Pride and Glory (2008) User Reviews

Great performances, below-average movie

[Slaughterlouse · 6/10 · 26 October 2008]

Colin Farrell, Edward Norton, Noah Emmerich, and Jon Voight all deliver great performances. There are many intense scenes throughout the movie, and Norton and Farrell match them with their own intensity. Voight is believable and realistic as the patriarch of the family of cops and the chief, trying to keep his family in order as he thinks it should be.

Despite the inspired performances of the main characters, however, Pride and Glory falls short due to awkward pacing, pointlessly convoluted side-stories revealed in equally pointless scenes, and a general lack of focus. Pride and Glory tries to tell two or three stories at once, but fails to really punctuate any one of them, leading to a fairly emotionless climax and no discernible, unifying theme. The result is a forgettable movie and a hint of buyer's remorse; if you're a big enough fan of Ed Norton or Colin Farrell and want to see either of them put on a great performance, catch the matinée, or even still, wait a few months and rent it.

The cast made the movie

[obsessive_disintegration · 7/10 · 26 October 2008]

The plot of this movie is the fairly predictable (though always entertaining) idea of the corrupt cops against the good cops and the always-annoying injection of the nosy media. If it had been done by amateur actors, this movie wouldn't have been nearly as good.

Edward Norton was absolutely STUNNING, blew me away. He's always been a favorite of mine but every role he's in continues to amaze me. There a scene where he's talking to a Spanish woman and his expression throughout the scene is the main thing that stuck out to me in the whole movie. There's just something in his eyes that draws you and sucks you in.

Colin Farrell did an amazing job as well, as did Jon Voight. They managed to bring their characters more personality than I expected there to be. Especially Colin. Even though he played a such a bad character, there was something there in the way he was with his family and everything that still made me feel BAD for him.

And though the f-bombs were sometimes distracting and the ending could've had more punch, overall I really liked this movie.

More True Than Some Want To Know

[nyshrink · 8/10 · 26 October 2008]

I haven't seen a lot of cop movies, so perhaps that's why I didn't find this picture "formulaic" as some have called it. I did find aspects of the film familiar, but for a different reason: I have been a resident of New York City for some time now; I have known law enforcement officers, and I think this was a realistic movie (except for the large number of murders, but hey, it's a movie). Many scenes of this film were quite reminiscent to me of stories I heard from a (former) corrupt cop I used to know.

I appreciated the fact this film showed the characters as human beings with families. I am tired of films that show both heroes and villains without back stories. I'm sure there are younger film-goers who would have preferred a more comic-book like movie...you'll grow out of that.

I liked the way the film ended. It brought in another dimension to the human drama.

Overall, this film is gripping, well acted, well directed and has an integrity to it that is often missing in films these days.

Timeless American Film

[AnthonyTambakis · 16 November 2007]

I saw a screening of "Pride and Glory" last night. It's the kind of American movie you don't see anymore, a throwback to the big themes and dramatic tone of the 1950s, when Elia Kazan was making movies like "East of Eden" and "On the Waterfront," and Arthur Miller was writing plays like "Death of a Salesman" and "All My Sons." Family, honor, corruption, right and wrong, fathers and sons--these are the kinds of issues that director/co-writer Gavin O'Connor is taking on in "Pride and Glory," and in doing so he's made a timeless film. Sincere without being sentimental (much like "Miracle," O'Connor's last effort), "Pride and Glory" gets elbow deep in a corruption scandal that threatens to crack the blue wall of the NYPD and destroy the Tierney family legacy (patriarch Jon Voight, sons Ed Norton and Noah Emmerich, and outlaw brother-in-law Colin Farrell, who has never been better). A muscular, old-school American film, with big themes splashed on a big canvas, "Pride and Glory" is familiar and original at the same time. In the Age of Irony, these are the kinds of movies you rarely see anymore. An honest, gripping drama.

Some flaws here and there, but still has a very decent story

[Smells_Like_Cheese · 7/10 · 12 November 2008]

Edward Norton and Colin Ferrell, the automatic great duo, they make a perfect team for a movie like this. They're both great actors and will make any movie worth the watch. So my friends and I watched Pride and Glory a little over a week ago, I was hearing mixed reviews on it, but still, when you love these actors as much as I do, you have to see it. So based on my honest opinion, this is a very good story, but the film just needed better editing, it was a little longer than it should have been. Also I didn't really like the ending, although I know they did it more for the cinematic reasons as people wanna see the bad guys pay for their crimes. But Ed, Colin, and even John Voight make this film very watchable and click right on screen. We've seen a million crooked cop movies, I think we're still looking for one that really stands out, but Pride and Glory holds itself well and is watchable.

