journal features

movie review - S.W.A.T.

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Toronto, 2003.08.22

This is an action movie featuring a member of the elite SWAT unit who is demoted after his partner injures a hostage during the resolution of a bank robbery. The fellow leaves the police force but is contacted by someone from another branch, who is putting together an extra-elite-plus team. What I liked about this is that they kept their feet on the ground, both figuratively and literally. They're not doing all kinds of stunts, they're just grinding through police work. Yes, it all heads in a Hollywood direction by the end but why not.

I went into looking for escapism and got a bit more than that. I was glad to see this.

Recommended.

P.S. I can't remember the last time I went into a cinema on my own. It's been so long since I had regular interaction with close friends that I guess this will become the norm.

rand()m quote

On the endless saga of Rob Ford, mayor of Toronto; "It shouldn't have had to come to this. I'm so tired of getting up every morning and wondering, 'What will it be today?' I'm so tired of giving the benefit of the doubt again and again, only to be let down again and again.... Somewhere a responsible adult has to appear, draw a bright moral line, tell the truth and say unequivocally what won't be tolerated. Somebody has to do the right thing."

—Denzil Minnan-Wong