Rampart

Rampart is the story of a policeman in the 90’s around the Rampart district scandal.  The Rampart scandal surrounded the corrupt cops and their malevolent practices in order to get convictions.  Police brutality, theft, falsifying evidence amongst a few things that became commonplace in the police HQ as well as on the streets.

The film focuses on one particular street cop caught up in that corrupt life “Date Rape” Dave Brown.  Nick named ‘Date Rape’ due to an alleged rumour that he killed a date rapist in revenge for his crimes.  Dave is savvy, has all the right words to say, a repeat philanderer/ladies man (however you want to look at it), dysfunctional family in tow, career spiralling out of control.  He manages to bury his ‘date rape’ reputation by getting the criminals in by any means necessary but when a particular much publicised sting gone wrong begins to bite him back, she starts to fall deeper and deeper into his own personal hell.

Stellar acting by Woody Harrelson as Dave Brown, but even his great acting doesn’t save this film.  It’s too long, boring at times and he is completely unlike-able.  Its a smart choice by Harrelson, flexing his acting chops off to show that he isn’t just that guy from Cheers, but it was a little too far the other way.  The Messenger for me is a better advocate for Harrelson’s talent.  Ben Foster (briefly) stars as well as produces the film.  He is also a great actor sitting on the fringes and never really coming into the forefront.  I hope 2012 is the year that both get to come forward and really show themselves off.

Rampart is okay, worth waiting for DVD on this one.