Black and Blue is a 2019 American action thriller film directed by Deon Taylor and written by Peter A. Dowling. It stars Naomie Harris, Tyrese Gibson, Frank Grillo, and Mike Colter. The film follows a rookie New Orleans police officer who accidentally captures the murder of a young drug dealer on her body cam. After realizing that the murder was committed by corrupt cops, she teams up with the one person from her community who is willing to help her as she tries to escape both the criminals out to destroy the footage and the police who are desperate to silence her.
What is the plot of Black and Blue?
The film follows Alicia West, a rookie cop in New Orleans who grew up in the same neighborhood she now patrols. While on a routine patrol, Alicia witnesses corrupt cops led by Detective Terry Malone murder a drug dealer. The cops spot Alicia and open fire, but she manages to escape unharmed. When Alicia reviews the footage from her body cam, she realizes she has recorded evidence that could expose the dirty cops.
Alicia seeks help from Milo “Mouse” Jackson, an old friend who runs a convenience store in her neighborhood. Mouse is hesitant to get involved at first, but eventually agrees to help Alicia try to escape New Orleans and safely deliver the incriminating footage. With both the cops and local gang members trying to hunt her down, Alicia and Mouse must rely on any allies they can find among the residents of their community as they try to survive long enough to expose the truth.
Who are the main characters in Black and Blue?
Here are the main characters in Black and Blue:
- Alicia West – Played by Naomie Harris. A rookie cop trying to do the right thing after witnessing a murder by corrupt cops.
- Milo “Mouse” Jackson – Played by Tyrese Gibson. Alicia’s childhood friend who runs a convenience store and helps her escape with the incriminating footage.
- Terry Malone – Played by Frank Grillo. The leader of a group of corrupt cops trying to cover up their crimes. He will stop at nothing to silence Alicia.
- Darius – Played by Mike Colter. A local drug lord also trying to hunt down Alicia and the footage that could expose his criminal connections.
- Ed “Scribble” Jackson – Played by Beau Knapp. Another dirty cop working for Malone. He has a reputation for violence and intimidation.
Who are the actors in Black and Blue?
Here are the main actors who star in Black and Blue:
- Naomie Harris as Alicia West – Harris is best known for her roles in the James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre as well as critically acclaimed films like Moonlight.
- Tyrese Gibson as Milo “Mouse” Jackson – Gibson is known for blockbusters like the Fast & Furious franchise as well as indie films like Baby Boy.
- Frank Grillo as Terry Malone – Grillo has appeared in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Purge sequels, and the TV series Kingdom.
- Mike Colter as Darius – Colter starred as Luke Cage in the Marvel Netflix series and also appeared in Halo and The Good Wife.
- Reid Scott as Kevin Miller – Scott has acted in Veep, The Big C, and Why Women Kill.
- Beau Knapp as Ed “Scribble” Jackson – Knapp has had roles in The Nice Guys, Seven Seconds, and Death Wish.
Other cast members include Nafessa Williams, James Moses Black, Thomas Q. Jones, and Dale Pavinski.
Who is the director of Black and Blue?
Black and Blue is directed by Deon Taylor. Some of his other directing credits include:
- Traffik
- The Intruder
- Meet the Blacks
- Supremacy
- Chain Letter
Taylor is known for working in the thriller and horror genres. Black and Blue is his first major studio film with Sony Pictures.
When was Black and Blue released?
Black and Blue was released in theaters on October 25, 2019 in the United States. It was released by Screen Gems.
How did Black and Blue perform at the box office?
Black and Blue had a modest performance at the box office. Here are some key box office stats for the film:
- Budget – Estimated $12 million
- Opening weekend gross – $8.3 million
- Domestic total gross – $20.4 million
- Worldwide total gross – $32.2 million
While the film was profitable based on its small budget, the box office totals were lower than expected. The film faced competition from other films out at the same time like Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and Terminator: Dark Fate.
What was the critical response to Black and Blue?
Black and Blue received mixed but generally positive reviews from critics. Here is a summary of some of the critical consensus:
- On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 65% Tomatometer score based on 105 reviews and an average rating of 5.7/10. The critics consensus states: “Black and Blue pretends to trenchant political commentary, but ultimately settles for lackluster action and hoary clichés.”
- On Metacritic, it has a score of 52 out of 100 based on 25 critics, indicating “mixed or average reviews.”
- Many critics praised Naomie Harris’ powerful lead performance but felt the overall script and direction lacked nuance.
- The action sequences and footage were highlighted as strengths of the film.
- Some felt the story relied too heavily on clichés and was predictable.
