And then they start to sparkle: "If my guys were doing something, I would know about it, trust me."

Some films really get on to ones nerves.. So did the film that I watched yesterday: directed by Gavin O’Connor, who also wrote the script (Joe Carnahan did some of the writing, too..) and whose twin brother Greg O’Connor produced the film:

PRIDE AND GLORY (2008)

In an nutshell:

New York, late December: Four police officers were killed – together with some gang members.

Officer Ray Tierney (Edward Norton) is – after some pushing by his father Deputy Chief Francis Tierney (John Voight) - going to find out who is responsible for that.

~ Francis, senior and Francis, junior at the funeral ~

His brother Francis “Franny” Tierney, jr. (Noah Emmerich) was the superior of the dead cops and Jimmy Egan (Colin Farrell) - who is married to Franny's and Ray's sister Megan (Lake Bell) - is a fellow officer of them..

~ Officers Sandy and Jimmy - not on a Sunday afternoon walk.. ~

The more Ray investigates the more he finds out about corruption in and beyond the New York Police Department – even reaching into the Tierney family..

~ Ray, Jimmy and Franny - some brothers in law.. asking themselves: who knows what? ~

Watch out for:

John Ortiz as Ruben "Sandy" Santiago.
Manny Perez as Coco Dominguez.
Rick Gonzalez - yeah, the guy from REAPER (2007-2009).. - as Eladio Casado.

Jennifer Ehle - she plays Abby the wife of Franny - you may know her from another "PRIDE": she was Elizabeth Bennett in the 1995 BBC-version of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE... (.."the accurate one"..)
Not really a task to watch out for her - because you can hardly ignore her: Lake Bell as Jimmy's wife Megan.

~ Don't tell me you didn't notice her.. ~

Schmooze:

The film was planned in 2001 and the filming was about to start in February 2002 but after the events of September 11, 2001 it was cancelled – it seemed to be very disrespectful to the actual New York Police Department to make a film about corruption. The filming was done in 2006 - but the film wasn't released till 2008..
Hugh Jackman and Mark Wahlberg were supposed to star in this film when it was first planned in 2001.
Nick Nolte was supposed to play Francis Tierney, sr. – but after three days of filming he left the production because of a chronic knee injury - so his part was given to Jon Voight.
The German title is DAS GESETZ DER EHRE = The Law of Honor.
Gary and Greg O’Connor are sons of a New York police officer.

~ The family is about to celebrate christmas: Francis sr., Franny and his wife Abby. ~

Let’s face the music:

The score was delivered by Mark Isham.

~ Colin Farrell - a guy I wouldn't like to be tackled by.. ~

No real glory:

The film is dedicated to Eric Hernandez.

24year old Hernandez was a New York cop and supposed to play in a bit part in the beginning scene of this movie (in which the police team does a football game).

In the night of January 28, 2006 he got in trouble with a group of others in front of a fast food restaurant. Hernandez who was out of duty at that time felt threatened so he pulled out his (service) firearm. In that moment another officer arrived – and shot the person who was armed..

Eric Hernandez died a week later due to the gunshot wounds.

Stay away from this film if you have problems with:

violence - there is some blood shed in this film..

harsh language. I was about to count all those "f-words" but after two minutes I had to give in because I lost track.. - I was at ca. nine "f...'s" ..

Suicides
corrupt cops
cancer - though it is no main part of the story - Abby obviously is not as healthy as one would wish for her to be..

~ Jennifer Ehle is doing some very fine and quiet acting in this film. ~

Quotes Corner:

"I was a good man once."

This line is delivered by officer Ruben "Sandy" Santiago (John Ortiz) who struggles with the ways he and his fellow officers have chosen - John Ortiz is doing a great job here.

This quote above like this one following:

"When we were kids, all we ever talked about was being cops."

shows that there is a difference between what a cop is supposed to be or in cliché is - and what he/she (ok - no "shes" in this film..) has to face in reality.

That being a good guy is a tough thing when the world around you is not good. It's a hard job to stay upright - and this is why this film makes me a bit sad.

Ray: "Have a few nips this evening, pop?"

Francis, sr.: "I had a glass of scotch, officer."

Ray: "Just one, huh?"

Francis, sr.: "I used that same glass, yeah."

Have a look:

Here's the trailer:

I think this film is not only a film about corruption but also about families. It's a main part of the plot that all men of the Tierney family are cops. (Don't talk about women.. They don't have big parts in this.. They are wives and mothers.. - or maybe drug addicts..) So the question of loyalty is a really tough one - who's first? Your family? - Or your team? - Or perhaps honesty?

Talking about the cast:

Let's be honest.. Edward Norton could act a cookery book. That man is awesome. Period. I won't discuss that.

And Colin Farrell is nothing but intense in his acting.

In the first minutes of the film I thought: "Oh.. sure.. here we go again.. Edward Norton is the nice guy again - and Colin Farrell means nothing but trouble.. oh.. surprise.. he is smashing a mirror.. ~yawn..~" - but actually: It works perfectly. And after a few minutes I was fully into this film.

I have to confess that I like cops to be the good guys. I don't like the idea that a cop runs into a grocery shop and takes all money from the cash box while threatening the shopkeeper with a gun or officers making a man tell them what they want to know by holding a hot flat iron very close to that man's baby.. No wonder that Daddy decides to not being friendly anymore.. ~ Listen to me Jimmy! It's like they told you in kindergarten: If you hurt Coco - Coco is going to hit you.. and let me add: He is going to hit you hard.. .. ~

I am a bloody romantic. I want cops to be like Edward Norton.

~ Actually, I want a lot of men to be like Edward Norton - but that's not the point now.. ~

I want to trust people.

And now that I made butterflies vomit because of me being so bloody naïve I am going to tell you something that might seem to be completely illogical:

I love this film. It's awesome.

Mr. Farrell is doing a great job in this film. I especially like his last scene - in which he is holding back a lot.

*SPOILER* This scene made me think of the famous scene of SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER (1959) - though it's not that horrible.. - but I think you get the image.. *SPOILER*

But actually the whole cast is amazing..