21 Bridges

21 Bridges is a 2019 American action thriller film directed by Brian Kirk and written by Adam Mervis and Matthew Michael Carnahan, based on a story by Mervis. The film stars Chadwick Boseman as an NYPD detective who shuts down the 21 river crossings of Manhattan to find two suspected cop killers, portrayed by Stephan James and Taylor Kitsch. Sienna Miller Keith David, and J. K. Simmons appear in supporting roles. The film was produced by brothers Joe and Anthony Russo, Mike Larocca, Robert Simonds, Gigi Pritzker, Boseman (in his only producing credit) and Logan Coles.

21 Bridges
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBrian Kirk
Produced by
Screenplay by
Story byAdam Mervis
Starring
Music by
CinematographyPaul Cameron
Edited byTim Murrell
Production
company
Distributed bySTXfilms
Release date
  • November 22, 2019 (2019-11-22) (United States)
Running time
100 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$33 million[2]
Box office$49.9 million[2]

The project was announced as 17 Bridges in July 2018. Principal photography began on September 24, 2018 in New York City, primarily Brooklyn, and also took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[3][4] Several members of the cast joined the film in October 2018, including James and David.

21 Bridges was theatrically released in the United States on November 22, 2019, by STXfilms. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $49 million worldwide on a $33 million production budget.

Plot

Andre Davis is a successful NYPD officer like his father, who was murdered on duty when Davis was 13. Struggling with his father's legacy, Davis has earned a reputation for pursuing and killing "cop-killers" for years, although he claims they were all in self-defense and is uncomfortable with the label.

One night, Michael Trujillo and Ray Jackson, two small-time criminals and war veterans, attempt to steal several kilograms of cocaine from a wine shop. They find more cocaine than they were expecting, and when police officers arrive, Ray guns them down in a shootout. Michael chastises Ray for putting them in jeopardy by killing the officers. Assigned to the case, Davis and narcotics detective Frankie Burns come into conflict with FBI agents, who attempt to take it over. With the reluctant approval of the deputy mayor, the FBI, and the precinct's head, Captain McKenna, Davis asks for the island of Manhattan to be locked down, on the condition that they catch the criminals before 5 a.m.

Ray and Michael coerce their liaison, Bush, to persuade their handler to give them a bigger cut in exchange for their identities changed for their escape. They are given more money and their fixer, Adi, gives them new identities and tells them to depart for Miami the next morning. Davis and Burns manage to identify Ray, Michael, and Bush. Bush is gunned down by Butchco and Dugan, who get there first. After catching Butchco planting his backup sidearm on Bush's body and briefly scuffling with him, Davis becomes more suspicious when a team of police led by Lieutenant Kelly quickly manages to locate Adi's apartment. Adi is mortally wounded by the policemen but manages to give Michael two flash drives and their password.

Davis and Burns manage to catch up to Michael and Ray; after accidentally killing a civilian, Ray is fatally wounded by Davis. Michael holds Burns at gunpoint, telling Davis about the drives and how suspicious everything is, before escaping. Burns scolds Davis for letting Michael escape despite Davis' reputation. Michael hides in a hotel room, where he unlocks the contents of the flash drive and realizes that McKenna's precinct was involved in trafficking the drugs from the winery and earning profits for it, and that all seven of the cops he and Ray had killed in the shootout had been corrupt. After another chase where Michael abandons his money, Davis manages to corner him in a subway train and convinces him to surrender, promising to keep him alive. Michael is suddenly shot by Burns, who had also boarded the train and claimed that she thought Michael was still holding Davis at gunpoint. Davis berates her for shooting Michael, who secretly handed over the drives, along with the password, to Davis before dying. As the police congratulate the two for their efforts, Davis discovers that Burns had contacted Kelly before Adi's apartment was raided.

The next morning, McKenna arrives at his home to find Davis holding him at gunpoint, having accessed the drives. McKenna reasons that the officers were struggling to survive on a measly pay, which forced them to go into drug trafficking, but Davis refuses to walk away. McKenna, along with an arriving Butchco, Dugan and Kelly – who were all on McKenna's payroll – open fire on Davis. Davis kills all of them, including McKenna, who refuses to surrender. Burns, whom Davis deduced was also allied with McKenna, appears from behind and holds Davis at gunpoint, but surrenders after Davis reveals that he had already leaked the information online, exposing all the corrupt cops in New York, and reasons that her daughter would live without her mother should she get a life sentence for killing him.

In the aftermath, Davis solemnly drives along the Manhattan Bridge in the sunset, taking the drives with him.