While not a critical breakthrough, most reviewers found things to appreciate in Harris’ acting and the film’s timely themes about police corruption and community relations.
Is Black and Blue on Netflix?
No, Black and Blue is not currently available to stream on Netflix. The streaming rights are owned by Sony Pictures, so the film may eventually come to Netflix at some point in the future after its premium streaming and home video release windows have passed.
Here are some details on where Black and Blue can be streamed:
- The film is available for rental or purchase on digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu.
- It is also available on Blu-ray and DVD for purchase from online and brick-and-mortar retailers.
- The film will likely stream exclusively on Starz for a period of time before becoming available on any other subscription streaming services.
Since Sony owns the rights to Black and Blue, it is unlikely to show up on Netflix any time soon. However, Netflix does maintain an evolving catalog of action thrillers similar to Black and Blue that subscribers can check out, even if the movie itself is not streaming there currently.
What is the message of the film Black and Blue?
Black and Blue explores themes about police corruption, racism, and community relationships. Some of the key messages conveyed through the film include:
- Not all cops are corrupt or bad, but even good cops can get caught up in institutional problems.
- Communities of color often suffer when police forces lose accountability and oversight.
- One person trying to do the right thing can make a difference against a larger corrupt system.
- Prejudices on both sides prevent unity and trust between police and marginalized communities.
- Standing up for truth and justice often means going against the status quo social order.
- Unity and alliances within oppressed groups are needed to challenge systemic injustices.
While an action thriller at its core, Black and Blue also strives to shine a light on current social issues surrounding policing, racial bias, and the struggles of black communities in America.
How does the film depict police brutality and corruption?
Black and Blue depicts police brutality and corruption through the main antagonist cops led by Detective Terry Malone. These cops act with impunity in the black neighborhood they patrol, using extreme violence and intimidation to maintain control. The film shows them murdering a drug dealer to apparentlessly silence him and then trying to kill Alicia when she catches them in the act.
The actions of these violent, corrupt cops are contrasted with Alicia, who tries to do legitimate police work and be a figure of trust in the community. However, the film shows even well-meaning officers like Alicia struggle when the system around them is rotted by years of corruption and lack of accountability. She cannot get help through official channels and is forced to try to expose the truth on her own.
So while not all the cops are portrayed as villains, the film uses Malone and his crew to depict how unchecked police power and racial bias can poison community relations leading to brutality and civil rights violations.
How does the film depict race relations and the black experience in America?
Black and Blue explores contemporary race issues through Alicia’s struggles as a black cop policing a poor, predominantly black neighborhood in New Orleans. Though she grew up in the neighborhood, her blue uniform now makes her an outsider to many residents who see the police as oppressors rather than protectors.
The film’s title itself holds a double meaning, representing Alicia being caught between the blue of the police force and the black community she comes from. Scenes show how she faces prejudice from both sides: distrust from black residents and hostility from the white-dominated police force.
Ultimately, Alicia finds alliance with the people in her neighborhood as they band together to help her against the corrupt cops who have victimized the community for years. The film’s resolution implies hope for reconciliation and mutual understanding between police and citizens of color when individuals on both sides strive to do the right thing.
Does the film offer any solutions to the issues it raises?
While primarily an action-focused drama, Black and Blue does imply some potential solutions or reforms regarding the issues of police corruption, brutality, and community trust it portrays:
- Recruiting more black police officers and promoting greater diversity within law enforcement could help bridge gaps between police and minority neighborhoods.
- Creating accountability for police actions and ending the “blue wall of silence” culture is needed to stop corruption.
- Communities and police working together on reforms, dialogue and mutual understanding could improve relations.
- New policies and training to eliminate racial bias and excessive force practices by police.
- Restricting/banning problematic policing tactics like chokeholds, no-knock raids, and military equipment usage on police forces.
- Independent prosecutors for police misconduct cases could end biased internal reviews.
While just one film, Black and Blue contributes an emotional perspective on current challenges between police and communities of color while also showing a path forward is possible through cooperation and accountability.
Conclusion
Black and Blue is a 2019 action thriller that tackles timely themes about police corruption, racism, and community relations. The film stars Naomie Harris as a rookie New Orleans cop who witnesses a murder by corrupt officers and goes on the run with incriminating body cam footage. With help from her embattled community, she works to survive long enough to expose the truth while also representing hope for reconciliation between law enforcement and minority neighborhoods. Though not without flaws, Black and Blue succeeds as an entertaining and topical drama elevated by themes of social justice and a standout performance by Harris.
