As I mentioned in the summary, this movie can be very confusing. One thing that makes it very confusing is the flashback sequences that you don't realize are flashbacks. Using flashbacks to flesh out the back stories for characters is certainly nothing new, most directors will change the character in some way,(glasses, different hairstyle, etc ...)if the character looks the same then they may use an effect so the scene looks different, letting the viewer know that this is a flashback, failing those 2 methods, some directors will put a specific piece of music to flashbacks in OD however the main character looks exactly the same, unshaven, wrinkled clothes, he is without a doubt the least hygienic movie detective I have ever seen. I could see why he would have looked that way when he was drinking on the job, hanging out in a strip club, sleeping with strippers but at the start of the movie he is supposed to have been clean for 2 1/2 years. I mean c'mon clean yourself up.
Once you get by the very confusing time line and the problem with flashbacks this is not a horrible movie. The acting in fact was really quite good. I had never heard of Stephen Dorff but he did well as the protagonist, James Woods is always great, especially at being the bad guy, in fact he seems like he's the bad guy even when he plays a good guy.
I gave this movie a 6 because I thought it was worth the 90 minutes that it runs. As you would expect it has to move pretty fast to get the plot fleshed out, this probably accounts for some of confusing shifts and characters that are involved but you have no idea who they are. I didn't feel like I wanted my 90 minutes back, but it is not a movie I will see again.
Officer Down
2013
Action / Crime / Drama / Thriller
Officer Down
2013
Action / Crime / Drama / Thriller
Plot summary
When a cop's crooked past comes back to get him, can he do the right thing, or will he succumb to the threats of his dangerous connections?
Uploaded by: OTTO
January 23, 2013 at 06:16 AM
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
Movie can be confusing
just good enough
Police detective David 'Cal' Callahan (Stephen Dorff) takes down a rapist cop but his boss Captain Verona (James Woods) cuts a deal to sweep the embarrassing situation under the rug. Cal is still haunted by a traffic stop where he was almost killed. One night, a man, claiming to be his unknown savior, comes to him with his dead daughter's diary. Zhanna Dronov (AnnaLynne McCord) was a stripper who started dating a client called Angel (Walton Goggins).
I like the dark tone, Dorff's performance, and big revelation. On the other hand, the first half is too complicated, there are too many flashbacks, and there are too many characters to focus on. This movie should focus on Cal and his Captain, Zhanna and Angel. Cal may not even need a family. It should explain more clearly Cal's investigation of Angel. He should probably assume that Angel is Zhanna's pimp to start. The overall story just needs more clarity. While this is by no means great, it is good enough with that reveal.