Movie Review by Nigel A. Messenger
Starring: Harrison Ford, Josh Hartnett, Lena Olin, Bruce Greenwood, Isaiah Washington
Director: Ron Shelton
HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE is a buddy cop movie with big budget action mixed together with likeable characters and plenty of humour made in a similar vein to movies like the LETHAL WEAPON and BEVERLY HILLS COP franchises.
Joe Gavilan (Harrison Ford) and his partner K C Calden (Josh Hartnett) are investigating the shoot-up of a Hollywood nightclub in which the main targets seem to have been the gangster rap band that was playing the venue. But this was not a straight forward shooting as in the mix are dirty cops and an internal affairs officer with a personal grudge against Gavilan.
To make HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE a little different Harrison Ford’s character also has a part-time job as a real estate broker which gives plenty of opportunity to lighten up the police investigation as Gavilan attempts to broker a deal involving the nightclub owner whose club was the scene of the shooting.
Also Calden is seriously into meditation and doesn’t even want to be a cop – he wants to be an actor – cue more jokes and general humour.
Now all this might seem a little corny but we are not talking about a serious attempt at showing a gritty crime drama, we are talking about popcorn-style blockbuster entertainment and to this end HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE is very well made and lots of fun. Ford and Hartnett work well together, there’s lots going on to keep the film interesting and the action is first class. The only thing I would really criticise is the additional plot line involving Calden’s father who was a cop and whose murder is unsolved. This bit of storyline didn’t need to be in the movie and its conclusion is just a little bit too neat and tidy.
Ignore that bit and you will get yourself a good evening’s entertainment.
