Bullet Points: Black and Blue

I’ll watch almost anything with Frank Grillo in the cast. I knew coming into Black and Blue that Frank wasn’t the lead, but instead, the main bad guy. Now, using my trusty bullet points, we will determine if Black and Blue is worth your time.

• Our Hero: We have a rookie lady cop from New Orleans. She’s a war vet. She’s from the city, but she’s been away for the past decade. The streets have changed a lot since she left, but there’s still a helluva lot of tension between cops and civilians. Naomie Harris plays our hero. You might know her as Moneypenny from the last few Bond films. I must say: I think she’s underrated as an actress.
• Cameras Don’t Lie: The plot revolves around a body cam. Cops wear them for numerous reasons. Our hero sees something she shouldn’t. Plus, it is on camera. Now, she’s on the run from the cops and the crooks. Black and Blue quickly turns into a “chase/survive the night” action flick. What I like the most is she doesn’t have anywhere to go. No one wants to help her. Citizens see a cop and don’t want trouble. Bad guys see a cop and want to take her down. Mix in dirty cops, and our hero is FUBAR! Most of the runtime is the chase. We don’t have a lot of time to breathe, and in my opinion, it is one of the movie’s biggest strengths.

• The Big Bad Grillo: Hot dog damn! Frank Grillo doesn’t disappoint as a rotten to the core dirty cop. He looks badass with his facial hair as he relentlessly chases Naomie through the streets of New Orleans. For a supporting character, he does have a lot of scenes. I believe Grillo fans will embrace his role. He’s definitely a bad guy you will love to hate.

• Tyrese Gets Paid: I know some people can’t stand Tyrese Gibson, but I’m not one of them. I’m so glad he’s in Black and Blue. He plays the sidekick to Naomie. His name is Mouse. He works at a small grocery store. He’s the only person who will give Naomie the time of day. Mouse is the type of character you would expect Tyrese to play. He has a few powerful scenes, and I’m just glad he found some work between Fast & Furious movies. Tyrese gets in on the action as well. You go, Mouse!
• The Finale: The climax is damn action packed. I love some close quarters combat inside an apartment building. I immediately think The Raid. No, this isn’t close to the action from The Raid, but it still delivers. The gunplay is above average, and I didn’t see a lot of sloppy action. In my opinion, the action and the stunts are well filmed.

I liked Black and Blue. I didn’t go in expecting much. I honestly only wanted to watch Frank Grillo kick ass, but I ended up caring about the lead and the story. It isn’t perfect, but I think Black and Blue is a very watchable entry into the “ACTION CHASE” genre. Definitely, worth at least a rental from your favorite streaming service.

Oops! I almost forgot my Bonus Bullet Points!

• 15: The number of times I yelled “Frank Grillo” while watching. He’s a badass. What can I say.
• Cops and Donuts: Yes! I did see some cops at a donut shop.
• First Aid: I’m pretty sure Naomie used super glue to heal a gunshot wound.
• Luke Cage: Luke aka Mike Colter has a supporting role as a badass gangsta. I wouldn’t want to make him angry.