This is a story about dirty cops. The only question is: who is dirty and who isn’t because appearances can be deceiving. The one good cop, Tom Ludlow (Keanu Reeves), is not above taking the law into his hands if it means getting rid of the dirt and grime of the streets. This movie is based in stark reality, including violent shooting and splattered blood, as well as some very coarse language.

The talent in the film is undeniable as Forest Whitaker and Hugh Laurie join Reeves in this gritty and violent picture. When Ludlow’s former partner, Terrance Washington, is gunned down in a store robbery, Ludlow begins his quest in sorting out if Washington was dirty or not, and if the murder was random or planned. This leads to some interesting developments and a few surprises by film’s end. It becomes obvious that one of two top police officers is behind a cover-up, but which one? It’s too bad the constant use of strong language and violence place the movie over the mark of Dove’s acceptability for family-friendly films. Therefore, we are unable to award our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal to the picture.