Rating: Popcorn

After four NYPD officers are killed in an ambush, the entire police department is on high alert as the cop killer is out on the loose. Chief of Manhattan Detectives Francis Tierney Sr. asks his son, Detective Ray Tierney to take on the investigation. He takes over knowing the officers murdered worked under his brother, Francis Tierney Jr., and alongside his brother-in-law, Jimmy Egan. What looks like a drug bust gone wrong becomes much more than Ray thought: an inside job that leads back to his brother and brother-in-law. As outside sources begin to question the case, the Tierney family must decide who they will be loyal to: each other or their fellow officers. Who will they choose?

Alliance Films’ Pride and Glory stars Academy Award-nominee Edward Norton (American History X, Primal Fear), Colin Farrell (In Bruges), Academy Award-winner Jon Voight (Coming Home), and Noah Emmerich (The Trueman Show).

Screenwriters Gavin and Gregory O’Connor are very much familiar with the things that go on in the police force. The twin brothers are the sons of a police officer. When asked why they wrote the film, Gregory says, “On some level, we’ve always wanted to be part of that world, maybe because a lot of sons of cops become cops and, obviously, we never did. But we grew up with it and it’s a part of who we are, so maybe this was a way for us to live in it vicariously for a time.”

The film is very dark in nature and is shown through the colours of this motion picture. It deals with ethics within the police force and the terrible things seemingly good people can do in the name of an institution. According to Greg O’Connor, “The institution itself is not evil, but by virtue of trying to protect its own, the people within are capable of bad things, even if it is ostensibly for the right reasons.” It’s not only in law enforcement where the institution protects its own, but examples of this can also be found in our government and corporate world. The Enron case is just a quick example of an organization setting rules to defend its employees.

The O’Connor brothers did a good job writing the script while Gaving O’Connor directed the film. The only thing I didn’t like about it was the first 5-10 minutes, when the officers at the football game find out about the ambush and head over to the crime scene. During this first scene, a handy cam is used and the picture is not very stabilized. It reminds me of the filming from Cloverfield, which many viewers didn’t like. If you’re apt to motion sickness, no need to panic as the rest of the film is well done.

Edward Norton really shines in Pride and Glory as his performance as Detective Ray Tierney is excellent. He’s able to give the tough cop look and act, especially with the scar on his face, which represents the mistake he made in his past that relegated him to the Missing Person department, the department considered to be the “Siberia” of the police force.

Pride and Glory is a well-made police drama film that is a little bit different from the rest. It’s not too often that we see a police drama where the conspiracy affects a family of officers. What’s good about Pride and Glory is that its message can be applied to any of our situations, not just to law enforcement.

When it comes down to the wire, what are you willing to sacrifice? Truth? Honor? Loyalty? Family?

Pride and Glory opens today, October 24th, in theatres everywhere.

Release Date: October 24, 2008

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