfortunately instead of giving us a clean narrative to play out the story, Bowles frequently effectively stops the storytelling, to give us a look inside Black Cop's mind at various junctures, as he breaks the fourth wall and zones off on various rants. It's a really clumsy device which adversely affects what little there is of the story and mightily impacts on the pacing of the film.

We are also burdened with repetition in Black Cop. It is literally filled to the seams with close-ups. Whenever there are conversations, people's faces fill the screen. We are delivered many, many repeats of the same close-ups, the same angles of Black Cop's face on his never-ending car patrols, where he notably always is lacking a partner. I believe his character does state at some point, that it is his choice to do so. Ironically in the few action scenes we get, they are either shot from quite some distance away, or rendered pretty much ineffective by overuse of hand-held cameras.

I really would have liked to have ben invited to share more of Black Cop's story. But that seemed to be almost subordinate in a technically deficient film, where the director/writer couldn't even be bothered in naming any characters, as they played second fiddle to the primary instrument of the main character just ranting to the screen. Sadly, an awkward, poorly made film, where the lead's fine acting is just wasted.

Ever wondered what it would look/feel like if a black cop treated citizens the same way white cops do? Finally, you found a movie that shows you exactly that. Strap in and buckle up !

It started out pretty good, then went ALL over the place ( kind of like the "Black Cop" character) . Literally no flow whatsoever. I really like the main ACTOR too. What a shame. Honestly, I wouldn't want to subject anyone to it's painstaking frustration. Oh, and don't even get me started on the ending.

I could barely get through the movie because of the terrible, head banging music. Great storyline. Horrible music.