Jimmy is a narc who does pretty much all the dirty work when it comes to busting in on drug dealers, hookers, murderers, rapists, etc. One night though he among other cops receive a call that 4 policemen have been killed in a building with drug dealers. Jimmy is trying to figure out what went wrong only to find out that one of the drug dealers had an inside man who called in advance to warn them that the cops were coming. But one of the policemen that he suspects is his brother in-law who does the best he can to justify all that he is doing.

Pride and Glory is a very good story, I'd say though to wait for the rental, but I'm warning you there are some really intense scenes, Colin goes really far in one scene with a baby, I'm a person who has seen every disturbing film known to man, and this scene had my hands over my eyes. If you wanna see this film, you'll see what I'm talking about. There are some shocking lines as well and hurtful, this was just an intense movie and is not for the weak hearted. It's like the more disturbing episode of The Shield in some ways. Ed and Colin work well together and are a great duo, Pride and Glory is a good movie, just needs a little more editing.

7/10

Family of cops & a whole load of blood; Enjoyable

[joebloggscity · 7/10 · 6 December 2008]

Films revolving around a family of policemen are nothing new. Pride & Glory, starring Norton & Farrell, isn't anything revolutionary in the genre but takes a generally strong storyline and adds some good acting.

Story revolves around a group of cops (led by Farrell) up to their necks in trouble after their corrupt scams have backfired on them, and to cover their backs they need to tread deeper into the mire. On the other hand is Norton (Farrell's brother-in-law) who slowly discovers what's going on, and it all goes helter-skelter.

In many ways in these films they can get a little clichéd and melodramatic, but this film seems conscious of that fact, and in general has strayed away from what it could have been. Nevertheless, its nothing special but still interesting. The main interest is the family politics and dynamics and that should keep your interest with the generally good acting. An enjoyable movie.

A bit slumberous and uneven but still a solid and compelling police thriller

[wellthatswhatithinkanyway · 7/10 · 16 November 2008]

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

When four police officers are brutally gunned down in a run down, drug infested tower block, it sets a deadly chain of events in motion that threaten to tear apart the brotherly structure of the New York Police Department. Honest cop Ray Tierney (Edward Norton) starts with the proper approach, getting a statement from an eye witness to what may have gone on in the shape of an innocent, unlying child who admits to having seen notorious drug dealer Angel Tezo (Ramon Rodriguez) fleeing from the scene in fear. With what happened starting to look fairly obvious, the hunt begins for Tezo. Unfortunately, that includes less honest cops Jimmy Egan (Colin Farrell), related to Ray through marriage, and his men whose corrupt activities have lead to the murders. It all builds up to a devastating battle between family and friends, loyalty and justice, truth and honour.

As any one who's glanced at the trivia section (or Empire Magazine!) will already know, work on Pride and Glory was scheduled to begin as far back as 2001, but owing to America's characteristically patriotic respect for NY cops who risked their lives to save lives that fateful day, any suggestion of corruption amongst them was deemed, well, unpatriotic and it's been left till seven years later for the film to come out. It would appear the most high profile film to come from writer/director Gavin O' Connor, whose other credits appear a smattering of unheard of films that have skipped the sort of exposure this one's got.

Though a few have claimed the film has been done before (which it surely has), it is still far more than a standard, straight-forward cop thriller, with an intelligent, twisty turny screenplay that keeps you hooked with it's developments and raw honesty. Despite this, the narrative flow fails to keep going as well as you'd like, and a fair few scenes gracelessly flow on from the last one rather than keeping you hooked for them. Also on the plus side are strong, solid performances from leading men Norton and Farrell, not to mention Jon Voight and Noah Emmerich as the other honest, well meaning father/son cop team caught up in the middle of the corrupt shenanigans as everyone else. But Norton and Farrell not only have good presence, they have good chemistry together and it's a shame they're scenes together are too few. Another down point is their climactic fisticuffs session, which feels corny and out of place amongst what has been a raw, unflinching, brutally and unsearingly honest cop film up till now, belonging more at the end of a Jet Li or Chuck Norris movie to be honest.

