16 Blocks
Encyclopedia
16 Blocks is a 2006 crime
thriller film directed by Richard Donner
. It stars Bruce Willis
, Mos Def
, and David Morse
. The movie unfolds in the real time narration method.
They go to Jack's regular bar and he kicks everybody out. His call for backup brings Jack's ex-partner, Frank Nugent and several other cops. Frank explains that Eddie is about to testify against a cop, who will testify against others to save himself. Frank takes Jack's gun and gives it to Eddie. Forced, Eddie fires the gun but before his execution Jack uses the bar's shotgun and cripples the executor. Jack and Eddie run out the back door.
Jack retrieves his spare handgun from his sister's apartment and disables one of the cops searching for him. Continuing the escort Frank's men chase Jack and Eddie; they escape behind a barricaded steel door, but find Frank waiting. Trapped, they try to flee using a broken elevator. Jack and Frank trade shots while discussing old memories. Frank tries to convince Jack it is not worth protecting Eddie. At the last second the elevator starts to work; Jack and Eddie ride it up and leave out the front door.
Jack and Eddie enter an apartment building. Eddie knocks on random doors, finally an old Asian man lets them in. Frank's team searches the building floor to floor. In the apartment, Eddie changes clothes and describes his dream of opening a bakery. Jack calls the prosecuting attorney and tells her the address and room number, she sends more cops. Frank receives Jack's location from a mole
but as his men break in they realize it is the wrong apartment. Jack walks down the stairs but finds Frank waiting. Jack had Eddie take a different route and Eddie is able to sneak up behind Frank and hold him at gunpoint.
They steal a bus with passengers; ESU
shoots the tires immobilizing the bus and creating a hostage situation. Jack forces the passengers to cover the windows with newspaper. Before ESU storms the bus Jack releases all the passengers while Eddie sneaks off in the confusion. Jack remains on the bus but the cops still believe that there are eight more hostages; the bus driver admits he was the last passenger. Eddie returns, yells for the cops not to shoot, and gets back on the bus. Jack drives the bus with ESU chasing them into an alley. ESU shoots Eddie but he and Jack escape into a building.
Jack calls his sister, a paramedic, to mend Eddie's wound. Jack has his sister call an ambulance; inside Jack reveals to Eddie that he is one of the cops that Eddie was testifying against. Jack asks Eddie to leave, and leave the trial to him. Jack limps into the courthouse car park but runs into Frank. Jack confronts Frank about their crimes. Frank finally loses his cool and lets Jack get into an elevator but orders one of his men upstairs to kill him.
Security surrounds Jack but he announces he is testifying instead of Eddie. Frank's man still tries to kill him but a SWAT
sniper
shoots him. Jack displays a tape recorder that recorded the conversation Frank and Jack had downstairs, and hands it to the prosecuting attorney. Frank stares miserably as the tape discloses his admission.
Two years later, Jack is celebrating his birthday with his sister. For his crimes he spent two years in prison before being released. Eddie sends a letter and photos along with a cake of him and his new bakery (named Eddie and Jack's Good Sign Bakery) listing the names of people who have changed on the cake, including them.
to play the part of Eddie Bunker. This is the second film where David Morse
plays the villain to Bruce Willis
as the protagonist. The first was Twelve Monkeys
in which Morse plays Dr. Peters.
, opened in the United States
on March 3, 2006.
In its opening weekend, the film grossed $12.7 million, which was the second-highest earning film of the weekend. As of its May 15, 2006 closing date, the film grossed a total of $36.895 million in the U.S.
box office. It made $65.6 million worldwide. According to Box Office Mojo, production costs were around US$55 million. The film made $51.53 million on rentals, and remained on the DVD top 50 charts for 17 consecutive weeks.
, the film received a 55% approval rating from critics, with an average
score of 5.9/10. By comparison, Metacritic
, which assigns a normalized
rating in the 0–100 range based on reviews from top mainstream critics, calculated an average score of 63, based on 34 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".