Cast

Production

On July 11, 2018, it was announced that Chadwick Boseman would star in the film, then known under the title 17 Bridges, with Brian Kirk directing.[5] J. K. Simmons, Sienna Miller and Taylor Kitsch were cast in September. Chris Pratt, Andrew Koji, Will Yun Lee, and Lewis Tan were also considered for roles.[6]

Filming began on September 24, with production occurring between New York City and Philadelphia.[7] Keith David, Morocco Omari, Stephan James and Jamie Neumann joined in October 2018.[8][9][10] Sienna Miller would later reveal just after his death that Boseman donated part of his salary to her in order to have her fairly compensated when STX did not meet her requested pay.[11]

Henry Jackman and Alex Belcher composed the film score, with the soundtrack being released by Sony Classical Records.

Release

21 Bridges was released in the United States and Canada on November 22, 2019.[12] It was previously scheduled to be released on July 12 and September 27, 2019.[13][14]

Home media

The film was released in digital download on February 4, 2020 and also released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 18, 2020.[15] Over its first two weeks of release the film totaled $3.2 million in sales.[16]

Reception

Box office

21 Bridges grossed $28.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $21.4 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $49.9 million, against a production budget of $33 million.[2]

In the United States and Canada, the film was released alongside A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and Frozen II, and was projected to gross $10–12 million from 2,655 theaters in its opening weekend.[17] The film made $3.3 million on its first day, including $770,000 from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $9.3 million, finishing fourth at the box office.[18] The film fell 37% in its second weekend, making $5.8 million and finishing sixth.[19]

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 53% based on 131 reviews, and an average rating of 5.41/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "21 Bridges covers its beat competently enough, but given its impressive cast, this cop thriller should be more arresting than it is."[20] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 51 out of 100, based on 32 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews."[21] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, while those at PostTrak gave it an average 4 out of 5 stars, with 57% saying they would definitely recommend it.[18]

See also

References
  1. "21 Bridges". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  2. "21 Bridges (2019)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  3. Hermann, Adam (November 20, 2019). "Chadwick Boseman explains why '21 Bridges', which filmed all over Philly, changed its name". PhillyVoice. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  4. "NYC What's Filming: Feature Film '21 Bridges' Starring Chadwick Boseman and Sienna Miller". www.backstage.com. May 17, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  5. "Chadwick Boseman to Star in the Russo Brothers' 17 Bridges". ComingSoon.net. July 11, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  6. N'Duka, Amanda (September 26, 2018). "Sienna Miller, J.K. Simmons & Taylor Kitsch Join Chadwick Boseman In STX Thriller '17 Bridges'". Deadline. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  7. "Chadwick Boseman's Cop Thriller '17 Bridges' Begins Filming September 24th In NYC and Philadelphia". GWW. July 18, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  8. "Keith David Joins Chadwick Boseman in 17 Bridges - ComingSoon.net". ComingSoon.net. October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  9. N'Duka, Amanda (October 3, 2018). "'If Beale Street Could Talk' Star Stephan James Lands Major Role Opposite Chadwick Boseman In '17 Bridges'". Deadline. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  10. Kroll, Justin (October 16, 2018). "Chadwick Boseman's '17 Bridges' Adds 'Deuce' Star Jamie Neumann (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  11. Travis, Ben (September 28, 2020). "Chadwick Boseman Boosted Sienna Miller's 21 Bridges Salary From His Own Pay". Empire Magazine. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  12. Fleming Jr, Mike (July 29, 2019). "Chadwick Boseman-Starrer '21 Bridges' Moves To November 22 Opening Date". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  13. Pederson, Erik (May 16, 2019). "Chadwick Boseman-Russo Bros Actioner '21 Bridges' Moves To Fall As STX Sets Dave Bautista's 'My Spy' For Summer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  14. D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 30, 2018). "Chadwick Boseman Action Thriller '17 Bridges' From Russo Brothers & STX Targets Summer 2019 Release". Deadline. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  15. https://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/9228/21-bridges/
  16. "21 Bridges (2019) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  17. D'Alessandro, Anthony; Tartaglione, Nancy (November 20, 2019). "'Frozen 2' Set To Ice 'Toy Story 4' For Toon Global Opening Weekend Record With $242M+". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  18. D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 24, 2019). "'Frozen 2' Thaws Frigid B.O. Marketplace With $130M+, Smashing November Animated Pic Opening Records". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  19. D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 1, 2019). "'Frozen 2' Hooks $126M+ Holiday Record, 'Knives Out' A $42M Win For Original Pics, 2019 YTD Crosses $10B+: Thanksgiving B.O." Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  20. "21 Bridges (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  21. "21 Bridges Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
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