Still, this is a solid, well made cop thriller that was still quite worth the wait. ***

Excellent Movie....despite beginning

[hb-boyd · 7/10 · 16 October 2008]

I saw the advance screening of Pride and Glory last night in NYC. It's an excellent film despite the first 30 minutes, which is riddled with enough F-bombs ((classic Collin Farrell)) and Spanish speaking between characters ((no subtitles!)) to make you question whether you'll ever understand what's happening on screen. It's not until after the 30 minute mark that the storyline is finally spelled out for those of us who can't cut through all the nonsense at the start. Thanks to outstanding performances by Edward Norton and Jon Voight this is definitely a MUST see film. All the action will literally have you on the edge of your seat towards the end. However, I'd advise you to spend the first 30 minutes doing something more productive with your time like standing outside in the concession line for popcorn and candy. In the bathroom washing your hands. Maybe on your cell phone having a conversation with your mother would be less punishment than watching the poor set up of this cop flick. But do go out and see this film!!! Just be sure to leave the kids at home, because the profanity, nudity and violence was even a bit too much for some of the adults in the audience. Enjoy.

One of the Realest

[view_and_review · 9/10 · 2 November 2021]

This is one of the realest movies I've ever seen about the NYPD. "Serpico" would be the first movie I'd recommend and this would be number two.

I'm sure you can tell by my opening statements where my sentiments lie with regards to the NYPD. They have enough hero stories to last a lifetime; two movies that besmirch their hallowed name shouldn't upset too many. Let me throw a third in the mix while I'm at it: "21 Bridges." This movie reminded me of the Chadwick Boseman starred "21 Bridges" at the beginning, then it took a different, grittier route.

"Pride and Glory" begins with four New York City police officers being shot and killed. The 31st precinct created a special task force to track down the killer(s). The 31st precinct had a family dynamic. Francis Tierney Sr. (Jon Voight) was the captain--or some such rank--of the precinct while his oldest son Francis, Jr. (Noah Emmerich) was an inspector and Ray Tierney (Edward Norton) was part of missing persons. Francis, Sr. Pretty much browbeat Ray into being on the special task force, and Ray would end up being perfect for the job; he was good and he was honest.

In very short order Ray found out that there was a group of dirty cops in the 31st. We, as the viewers were already aware of the four-man crew being led by Jimmy Egan (Colin Farrell), it was just a matter of what the task force or others would do once they found out.

I liked how intricate the movie was. It wasn't simply a group of rogue cops and a group of good cops, there were definitely levels and layers. The story played out very nicely, showing the incredible quagmire everyone was in because of the illegitimate actions of a few. PandG even showed the community impact of the actions of the NYPD as a whole. This movie was simply well done from the story to the acting. It was magnificent.

Fantastic cast

[K3nzit · 6/10 · 3 January 2020]

An unoriginal, but solid cop drama filled with a fantastic cast. Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight and Noah Emmerich who finally gets the role he deserves - Such an underrated actor.

Standard police corruption saga that is fine but you've seen it before elsewhere and seen it better

[bob the moo · 11 January 2009]

The Tierney family is a family of cops across the generations – with cops even married into the family. When a NYPD officer is killed in a violent drug-related shootout, Ray Tierney is asked by his father to be part of the task force dedicated to finding out who it was who killed one of their own. Ray agrees as the unit affected is led by his brother Francis and includes his brother-in-law Jimmy. With Ray searching the streets for the truth, Francis already knows more than him as his men are involved in activities outside the law, using their roles within the police as cover. Everyone wants to close the matter but not everyone wants the truth to come out in doing so.

The release of Pride and Glory was delayed and the suggestion reason was its similarity in tone and broad theme to We Own the Night. I'm not sure whether this is true or not but I will question whether it was necessary to delay this film if the aim was that it would avoid comparison with other films or feeling like it is something the viewer has seen before. I question this because the film's biggest failing is that we have seen it all before and it doesn't really bring much beyond the star names to justify me being excited about seeing it again. This is not to say it is awful (although some have) but just that it is very familiar and very "sturdy" – sturdy being a quality one looks for in furniture rather than films. Thankfully the film doesn't keep the "corruption" in the cupboard for very long because to suggest it is a mystery would be an insult to the viewer, who can pretty much see where the film is heading about 90 minutes before it gets there.

With many stories it is hard to plough a new furrow so one does find that often films have a familiar narrative and that this is not a problem. The thing is to draw the viewer in despite having seen it before or perhaps knowing where it is going – make them hope for different, make them care about the characters you put the fact that this is a film with an ending to the back of your mind. Pride and Glory doesn't manage to do this though and it surprised me considering the actors involved. The problem is not really with them though but with the material, which has too many characters but too little development of them. Norton seems a bit lost in this but still does turn in a solid performance. Likewise Farrell is good and it only further highlights how much of a waste it is not to give them more to work off individually and together. Voight and Emmerich add to this but again neither has the material to really do good work with so, although nobody is "bad" nobody really impresses either. O'Connor does an OK job as director but doesn't get much urgency or emotion into it – although this is the result of failing to do the same as writer.

