Cement Reviews

Though actor-turned-director Adrian Pasdar's grim expose treat cops and robbers as two sides of the same corrupt coin, nothing in the film is as memorable or biting as cable-TV series "The Shield." Corrupt cop policeman Bill Holt (Chris Penn) claims he's kidnapped mob lieutenant Sean Rickhart (Anthony DeSando) because Sean's gangster brother, Truman Rickhart (Henry Czerny), ordered a hit on some rookie cops. Ongoing flashbacks reveal that Holt has a more personal reason for trapping Sean inside a cement molding destined to become part of a highway underpass. Despite warnings about Holt's temper, Sean made the mistake of dallying with Holt's wife, Lyndel (Sherilyn Fenn). Holt's drug-addicted partner, Ninny (Jeffrey Wright), futilely tries to refocus his attention on street business — like who's been cutting into the cops' drug kickbacks — but Holt is in his own world. Always a loose cannon, he goes ballistic after Truman fails to invite him to a private birthday party and kills him. Holt's detective protegees cover up Truman's murder to save their own necks. Holt sees himself as above the law, and takes ever-more reckless risks involving his criminal liaisons and the drug-addled Ninny can't prevent Holt from torturing the terrified Sean. Meanwhile, Holt's men wipe out Truman's goons to cover up their squad's relationship with the mob. Will the threat to Holt's stranglehold on the city come from vengeful gangsters or his own ambitious trainees? The intensity of the image of Sean struggling in concrete is undeniable, as is the situation's obvious metaphorical thrust. But despite some strong imagery, this criminal-behavior drama stumbles through flashy flashbacks designed to forestall revelations that viewers will see coming.