Streets of Blood

Released: 2009

MPAA rating: R

Run time: 1:35

You never expect much from a straight-to-DVD film and your expectations are rarely exceeded. Even knowing that, I picked this up anyway because I like Val Kilmer and it "looked cool". "Streets of Blood" is basically a run-of-the-mill dirty cop drama set against the backdrop of New Orleans post-Katrina. Val Kilmer plays Andy Devereaux, who is part Serpico, part Jack Bauer: A clean cop who doesn't mind doing what needs to be done to get the job done. He gets partnered with young cop Stan Johnson (50 Cent), who is idealistic but also struggling at home. The partners find themselves in the midst of a murder investigation that centers around fellow cops and puts them up against the DEA. In this movie, corruption on both the city level and the Federal level is so rampant, it is completely over the top. Every one seems to want their piece of the pie in what has become a lawless New Orleans. What about Sharon Stone, you ask? She plays a police psychologist who is shown interviewing the principals of the story throughout the film, but these scenes really do little to further the story. They are probably meant to be more character development driven, but with such two-dimensional characters trying to be complex, the scenes are really not necessary. I didn't hate the movie. What you see is what you get: A decent straight-t0-video movie, but certainly nothing you need to rush out and rent.

Grade: C-

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