16 Blocks (2006)

Director:

Richard Donner

Writer (WGA):

Richard Wenk (written by)

Release Date:

3 March 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

For a New York cop and his witness, the distance between life and death just got very short.

Plot:

An aging cop is assigned the ordinary task of escorting a fast-talking witness from police custody to a courthouse. There are however forces at work trying to stop prevent them from making it.

Plot Keywords:

Courthouse | Witness | Nypd | Corrupt Cop | Alcoholic

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	Det. Jack Mosley
Mos Def	...	Eddie Bunker
David Morse	...	Det. Frank Nugent
Jenna Stern	...	Diane Mosley
Casey Sander	...	Capt. Dan Gruber
Cylk Cozart	...	Det. Jimmy Mulvey
David Zayas	...	Det. Robert Torres
Robert Racki	...	Det. Jerry Shue
Patrick Garrow	...	Touhey
Sasha Roiz	...	Kaller
Conrad Pla	...	Ortiz
Hechter Ubarry	...	Maldonado
Richard Fitzpatrick	...	Deputy Commissioner Wagner
Peter McRobbie	...	Mike Sheehan
Michael F. Keenan	...	Ray Fitzpatrick (as Mike Keenan)

Also Known As:

16 Blocks (Germany)
Sixteen Blocks (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, intense sequences of action, and some strong language.

Runtime:

USA:105 min | Philippines:110 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | UK:12A | Ireland:12A | Singapore:PG | Brazil:14 | Germany:12 | Finland:K-11 | South Korea:15 | Malaysia:U | Netherlands:12 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Sweden:11 | Hungary:16 | Australia:M | Argentina:Atp | Portugal:M/12 | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Denmark:11 | Norway:15 | USA:PG-13 (Certificate #41681)

Filming Locations:

Casey's Bar - 613 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Alcon Entertainment

Trivia:

Mos Def's character has the name "Edward Bunker". Edward Bunker is a real life criminal turned actor (thus proving that people can change, in line with the theme of the movie), who appeared in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (1992).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jack Mosley drives the bus down the alley after Eddie climbs back into the bus, the NYPD SWAT Team starts shooting at the Driver's side in an attempt to hit Jack. In one shot we see rounds ping below the driver's side of the window, but in the next following shots, the white paint where the bullets supposedly hit is unscathed.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jack Mosley: [tape recording] This is Detective Jack Mosley, Shield number 227. I guess this will be my last will and testament. This is for Diane. Now, they're gonna come talk to you and they're gonna tell you things. But what they tell you isn't really what happen. So Diane, I think you should know what really happened. I was trying to do a good thing.

Movie Connections:

References "Yûgiô" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe

excellent suspense

This movie was an excellent surprise. It starts slow, but stay with it. Your first look at Bruce Willis as the burnt-out over the hill cop tells you this will not be the normal shoot-em-up cop drama. The plot starts building almost instantly, unlike many movies where you have to wait through thirty minutes of fluff before the story goes anywhere. The characters in the movie are surprisingly endearing, honest and genuine. They're just normal enough to identify with. Not the standard super evil villain and valiant good guy. Bruce Willis is awesome in his role as the tired underdog struggling with the morality of torn loyalty. Mos Def, whose character's voice was a little aggravating, played an excellent supporting role. The relationship he develops with Willis'character is both surprising and humorous. Overall, the movie was tense from the start and is filled with suspense, humor and a great deal of drama. It takes some unexpected turns and has a great ending. I highly recommend it.