16 calles

In 16 Blocks (2006) made by Richard Donner (whose films include Superman (1978), four Lethal Weapon movies, Maverick, Conspiracy Theory among others), Bruce Willis plays Jack Mosley, a tired broken drunk detective in NYC. One morning, after his night shift is over, he gets an assignment to escort a witness-criminal named Eddie (Mos Def) to a grand jury hearing which 16 blocks away from headquarters is. The witness has to get to court in next 118 minutes but on the way somebody wants him dead and they have all means and determination to have it happen. The kid, like everyone calls Eddie is going to testify against corruption and drug dealing within the very police department where Jack used to work and where he has long time friends and colleagues, including his former partner for many years, Det. Frank Nugent (David Morse). Now Jack and Eddie are against New York's bravest and time is certainly not on their side while they are on the trip through 16 Blocks in Chinatown to make it in time to court and preferably alive.

For the first 70 minutes I loved the film but then, the creators made an implausible turn in the script which made me cringe but even the way it turned, the movie was fun to watch -the combination of Action/Crime/Thriller almost always makes me happy. The DVD features an alternate ending which I like a lot and I wish it could make it to the theatrical release. It is more logical and fits the film but I can understand why the movie makers decided to go with the different ending. Another thing - you can't go wrong with Bruce Willis. The guy was born to play the tough cops who never give up and who are good in saving the city, the country, the world, the humankind or just one petty criminal and to give him a chance to re-start his life and do something out of it.

This movie was an excellent surprise. It starts slow, but stay with it. Your first look at Bruce Willis as the burnt-out over the hill cop tells you this will not be the normal shoot-em-up cop drama. The plot starts building almost instantly, unlike many movies where you have to wait through thirty minutes of fluff before the story goes anywhere. The characters in the movie are surprisingly endearing, honest and genuine. They're just normal enough to identify with. Not the standard super evil villain and valiant good guy. Bruce Willis is awesome in his role as the tired underdog struggling with the morality of torn loyalty. Mos Def, whose character's voice was a little aggravating, played an excellent supporting role. The relationship he develops with Willis'character is both surprising and humorous. Overall, the movie was tense from the start and is filled with suspense, humor and a great deal of drama. It takes some unexpected turns and has a great ending. I highly recommend it.

Bruce Willis doesn't exactly have to stretch himself here, in the role of Jack Mosley. Jack is an extremely weary, damaged veteran NYPD detective with a fondness for the bottle. One morning he receives a supposedly minor assignment: escort a witness named Eddie Bunker (Yasiin Bey, a.k.a. hip hop artist Mos Def) to a courthouse. But this turns out to be a nightmare, because this witness' testimony will help to put away some VERY dirty cops, and they will do ANYTHING to silence Bunker - and Mosley, if need be.

Recalling the 1977 Clint Eastwood vehicle "The Gauntlet" (to name just one possible influence), "16 Blocks" explores fairly familiar territory. Still, the idea of watching this seriously burnt-out cop begin to redeem himself makes it all pretty compelling. Richard Donner (in what was his last film for the past 13 years) guides it all in style, with top action scenes and good use of NYC locations. The film starts off in a rather low-key manner, then ratchets up the tension and quickens the pace as the first attempt is made on Bunkers' life. The chemistry between cop and witness is effective enough to carry the story through to its ultimate conclusion, especially as Mosley realizes that Bunker is really not a bad person, despite what his colleagues try to tell him. (It's worth noting that the naming of this character may be a deliberate nod to the real-life Eddie Bunker, who'd spent time in prison and turned his life around by becoming a novelist and screenwriter, and actor, in things like "Reservoir Dogs".)

When he actually gives a damn about a project, Willis can still deliver a riveting performance, as he does so here. Despite his flaws, Mosley comes off as an all-too-human protagonist, one with some rooting interest. Since it's Willis in the role, the viewer has no doubt that he's still capable of kicking some ass when necessary. As for Mos Def, his affected, nasal voice CAN grate on the nerves, as well as the characters' incessant chattiness, but the performance is basically sound. Familiar faces in supporting roles include the always great David Morse (as the ringleader of the crooked cops), David Zayas ('Dexter'), Casey Sander ('Grace Under Fire'), Cylk Cozart ("White Men Can't Jump"), Kim Chan ("Lethal Weapon 4"), and Donner's actor cousin Steve Kahan, whom action fans know as Captain Murphy in the "Lethal Weapon" franchise.

A good, enjoyable action-thriller overall, which finds all of its key participants in fine form. One memorable sequence has Jack and Eddie trapped on a bus and surrounded by the authorities.

Seven out of 10.

The story premise is not a new one. We can see other works of action in between pickup and delivery of a suspect or a witness all the way from the 1990s in movies like Eraser (1996) and S.W.A.T (2003). But I like how the story unfolds and develops. It's quite predictable in the bigger picture level, yet it's execution details are nice enough. The action is not bad. I particularly like how Jack and Eddie can escape multiple standoffs even including one hostage situation. Bruce Willis can get his calm mode on for his character here, and Mos Deff really did a great job in giving a balance to a big name such as Willis. It's entertaining enough for me.

This is not a remake of "The Gauntlet," though the theme is a familiar one. There are, in fact, several movies with similar plots; "3:10 to Yuma" and "Narrow Margin" come to mind. A reviewer emailed me that "Midnight Run" not only has a story like "16 Blocks" but Bruce Willis' character Jack Mosley has a name that is a composite of the movie names for two of the leading roles in "Midnight Run": Robert De Niro's Jack Walsh and Yaphet Kotto's FBI Agent Alonzo Mosely. This, of course, may be mere coincidence. Though the story may seem like déjà vu, the action is fast paced making this an exciting film to watch.

Anyone who doubts that Bruce Willis can act needs only watch his standout performance in "Pulp Fiction" to see what depth this actor can bring to a demanding role. The role of Jack Mosely may not be challenging to Willis, but he still gives it all he's got which is plenty. Playing the part of an over the hill New York cop with a game leg, nothing to live for, and a drinking problem seems easy for Willis to make it all believable.

The criminal, Eddie Bunker, Jack must deliver to testify within a certain time frame is played with gusto by hip-hop artist Mos Def. Eddie is the most verbose prisoner ever. He rattles on and on about anything that comes to mind, some of it funny, some of it trite. He also has a riddle that is not answered till near the end of the film.

A standout performance is delivered by David Morse as the leader of the dirty cops, Frank Nugent. Morse is in danger of becoming typecast as a dishonest lawman. I'm hopeful he will become more diversified in his roles since he is such a talented actor.

This is another winner from action director Richard Donner. If you like his other successful concoctions such as the "Lethal Weapon" flicks, "Superman," "Conspiracy Theory," and "The Omen," then you will certainly enjoy "16 Blocks."