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Life & Arts

'16 Blocks' another action-packed guy flick

Willis, Mos Def offer solid performances despite a thin plot in male-friendly movie

by SARAH TRESSLER
The Daily Cougar

Ah, action films. They are beacons that call men to movie theaters. How would Hollywood fare without this constant standby?

Bruce Willis, Mos Def and David Morse star in 16 Blocks, an action film through and through.

This movie is like watching two groups of hamsters race through a maze to see who can get to the cheese first. The maze is New York City's streets, the hamsters are Willis, Mos Def and Morse's characters and the cheese is New York City's federal courthouse.

16 Blocks is basically a two-hour long game of chase mixed with a gunfight where a few people get hurt and a few people get taken hostage, sort of.

There's some car chasing, a hijacked bus and lots of badly aimed shots ? so no one important to the story dies, although that is the main goal of the bad guys: to kill the two good guys.

On a side note, a well-aimed bullet seems to be kryptonite for typical action films. I mean, for as much shooting that goes on, you'd think someone would actually get hit.

Willis plays detective Jack Mosely, an alcoholic badly in need of a day off and some Botox, not to mention a shave.

Mos Def is a squeaky-voiced prisoner who is going to testify against a few of NYPD's top brass. 

These officers have much to lose and are going to great lengths to keep him from getting to the courthouse on the fateful day the movie takes place. All Mosely was supposed to do was transport the prisoner from the jailhouse to the courthouse, a distance of … you guessed it — 16 blocks.

Of course, it's not as easy as it sounds.

On the talent front, I have to mention I was taken aback by the quality of Mos Def's acting ability. Who knew a rapper could give such a compelling performance on the silver screen? He makes his character believable, quirky and sincere.

Of course, Willis gives a good performance, as does Morse, who may be best remembered as the prison guard in The Green Mile.

The movie ends with a twist, so you'll have to check it out if you're interested. 

Otherwise, ask your boyfriend or your frat buddies. Guys will want to see this little action-packed picture. Girls, you might want to stick to something a little more estrogen-friendly.

16 Blocks

Rated: PG-13 for violence and intense action sequences
Starring: Bruce Willis, Mos Def
Warner Bros.
Verdict: Good acting and a thin plot. This is definitely a man's movie.
 

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