Freelancers

How good should this film have been(?) Starring Robert De Niro and Forest Whitaker, two great American actors, and 50'Cent Curtis Jackson who I've noticed acting well in other films, this should have been, at the least, a satisfyingly good film. So when I saw The Sony Movie Channel was airing it I thought I'd give it a view. DAMN! This was bad! If I were any of the actors I wouldn't even consider putting this on my resume. Robert De Niro played the leader of a group of bad cops, Joe Sarcone, who recruits Malo, Curtis Jackson, and his friends. These had previously been thugs who had supposedly seen the light but were very quick to jump on board Sarcone's ship (so much for the good guys) Milo is paired with LaRue, Forest Whitaker, who is a drug addict and will let anybody off if he can score from them. Even though he's not openly racist he does have a hatred for whites. This is balanced off by a minor player in the film, Billy Morrison, played brilliantly by Matt Gerald (who is the only acting light in this dire movie), as he has a hatred for anyone not white and is very vocal and aggressive about it. The only good cop in the whole film is Terrence Burke, played by Robert Wisdom. He tries to keep his distance from the others and even gets his rookie partner A D, Malcolm Goodwin, to help him train the kids in his area at football. The only community-minded cop in the city, it would appear. Even when the cop who's pursuing Sarcone's mob, Robert Jude (played by Michael McGrady) tries to recruit Malo by telling him what really happened to his father, you get the sense that he isn't as clean as he should be. This is a pretty depressing tale that paints the majority of police in a bad light stating that most of them are corrupt and on the take. If I were in this city I'd not ask a policeman directions because they would direct you down an alley, shoot you in the back and steal all your valuables. The writer, L Phillipe Casseus, gives the audience a bleak tale of greed and depravity in the police force. This isn't a bad thing, it's been done before; though, it's been done better. The fault, I believe, lies with the director Jessy Terrero, who probably only got the job because he'd worked with Jackson before. Most of the scenes are slapdash and so brilliantly set out. Jackson, most of the time, stumbles around the sets without an idea of what his character is about. There is one hell of a lot to Malo and giving the role to a newbie, without proper direction, was a bad decision. De Niro is at his shouty best here; stomping around, hitting and shooting things. Even though it's nice to see him go berserk he just does it too much - poor guy must have needed some lockets afterwards to soothe his throat. Forest Whitaker is brilliant as the drug-addled cop... so good that he actually does appear to have been on something. It was probably needed to get through this rubbish with most of his sanity intact. But it really didn't help the movie any, it just made his lines seem slurred and indistinguishable. If you like any of the actors or cop drama's then I would recommend you to stay away from this pile of diatribe.

I will make this short, well at least ten lines short. A film about the NYPD should have real NYPD uniforms and patches and cars because the audience will know the difference. A film about the NYPD should have actors acting like real NYPD cops because the audience, especially real cops will know the difference. A film about the NYPD should at least be filmed in New York unless its starring Gene Hackman and is titled French Connection II (which still kinda sucked) because New Yorkers know the difference between New York and everywhere else. Acting is all about truth for me. From the onset,this movie had no truth and should, in my opinion have no audience.

Nothing unique, really? IMHO, whether or not 50 cent is bad cop or good cop is not certain until we get to nearly end. A cop cleansing bad cops finally turns into a bad cop -- or should I say replaces them of himself -- is quite new to me. To be honest, I had no idea how 50 cent set everything straight, not before the DEA guy helped him out but after in his new position. How can he handle all the other rogue cops with more history than his after all this mess? The plot is weak at this point. There is a surprise in a scene where 50 cent has to choose a friend or his GF. There should be. And the surprise is not what I was expected. That is surprise! Not the best movie of course, but worth watching once.

OK for a Saturday evening film, when the washing up is done and all quiet in the house, this will keep you fit as you slide into a deep sleep without the aid of a milky drink and a chocie biscuit. Firstly Mr whitaker looks decidedly lost in this film not a role for the Last King of Scotland more like Mc duff! De Niro just there for the money and film credits (he has done 163 now) and Mr 50p made a good effort, he hit most of his marks and looked slightly interested in the unfolding story, but his facial expressions changing every 17.6 became most annoying put me off taking him to serious as a lead role (has he got some form of Palsy? in that case he did well) Story was the same as previous stories, the only difference they were told better and with more conviction from the characters (yes Vinnie i mean you). Best part of the film, as when i got up to search for some more washing up. all work and no play.

