Movies

Those viewers who aren't fans of FX's stellar cop show The Shield may have a good time with this police drama co-written by crime novelist James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential) and directed by Training Day scribe David Ayer. But if you do watch that series, Street Kings can't help but feel like a pale imitation, right down to its main character, rebel cop Tom Ludlow, who is an obvious stand in for The Shield's Vic Mackey (played to perfection by Michael Chiklis).

Keanu Reeves is the unfortunate soul tasked with following in Chiklis' footsteps and while he does a decent job, the undercooked screenplay — which has him investigating corruption in the highest ranks of the department — defeats him at every turn. The unlikely supporting cast includes Jay Mohr, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans and Forest Whitaker, who, funnily enough, had his own memorable guest-starring stint on The Shield a few years back.