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Dark Blue

Play trailer Poster for Dark Blue R 2003 1h 53m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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59% Tomatometer 129 Reviews 52% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Set in the Los Angeles Police Department in 1992, "Dark Blue" is a thriller that takes place just days before the acquittal of four white officers in the beating of black motorist Rodney King and the subsequent L.A. riots. In this racially charged climate, the LAPD's elite Special Investigations Squad is assigned a quadruple homicide. As they work the case, detective Eldon (Kurt Russell), tutors SIS rookie Bobby (Scott Speedman) in the realities of police intimidation and corruption.
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Dark Blue

Dark Blue

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Critics Consensus

Kurt Russell gives a good performance. Too bad there's nothing here that you haven't seen before.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/22/2010
3/5
Violent police detective teaches his partner. Go to Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 06/19/2003
2.5/4
As Perry literally descends into hell during the L.A. riots, the film takes on an eerie melancholia powered by Russell's impassioned lead. Go to Full Review Richard Roeper Ebert & Roeper 02/24/2003
Well worth recommending. Go to Full Review Felicia Feaster Creative Loafing 01/30/2020
Dark Blue is a bitter, often stunning sewer elegy for the little-man-as-monster, the nobody who thinks he's somebody but who is just a stooge trapped within a corrupt system. Go to Full Review Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens 11/07/2019
With Oscar season 2003 barely underway, our attention is already shifting to Oscar 2004, and in particularly, to Kurt Russell, who without a doubt, should be among next year's list of Best Actor contenders given his performance in Dark Blue. Go to Full Review James Evans Starburst 01/29/2019
5/10
It's not totally without merit (Kurt, mostly) but there's little nuance or replay-ability here. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Marc S. @MSteele67 Feb 22 Decent movie, with an excellent performance by Russell. However, the plot was formulaic & there was little character development. Not a bad movie, but for one that utilizes such an explosive & divisive moment in LA history as a background it was disappointing. See more M B Dec 11 I liked this, Kurt Russell was excellent and the rest of the cast. Builds up nicely into an involving movie. See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Nov 20 The cover is misleading. I thought it was gonna be a whole lot more entertaining. But since Kurt Russell is in it, I happily watched it. See more Daniel V 04/07/2024 I lived this. The Rodney King beating and the riots because of the LAPD officers were found innocent was current news for a 14-year-old me. Now, I'm not saying I was living it in the sense that I was in the middle of the riots, but I definitely watched it on the news while it was happening. It was a strange time. I fully support the police, I know several officers as well as sheriff's deputies. Some are very close to me. But I also believe this was police brutality. 99.9% of police are good people. But there is that .1% that aren't. And they need to not be cops. But I digress. As far as a police drama featuring corruption amongst their ranks, Dark Blue is cookie cutter. That's something I don't mind, especially since I like these types of cookies. However, what makes me rate this flick the way I did is because of my familiarity of the real life events that are its setting, and Kurt Russell. I love Kurt Russell and this is a fantastic performance by him. Vintage Russell. He's not a bad guy but he does bad things. It's a redemption story. And Kurt has my support if redemption is what his character is looking for. See more Cinephemeride [ 12/12/2023 a good film noir between L.A. Confidential and Copland with a solid storyline and a quality casting See more jwcdood @jwcdood 11/28/2023 DARK BLUE has a good cast and is a good story, but poorly developed and poorly told. C'est la vie... See more Read all reviews
Dark Blue

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Cast & Crew

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Ron Shelton

Director

Kurt Russell

Eldon Perry

Brendan Gleeson

Jack Van Meter

Scott Speedman

Bobby Keough

Michael Michele

Beth Williamson

Lolita Davidovich

Sally Perry

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Dark Blue

Dark Blue (2002) KURT RUSSELL and director RON SHELTON discuss a scene while filming United Artists' drama DARK BLUE. Beth Williamson (MICHAEL MICHELE) and Bobby Keough (SCOTT SPEEDMAN) search for a suspect in United Artists' drama DARK BLUE. Detective Eldon Perry (KURT RUSSELL) leads Beth Williamson (MICHAEL MICHELE, center) and Bobby Keough (SCOTT SPEEDMAN, right) in searching for a suspect in United Artists' drama DARK BLUE. Assistant Chief Arthur Holland (VING RHAMES) makes a deal with Bobby Keough (SCOTT SPEEDMAN) in United Artists' drama DARK BLUE. MICHAEL MICHELE stars as Beth Williamson in United Artists' drama DARK BLUE. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Set in the Los Angeles Police Department in 1992, "Dark Blue" is a thriller that takes place just days before the acquittal of four white officers in the beating of black motorist Rodney King and the subsequent L.A. riots. In this racially charged climate, the LAPD's elite Special Investigations Squad is assigned a quadruple homicide. As they work the case, detective Eldon (Kurt Russell), tutors SIS rookie Bobby (Scott Speedman) in the realities of police intimidation and corruption.
Director
Ron Shelton
Producer
Caldecot Chubb, David Blocker, James Jacks, Sean Daniel
Screenwriter
David Ayer, James Ellroy
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Cosmic Pictures, InterMedia Film Equities Ltd., Alphaville Films
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 21, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.1M
Runtime
1h 53m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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