Although the first four reviews were all centered around strong women (although only Haywire showcased a convincing one) then this movie is strictly for the men as I feel there is a real gender divide in those who will enjoy this under-valued film about a dirty cop on the downward spiral. That isn’t to say that men will necessarily like it—-reaction definitely seemed split in the crowd I saw it with—-but it is saying that it’s hard not to classify this as a “guy’s” movie even if I think it’s a movie for anyone that enjoys excellently-acted character studies.
What Works: For one thing, it felt refreshing just to see a movie made for adults. There’s not a vampire or werewolf or alien invasion or superhero in sight, no CGI, and only a few bits of action doled out during long stretches of drama. The only special effect is Woody Harrelson’s terrific, career-best performance as an old school, roughneck Los Angeles cop trying to stay one step ahead of an ethics investigation even as he defiantly rejects all easy ways out. Although some will think of “Training Day,” Rampart feels much more realistic and is closer to a cross between The Shield and Southland. You’re never fully sure if Harrelson’s Dave Brown is being set up as the fall guy for all bad department behavior or if he’s his own worst enemy, and that only puts you further into his under-siege state of mind.
I also appreciated the director (Oren Moverman who directed Harrelson to an Oscar nomination before in The Messenger) layering on close-ups so that we’re never far from Dave’s addled point of view, never letting us get distance from this bravely unlikable character. By never letting us outside his skin, it lets you see the slippery slope of corruption in a way that feels more powerful than anything in most dirty cop movies (like Training Day, which took a cheat by escaping into Ethan Hawke’s clean cop).
What Doesn’t Work: The movie is as polarizing as its lead character. There are long stretches that seemed to bore the audience along with parts that made it very hard to root for the main character. And the ambiguous ending definitely left most people feeling disappointed, but in that sense it lets you envision how Harrelson winds up, and—-by extension—-how you hope he ends up, which is the rare ending that can tell the audience something about themselves.
What I Would Have Done Differently: Every decision the director made, I understand why he made it. This isn’t just a “dirty cop movie” so much as a deconstruction of one, wherein the cop actually lives in the real world and his actions aren’t so easily dismissed. That being said, sometimes the movie is easier to admire than to like, but in that way it mirrors the performance of Harrelson and everything about the character that drives the movie. It’s rare that a movie can make you feel so pleased about being conflicted.
When and where was the viewing for Rampart in Alabama?