OK, I recognized a few names in this movie: Robert De Niro, Forrest Whittaker, Dana Delaney, and 50 Cent. Based on the aforementioned names, I rented this movie. The bottom line is I got duped. The movie is below-average in every aspect:screenplay, acting,and directing. Basically, the whole film feels generic and half-assed. What is surprising is that the characters are all superficial and one-dimensional. This is to be expected from the likes of 50 Cent and some of the supporting characters, but from Robert De Niro and even Forrest Whittaker, it is incomprehensible. In the past, the name Robert De Niro would have conjured up memories of incredible movies from the 70's and 80's such as Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Godfather 2,Mean Streets, The Deer Hunter, etc. However, Robert De Niro has not made a quality film in almost a decade. What happened? Has wealth and fame completely enervated his passion for acting? Very Disappointing.

How good should this film have been(?) Starring Robert De Niro and Forest Whitaker, two great American actors, and 50'Cent Curtis Jackson who I've noticed acting well in other films, this should have been, at the least, a satisfyingly good film. So when I saw The Sony Movie Channel was airing it I thought I'd give it a view. DAMN! This was bad! If I were any of the actors I wouldn't even consider putting this on my resume. Robert De Niro played the leader of a group of bad cops, Joe Sarcone, who recruits Malo, Curtis Jackson, and his friends. These had previously been thugs who had supposedly seen the light but were very quick to jump on board Sarcone's ship (so much for the good guys) Milo is paired with LaRue, Forest Whitaker, who is a drug addict and will let anybody off if he can score from them. Even though he's not openly racist he does have a hatred for whites. This is balanced off by a minor player in the film, Billy Morrison, played brilliantly by Matt Gerald (who is the only acting light in this dire movie), as he has a hatred for anyone not white and is very vocal and aggressive about it. The only good cop in the whole film is Terrence Burke, played by Robert Wisdom. He tries to keep his distance from the others and even gets his rookie partner A D, Malcolm Goodwin, to help him train the kids in his area at football. The only community-minded cop in the city, it would appear. Even when the cop who's pursuing Sarcone's mob, Robert Jude (played by Michael McGrady) tries to recruit Malo by telling him what really happened to his father, you get the sense that he isn't as clean as he should be. This is a pretty depressing tale that paints the majority of police in a bad light stating that most of them are corrupt and on the take. If I were in this city I'd not ask a policeman directions because they would direct you down an alley, shoot you in the back and steal all your valuables. The writer, L Phillipe Casseus, gives the audience a bleak tale of greed and depravity in the police force. This isn't a bad thing, it's been done before; though, it's been done better. The fault, I believe, lies with the director Jessy Terrero, who probably only got the job because he'd worked with Jackson before. Most of the scenes are slapdash and so brilliantly set out. Jackson, most of the time, stumbles around the sets without an idea of what his character is about. There is one hell of a lot to Malo and giving the role to a newbie, without proper direction, was a bad decision. De Niro is at his shouty best here; stomping around, hitting and shooting things. Even though it's nice to see him go berserk he just does it too much - poor guy must have needed some lockets afterwards to soothe his throat. Forest Whitaker is brilliant as the drug-addled cop... so good that he actually does appear to have been on something. It was probably needed to get through this rubbish with most of his sanity intact. But it really didn't help the movie any, it just made his lines seem slurred and indistinguishable. If you like any of the actors or cop drama's then I would recommend you to stay away from this pile of diatribe.

Wanted to watch because of all the promotion I've seen. I've been following 50 Cent's career for a while now, and wanted to see how he did in this one. I watched it and it wasn't as bad as everyone is carrying on. I must admit, however, I did read some of the comments before I watched it, so I went in with very low expectations. The story line wasn't bad at all (nothing surprising, but not bad). Watched it all the way through, and didn't want to turn it off. I have actually sat through way worst movies than this (cough** Paranormal Activity **cough), but don't go in expecting Oscar performance, just go in to watch the movie. I do agree the acting is not the greatest, but again it was not the worst.