Michael Atkinson
of The Village Voice
commented that "the clichés come thick on the ground" and called it "a small movie trying to seem epic, or a bloated monster trying to seem lean." Peter Travers
of Rolling Stone
gave the film two-and-a-half out of four stars and called Willis and Mos Def "a terrific team," concluding that "Until Richard Wenk's script drives the characters into a brick wall of pukey sentiment, it's a wild ride." Chicago Sun-Times
critic Roger Ebert
gave it three out of four stars and commended Mos Def for his "character performance that's completely unexpected in an action movie," while calling the film "a chase picture conducted at a velocity that is just about right for a middle-age alcoholic."
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
thriller film directed by Richard Donner
Richard Donner
Richard Donner is an American film director, film producer, and comic book writer.The production company The Donners' Company is owned by Donner and his wife, producer Lauren Shuler Donner. After directing the horror film The Omen, Donner became famous for the hailed creation of the first modern...
. It stars Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis
Walter Bruce Willis , better known as Bruce Willis, is an American actor, producer, and musician. His career began in television in the 1980s and has continued both in television and film since, including comedic, dramatic, and action roles...
, Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
, and David Morse
David Morse (actor)
David Bowditch Morse is an American stage, television, and film actor. He first came to national attention as Dr. Jack Morrison in the medical drama St. Elsewhere from 1982 to 1988...
. The movie unfolds in the real time narration method.
Plot
Jack Mosley is an alcoholic and burned-out NYPD detective. After working all night, his lieutenant orders him to escort Eddie Bunker to testify in front of a grand jury before 10 a.m. Jack stops at a liquor store on the way; a gunman ambushes the car with Eddie inside. Jack kills the gunman and runs over his partner.They go to Jack's regular bar and he kicks everybody out. His call for backup brings Jack's ex-partner, Frank Nugent and several other cops. Frank explains that Eddie is about to testify against a cop, who will testify against others to save himself. Frank takes Jack's gun and gives it to Eddie. Forced, Eddie fires the gun but before his execution Jack uses the bar's shotgun and cripples the executor. Jack and Eddie run out the back door.
Jack retrieves his spare handgun from his sister's apartment and disables one of the cops searching for him. Continuing the escort Frank's men chase Jack and Eddie; they escape behind a barricaded steel door, but find Frank waiting. Trapped, they try to flee using a broken elevator. Jack and Frank trade shots while discussing old memories. Frank tries to convince Jack it is not worth protecting Eddie. At the last second the elevator starts to work; Jack and Eddie ride it up and leave out the front door.
Jack and Eddie enter an apartment building. Eddie knocks on random doors, finally an old Asian man lets them in. Frank's team searches the building floor to floor. In the apartment, Eddie changes clothes and describes his dream of opening a bakery. Jack calls the prosecuting attorney and tells her the address and room number, she sends more cops. Frank receives Jack's location from a mole
Mole (espionage)
A mole is a spy who works for an enemy nation, but whose loyalty ostensibly lies with his own nation's government. In some usage, a mole differs from a defector in that a mole is a spy before gaining access to classified information, while a defector becomes a spy only after gaining access...
but as his men break in they realize it is the wrong apartment. Jack walks down the stairs but finds Frank waiting. Jack had Eddie take a different route and Eddie is able to sneak up behind Frank and hold him at gunpoint.
They steal a bus with passengers; ESU
New York City Police Department Emergency Service Unit
The New York City Police Department Emergency Service Unit is the Emergency Service Unit for the New York City Police Department. A component of the Special Operations Division of the Patrol Services Bureau, the unit provides specialized support and advanced equipment to other NYPD units. For...
shoots the tires immobilizing the bus and creating a hostage situation. Jack forces the passengers to cover the windows with newspaper. Before ESU storms the bus Jack releases all the passengers while Eddie sneaks off in the confusion. Jack remains on the bus but the cops still believe that there are eight more hostages; the bus driver admits he was the last passenger. Eddie returns, yells for the cops not to shoot, and gets back on the bus. Jack drives the bus with ESU chasing them into an alley. ESU shoots Eddie but he and Jack escape into a building.
