“Pride and Glory” movie review

The good, the bad and the ugly of the NYPD

Lauren Millslagle / Staff Writer / The USD Vista

“Pride and Glory” is a story about three brothers: one good, one bad and one ugly. The three are all policemen working in the NYPD with their father who is a retired police officer as well. Edward Norton plays a surprisingly normal role as Ray, the good cop. He is asked to work on the task force that is trying to find the explanation behind a brutal multiple homicide. During his investigation, he starts to find some disconcerting and perplexing clues that lead him to believe that his two brothers are somehow involved with the murders. His past experiences push him to seek the most just path while his father tries to persuade Ray to protect his family.

While Ray is sleuthing, Colin Ferrel’s character, Jimmy, the bad cop and his brother-in-law, is busy trying to cover his tracks and seek revenge on Angel Tezo, played by Ramon Rodriguez. Tezo is a drug dealer and con-man that works with the crooked cops of the NYPD. Tezo is blamed for the homicides and the new spotlight on the precinct. Jimmy wants to make sure he gets to Tezo before Ray does, so that Tezo can’t reveal Jimmy’s shady back-alley dealings that led to the death of four of his colleagues.

Jimmy and his crew of badge wearing thugs are under the command of Noah Emmerich’s character, Francis, or Frannie, as he is affectionately known. Frannie is the pockmarked, ugly cop whose morality lies somewhere in the gray area between Ray and Jimmy’s. He is working his way to a big promotion and turns a blind eye to Jimmy’s ways in exchange for a good record as a liutenant. He wants to keep his reputation in tact as the investigation is in progress.

The film is filled with the prescribed amount of fighting, shooting and general violence that makes an action movie enjoyable to watch. The urban warfare definitely takes a precedence over the familiar conflicted objectives. As a whole, the film is only satisfactory. It didn’t surprise me with an innovative plot or riveting dialog, but I still can’t help but like an action film with Edward Norton, no matter how ordinary the circumstances are.

Bottom line: if you like guns, fighting and lots of violent action, go see it. If you are looking for a touching movie about the struggle between doing the right thing and protecting your family, “Pride and Glory” won’t fit the bill.