In a clash of the Stella thespian talents that are Vinnie Jones and 50 Cent, Vinnie comes out with top acting honours. At the Oscars after party Vinnie, still clutching his golden statue said, " Its been a long time coming, but at last my 'ard work and talents has been recognised by The Academy" he went on to have high praise for his co-star " Yeah, 50 Cent is a diamond geezer, I knew I 'ad to be on top form to even be on set with a guy like him" He was less generous with two of his other co-stars however " I was well disappointed with that De Niro bloke and whatsisname, that Forest geezer. Complete Muppets the pair of 'em" So what is next for the Vinster? Was there any truth in the rumour he and 50 cent were going to cut an album together? "I fink I got sumit to tell to the yoofs of today" he commented. Meanwhile I asked a disappointed 50 Cent if he had any movies in the pipeline " 'might 'av a part in dis seminal short. Its set in a fast food joint and my agent says it "condenses contemporary urban angst into an ostensibly glossy 30 seconds of intense action" He continued " And I've got a speaking part, I say "I'm loving it!"" In a rare moment of self doubt 50 Cent added "But it might be a bit of a stretch for me"

Nothing unique, really? IMHO, whether or not 50 cent is bad cop or good cop is not certain until we get to nearly end. A cop cleansing bad cops finally turns into a bad cop -- or should I say replaces them of himself -- is quite new to me. To be honest, I had no idea how 50 cent set everything straight, not before the DEA guy helped him out but after in his new position. How can he handle all the other rogue cops with more history than his after all this mess? The plot is weak at this point. There is a surprise in a scene where 50 cent has to choose a friend or his GF. There should be. And the surprise is not what I was expected. That is surprise! Not the best movie of course, but worth watching once.

Although I'm not a big fan of movies toplining Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, "Freelancers" qualifies as an above-average, but formulaic crooked cop melodrama. Basically, director Jessy Terrero's thriller aspires to be "Training Day" multiplied by three. Robert De Niro, Forrest Whitaker, Dana Delany, Vinnie Jones, and Pedro Armendáriz Jr., co-star and provide a semblance of gravitas. Before its 96 minutes elapses, this amoral, complicated chronicle takes some sordid turns with one of the three biting the dust and "50 Cent" getting his hands dirty along the way. "50 Cent" casts himself as the son of a murdered N.Y.P.D. Detective Daniel Maldonado (Andre Royo of "Red Tails") who died in an explosion before his eyes. Talk about a traumatic experience to live down! Eventually, the fatherless Maldonado ("50 Cent") and his two chums, A.D. (Malcolm Goodwin of "Leatherheads") and Lucas (Ryan O'Nan of "Eat, Pray, Love"), wind up behind bars as adolescents but they are released. Years afterward, an official, Lydia Vecchio (Dana Delany of "Tombstone") makes it possible to the trio to enter the Police Academy. No sooner have the threesome graduated than Malo finds himself up to his ears in police corruption with Captain Joe Sarcone (Robert De Niro of "Midnight Run") collecting payoffs and scamming criminals. Things turn sour quickly for our single black hero and his one white buddy Lucas goes berserk with his new-found power as a cop. The three of them learn about life as it is when Sarcone dispatches them to deal with a tough guy named Sully (Vinnie Jones of "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels"), but he doesn't get much screen time. He informs our heroic trio about Sarcone's boss, Gabriel Baez (Pedro Armendáriz Jr. of "License to Kill"), who have been importing product into the Big Apple for 20 years. The farther that they go, the deeper our heroes find themselves in the shadow of the proverbial 8-ball. Happily, "Freelancers" doesn't wear out its welcome. Nothing in it is particularly original, but Terrero generates some suspense. He also tosses in a surprise or two. The stand-off scene is top-notch with the men in blue intervening in a showdown between gang bangers. As the chief protagonist, "50 Cent" generates little charisma as the son of the slain detective. De Niro is appropriately slimy, and Whitaker is believably belligerent. Delany has fewer than five scenes and Jones isn't give enough time to make a solid impression. Interestingly enough, "Freelancers" was lensed on location in Louisiana!