Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
An embattled NYPD detective, is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers after uncovering a massive and unexpected conspiracy. As the night unfolds, lines become blurred on who he is pursuing, and who is in pursuit of him.
21 Bridges is a competent but formulaic neo-noir thriller. The conspiracy plot starts promisingly but collapses into predictable twists that veteran genre viewers will see coming well in advance. Chadwick Boseman brings charisma and commitment to the lead role, and the supporting cast (Sienna Miller, J.K. Simmons) is solid, but no one is given enough material to truly shine. The cinematography captures nighttime New York adequately with some slick chase sequences, though nothing visually distinctive. The concept of shutting down Manhattan's bridges is an intriguing hook, but the film leans heavily on well-worn cop thriller conventions without adding much of its own identity. The ending resolves the conspiracy in a rushed, unsatisfying manner that undercuts the tension built earlier, making it feel like a missed opportunity for genuine impact.