Dirty (2005)

Dirty (2005)

Think of this movie as a cross between Training Day and Crash. As the title states, this movie is about an entire police Special Crime Unit that’s just as dirty as the criminals they put away. The movie has some dark images and scenes that might disturb people, but I think most people can handle it. The plot is a little rickety and runs out of gas toward the end of the movie, but the performances are pretty good from most of the cast.

Cuba Gooding Jr. is the reason rent this movie. He plays a really dirty cop that goes around harassing and beating gang members without a care in the world. (Note: A white couple gets lost in the ghetto and he scares them shitless. He also feels up the guy’s wife, who happens to be Gates McFadden, which makes me see Dr. Crusher in a different light.) I’m sure Cuba needed to find a role this gritty, because of the stupid roles he’s taken over the years. Boat Trip anyone? You can tell Cuba is having some fun with this character.

The story centers around two anti-gang detectives that spend all day getting deeper and deeper into a conspiracy with various gang members out to kill them. I enjoyed the watching the two main characters, but there are not enough redeeming qualities about them to make me feel for their plight. However, for a free rental I liked it a lot, and it is better than most of the PG-13 crap we see today. So, go out to see Cuba Gooding like you’ve never seen him.

Grade C

Cuba showing his pissed off face.
____________________________________________

Yes, that's Robert LaSardo on the left, the same actor that plays drug lords, gang member leaders in nearly every movie he’s in.

____________________________________________________

Cuba: “Say you didn’t like Rat Race and Boat Trip again. I double dare you!”

_____________________________________________

Wyclef Jean sits, thinking about why he’s even in the movie at all.