Police Beat

Police beat falls into the category of somewhat guilty pleasure for me, though certainly in a different way than most films typically relegated to that category.

It's a pleasure because being a Seattleite it's refreshing to see some of the cities lesser known but quite beautiful locations (gasworks park, for instance) shot beautifully on film for the first time. In addition I have to say that while an argument could be made that the African language narration was pretentious I found it fascinating, if for no other reason than that I always thought the idea of shooting an English language film with an abundance of subtitles would be an amusing experiment. There are also some rather funny scenes scattered throughout the movie, some of which work beautifully and others of which fail.

However it's a guilty one because plot wise it's thoroughly aimless and more than a bit pointless, acting wise it's very inconsistent, and overall it's a weak film. I have to admit a bit of a bias since I'm a volunteer at the place that produced and financed the film (nw film forum) and everyone around here worked on it in some way. The other reviewer's comment that just about everyone in the Seattle film scene worked on this movie isn't an exaggeration. In any case if you get a chance to see it I'd recommend you take it, if for no other reason than to see some beautiful Seattle scenery, a couple hilarious scenes, and more than anything a film experience I can guarantee you won't have had before.

A patrol cop on a mountain bike? I decided to see it to enjoy the scenery. But, this movie caught me off guard. I cannot recall a film that better captures the overpowering sense of painful obsession that results from suspicion and jealousy over a separated loved-one. If you have ever slept expectantly with the phone on your pillow, you may know the feeling. In under 2 hours Police Beat faithfully portrays a complex set of emotions which might require a long novel to communicate as effectively. This film made my heart pound. The backdrop of Seattle captures the best of what the city has to offer, with dramatic settings from diverse neighborhoods and artistic lighting. This is a compelling movie for those who love the city of Seattle.

Really one of the most beautiful low-budget films I've ever seen.

The lead actor is very compelling, and the idea of observing American life through an authority figure who is also an immigrant is really striking. And occasionally very funny.

The film as a whole has elements of David Lynch, as well as Linklater's "Slacker." But the sensibility is really not well described through reference to other films. It's really a one-of-a-kind piece of work.

The news in the final credits that all the incidents portrayed in the film were taken from actual police files was strangely disappointing, but when I later learned that the co-writer was the author of a "Police Beat" column in the Seattle alternative weekly, it made total sense.

Honestly, some of the images here are just absolutely singular. You've never seen anything quite like it.

Congratulations to all involved.

I disagree greatly with the previous review. Yes, there is no actual mystery plot, but the movie was not a mystery nor was it supposed to be. Now I don't know what the "original script" called for, and frankly it doesn't matter. What we have is the finished movie and should take it as it has been created. The underlying plot WAS the inner conflict over the relationship between the bike cop and his girlfriend and the crimes that he encounters take a back stage to this.

The movie is filmed very softly and captures the contrast between the harsh realities of the city and the beauty of the scenery. This mirrors the conflict within the character and how he operates within his surroundings. The lead character is beauty surrounded by contrasting darkness as his relationship which is a contrast between deep love and deep pain. I believe that the filmmakers tackled this complex character with compassion but without a false intensity which makes the film both believable and human. I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes to delve into issues of humanity, however if you are looking for a great cops and robbers story, you WILL be disappointed. And frankly, I'm happy that this story grew beyond simple archetypes.

Don't bother with the review of this film that clearly comes from a jilted Seattle local, this is a beautiful film. A pure mood from start to finish, the entire film is an experience inside the mind of the protagonist. Terrence Malick is the closest comparison in terms of style, but these days I find referencing him to be cliché.

I decided to start this film at 2:00 AM and fully expected to get tired after the first fifteen minutes but I was glued to the screen the whole way through. I have a great appetite for 'obscure' and 'difficult' films, but this was totally watchable and I would recommend it to even the most artistically ignorant of people because the art in this film is built on a foundation of empathy. If you liked Godard's "Hail Mary" then you will probably like this, but if you don't have to have even heard of "Hail Mary" or Godard to enjoy this because everyone has the capacity for empathy.

Just watch this film, it is short and has a constant pace. And when you finish it may or may not be your favorite film, but I refuse to believe you will hate it.

Recommended to anyone who appreciates Cinema as art.