Jack calls his sister, a paramedic, to mend Eddie's wound. Jack has his sister call an ambulance; inside Jack reveals to Eddie that he is one of the cops that Eddie was testifying against. Jack asks Eddie to leave, and leave the trial to him. Jack limps into the courthouse car park but runs into Frank. Jack confronts Frank about their crimes. Frank finally loses his cool and lets Jack get into an elevator but orders one of his men upstairs to kill him.
Security surrounds Jack but he announces he is testifying instead of Eddie. Frank's man still tries to kill him but a SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
shoots him. Jack displays a tape recorder that recorded the conversation Frank and Jack had downstairs, and hands it to the prosecuting attorney. Frank stares miserably as the tape discloses his admission.
Two years later, Jack is celebrating his birthday with his sister. For his crimes he spent two years in prison before being released. Eddie sends a letter and photos along with a cake of him and his new bakery (named Eddie and Jack's Good Sign Bakery) listing the names of people who have changed on the cake, including them.
Cast
- Bruce WillisBruce WillisWalter Bruce Willis , better known as Bruce Willis, is an American actor, producer, and musician. His career began in television in the 1980s and has continued both in television and film since, including comedic, dramatic, and action roles...
as Det. Jack Mosley - Mos DefMos DefDante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
as Edward "Eddie" Bunker - David MorseDavid Morse (actor)David Bowditch Morse is an American stage, television, and film actor. He first came to national attention as Dr. Jack Morrison in the medical drama St. Elsewhere from 1982 to 1988...
as Det. Frank Nugent - Jenna SternJenna SternJenna Louise Stern is an American actress.Member of an artist family, Stern is the daughter of actor/producer Tom Stern and Academy award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress Samantha Eggar. Her brother, Nicolas Stern, is a producer for film and television...
as Diane Mosley - Casey SanderCasey SanderCasey Sander is an American actor known as the character "Captain" Jimmy Wennick on the short-lived TV series Tucker. His television credits also include The Golden Girls, Grace Under Fire, Home Improvement, Malcolm in the Middle, Buffy the Vampire Slayer , and Hunter among other...
as Capt. Dan Gruber - Cylk CozartCylk CozartCylk Cozart is an American actor who has appeared in over 30 films and 20 television shows.-Early life:Cozart was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. His father is of African ancestry and his mother is Native American. Prior to becoming an actor, Cozart was an established model working in Miami, FL...
as Det. Jimmy Mulvey - David ZayasDavid ZayasDavid Zayas is a Puerto Rican theatrical, film, and television actor. He is most known for his roles as Angel Batista on Showtime's series Dexter and as Enrique Morales on the HBO prison drama Oz.- Life and career :...
as Det. Robert "Bobby" Torres - Robert Racki as Det. Jerry Shue
- Patrick Garrow as Det. Touhey
- Sasha RoizSasha RoizSasha Roiz is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Sam Adama in the science fiction television series Caprica. In addition to a recurring role in the Science fantasy series Warehouse 13, in 2011 he began a regular role in the TV series Grimm.-Early life:Roiz was born in Tel...
as Det. Kaller - Jeff KellyJeff KellyJeff Kelly Jeff Kelly Jeff Kelly (born (September 7, 1979 in Deer Park, Alabama) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League....
as Det. Shlong - Conrad PlaConrad PlaConrad Pla is a Canadian actor and former professional kickboxer. He is probably best known for starring in the Canadian television series ReGenesis....
as Det. Ortiz - Hechter Ubarry as Det. Edward Maldonado
- Richard Fitzpatrick as Deputy Commissioner Wagner
- Peter McRobbiePeter McRobbiePeter McRobbie is a Scottish-born, American-based character actor.-Career:McRobbie has more than 60 movies and television series to his credit. The movies include Spider-Man 2, World Trade Center, Sleepers, and Bullets over Broadway...