Pride and Glory is a solid but wholly unremarkable film that is distracting but unmemorable. It feels old and dated despite still being in the cinema and I imagine this will only be worse when it arrives on television in about five years time. The names involved are impressive but nobody can really deliver what they are able to because the material is just not there in the depth they require. Not a "bad" film by any means, just one that is hard to get excited about or shake the feeling that you've seen it done better elsewhere.

Pride, but nothing new

[C-Younkin · 6/10 · 24 October 2008]

Early on I had a bad feeling that "Pride and Glory" was some type of remake of Joe Carnahan's first major studio film "Narc." It has that feel. Now I have nothing against "Narc". In fact I think its one of the best of it's corrupt cop genre. It's the reason why I've wanted to see this movie for so long. Carnahan came out firing like an Americanized-Guy Ritchie but now, like Ritchie, the act is growing stale. New Line shelved "Pride and Glory" for two years, which is never a good sign for any movie. Fortunately it's not as bad as you would think but that's really only because it has a cast that could do material like this in its sleep. Carnahan, along with director Gavin O'Connor (Miracle), wrote the script and the two each add their own intense little touches but the movie as a whole just doesn't quite get there.

Ed Norton plays Ray, the brother of Francis (Noah Emerich) and brother-in-law of Jimmy (Colin Farrell). All three are cops on the NYPD and his father, Francis Sr. (Jon Voight), is an ex-police chief. A night after beating the fire department in the annual football game quickly turns to distraught sadness when four cops are gunned down during a drug bust. Ray, whose been working behind a desk since an active duty case went badly and cost him his marriage, is put on to the task force, at his fathers request, to investigate the murders. His investigation leads him to the conclusion that cops were actually responsible for what happened. And not only that but the group was actually a unit headed up by Jimmy, who's doing special favors for another drug dealer who wants the competition rubbed out. Jimmy doesn't see anything wrong with what he's doing, but this soon becomes a PR nightmare for the police as well as a disheartening one for Ray, his father, and his brother.

Police corruption is something so trampled on by filmmakers that it's no wonder people flock to see John McClane when another "Die Hard" movie comes out. There are still good cops to make movies about too aren't there? Carnahan, along with O'Connor, likes the ideas of family (both cop and home), broken loyalties, and one good cop against a system that's lost its way but he doesn't come up with anything new or even explore the risk these men are taking to themselves, to their families, and to their partners that working with violent drug dealers might entail. By the climax, corruption hits the streets and people riot in every neighborhood but it really feels like "been there, seen that before" and it doesn¢t matter. That the final battle between good and bad is nothing more than a bar room fist-fight is also less than ideal. Director Gavin O'Connor uses his hand-held camera and shoots the movie in a dreary, cold looking blue which gives the movie some texture and realism, and Carnahan likes to throw the F-bomb around a lot and make things bloody but all this can only go so far.

The movie does have scenes that brim with high intensity and emotional effectiveness and that has everything to do with a solid cast. Norton is a slight-looking actor but like this summer in "The Incredible Hulk", he also shows you such forcefulness and intelligence behind the eyes and here he manages to inject some heat into every scene he's in. And Farrell digs deeper than the character is written. Jimmy is a villain, as exposed by one scene involving a baby and a curling iron, but Farrell also makes him human by giving him the grounded attitude of a family man. Voight displays some toughness and loyalty in a preachy role that he knocks out of the park. And a surprise is Noah Emerich, known mainly for supporting performances, most notably "The Truman Show", does strong work here as Ray's brother.

"Pride and Glory" has tension and good performances but it's not quite as gritty and electrifying as this year's "Street Kings" and you can tell it wants to be taken seriously but a "been there, seen that" feel coupled by a really disappointing ending make it hard to recommend. Joe Carnahan is still a talented guy and I'm really looking forward to his flick about Pablo Escobar, "Killing Pablo". I just hope he decides to expand into new territory in the future.

Similar Story, New Flare...