as Mike Sheehan - Mike Keenan as Ray Fitzpatrick
- Robert ClohessyRobert ClohessyRobert Clohessy is an American actor, known for playing Correctional Officer Sean Murphy on the HBO drama Oz. He was also a cast member in the final season of Hill Street Blues....
as Sgt. Cannova - Jess Mal Gibbons as Pederson
- Tig Fong as Briggs
- Brenda Pressley as ADA MacDonald
- Kim ChanKim ChanKim Chan also known as Kim S. Chan, was a Chinese-American actor and producer. He was most notable for his role as The Ancient in Kung Fu: The Legend Continues.-Early life:...
as Sam - Carmen Lopez as Gracie
- Scott McCordScott McCordWilliam Scott McCord is a Canadian actor, voice actor, singer and bandleader for the soul/rock pop band . On television he is best known for playing Dan Kuso in Bakugan Battle Brawlers, Owen and Trent in Fresh Animation's Total Drama series.- Animation:* 6teen - Stone* Babar and the Adventures of...
as Lt. Kincaid
Casting
Willis originally wanted rapper LudacrisLudacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
to play the part of Eddie Bunker. This is the second film where David Morse
David Morse (actor)
David Bowditch Morse is an American stage, television, and film actor. He first came to national attention as Dr. Jack Morrison in the medical drama St. Elsewhere from 1982 to 1988...
plays the villain to Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis
Walter Bruce Willis , better known as Bruce Willis, is an American actor, producer, and musician. His career began in television in the 1980s and has continued both in television and film since, including comedic, dramatic, and action roles...
as the protagonist. The first was Twelve Monkeys
Twelve Monkeys
12 Monkeys is a 1995 science fiction film directed by Terry Gilliam, inspired by Chris Marker's 1962 short film La jetée, and starring Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe, Brad Pitt, and Christopher Plummer....
in which Morse plays Dr. Peters.
Box office
The film, released by Warner Bros.Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
, opened in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on March 3, 2006.
In its opening weekend, the film grossed $12.7 million, which was the second-highest earning film of the weekend. As of its May 15, 2006 closing date, the film grossed a total of $36.895 million in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
box office. It made $65.6 million worldwide. According to Box Office Mojo, production costs were around US$55 million. The film made $51.53 million on rentals, and remained on the DVD top 50 charts for 17 consecutive weeks.
Reception
Based on 158 reviews collected by Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, the film received a 55% approval rating from critics, with an average
Weighted mean
The weighted mean is similar to an arithmetic mean , where instead of each of the data points contributing equally to the final average, some data points contribute more than others...
score of 5.9/10. By comparison, Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, which assigns a normalized
Normalization (statistics)
In one usage in statistics, normalization is the process of isolating statistical error in repeated measured data. A normalization is sometimes based on a property...
rating in the 0–100 range based on reviews from top mainstream critics, calculated an average score of 63, based on 34 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".
Michael Atkinson
Michael Atkinson (writer)
Michael Atkinson is an American writer, poet and film critic. His debut novel is Hemingway Deadlights , and he has written film and culture critiques for The Believer, Sight & Sound, The Guardian, Film Comment, The Village Voice, In These Times, True/Slant, SPiN, Maxim, The Boston Phoenix,...
of The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
commented that "the clichés come thick on the ground" and called it "a small movie trying to seem epic, or a bloated monster trying to seem lean." Peter Travers
Peter Travers
Peter Travers is an American film critic, who has written for, in turn, People and Rolling Stone. Travers also hosts a celebrity interview show called Popcorn on ABC News Now and ABCNews.com.-Career:...
of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
gave the film two-and-a-half out of four stars and called Willis and Mos Def "a terrific team," concluding that "Until Richard Wenk's script drives the characters into a brick wall of pukey sentiment, it's a wild ride." Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
critic Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
gave it three out of four stars and commended Mos Def for his "character performance that's completely unexpected in an action movie," while calling the film "a chase picture conducted at a velocity that is just about right for a middle-age alcoholic."
External links
- 16 Blocks Official Site
- 16 Blocks review by Roger EbertRoger EbertRoger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...