[sider0 · 7/10 · 25 October 2008]

I have read many reviews saying the same thing, that this is the same old cop story and is just a rip off similar movies, nothing new. Usually with the badly written movies coming out like they have the last couple years I would agree, but not this time. Sure this is similar to the bad cop, good cop scenario, but this offers something deeper and more exciting than I have seen in a cop thriller for a long time. The all-star cast, great writing and dramatic scenes will have you holding your breath thinking what's coming next. There are twists and turns in this that kept me on the edge of my seat, not able to go to the bathroom. The scene with the baby was so shocking to all the senses, but some might not be able to handle it. I think because there are so many cop movies coming out, that people just come with the assumption that it's going to be nothing new. Let's think of it this way, every story now is just repeated, it's how you tell it that makes the difference.

OK Film but overall disappointing considering the talent

[zyr88 · 6/10 · 10 March 2009]

I just viewed this film and considering that Edward Norton, Colin Farrell & Jon Voight are in it I was disappointed. I don't personally blame their acting performance but rather the direction and screenplay. It might also be that I have seen enough good cop vs bad cop films that I might be getting tired of the genre but I really think that in this case the story being told, is just not that interesting. There are points in the film where the pace becomes overbearingly slow. There's not much action and the drama is boring. I was also disappointed with the ending of the film. If you want to see a good police drama then I would suggest viewing Martin Scorsese's "The Departed".

Authentic

[Horror_Flick_Fanatic · 8/10 · 5 October 2020]

This film has top acting talent and a realistic story. Having grown up in NYC during the 70s, I found the film eerie and how realistic the characters are to real life people I've known in New York City prior to 9/11. The only issue I had was with the opening scene. I found it a bit melodramatic. But then after that first police raid/murder, the movie becomes very real.

A mixed bag of a film

[freemantle_uk · 6/10 · 10 May 2010]

With a script that entered into production in 2001 Pride and Glory was one of the most highly prized screenplays in Hollywood, with names like Mark Wahlberg and Hugh Jackman attached to the leading roles. But because of the attack on 11th September 2001 the idea of film about dirty NYPD officers would have been in bad taste. It proposed until 2008 and had Ed Norton and Colin Farrell in the lead roles. So was it worth the wait?

Pride and Glory tells the story of a family of Irish American men who are members of the NYPD. Ray (Ed Norton) is a skilled investigator and a plain clothes detective, whilst his brother-in-law Jimmy (Colin Farrell) is a mid-ranking uniformed officer. The family seem close but all have their problems, Ray is suffering from guilt of a previous case gone wrong and his marriage falling apart. His brother Francis Jr. (Noah Emmerich), a senior station chief, is having to support his wife whom suffering from cancer and their father Francis Sr. (Jon Voight) is a even more senior police officer and a borderline alcoholic. Only Jimmy seems to have a strong family life. The family and officers are called into action when four of Francis Jr. officers are killed in action and all of them are colleagues of Jimmy. Ray is assigned the case but soon discovers that it a much more complex case of a simple shooting. Jimmy and his colleagues had been running amok within Francis Jr.'s station as the man is struggling with his personal life. Jimmy is a corrupt cop, selling drugs, robbing and acting like a paid assassin. He uses violence and imitation to get revenge and retrieve money his crew has lost. But Ray is slowly closing in on his brother-in-law and a professional and personal conflict is about to arise.

Gavin O'Conner is an effective director, trying to make a gritty and violence film about the NYPD. His effects are noble, he does not tone down the violence and the physical poverty that some people would have to live in. He films it in a slightly grey ting and uses hand-held cameras very effectively, giving the film a realistic and almost documentary style to it. There is also strong performances from Norton and Farrell (though he is forced into angry mode for most of the film). Voight is also pretty good throughout the film. But some of the supporting cast members were weaker in comparison, particular Emmerich who did not seem to match Norton or Farrell.

What makes the film not as strong as it should be is the script. It should have been a simple straight-forward police-thriller and attempt to be a update of the Al Pacino film Serpico. It attempted to be realistic and could and should have shown how corrupt cops can work in a modern setting and how other police officers would investigate them. But the screenwriters of O'Conner and Joe Carnahan do two big problems: first is that it's a bit unrealistic that a whole family this day and age would all be cops and even more unlikely a senior father cop could assign cases to his sons. In real life wouldn't the police authorities split them up to ensure there is no favouritism? Second is the plot is bogged down with too many sub-plots: it's noble of the writers to bring about some extra character development, but there was too much that detracts from the main plot of the film and some areas lead to no where, like the journalist sub-plot. What the two writers could have done was either cut out most of the sub-plots to make a tort film, making the film longer, extend the sub-plots and made the film a bit longer or really extend everything about the film and a make an effective 'The Wire' type TV series. The film also suffers from so very silly, unrealistic scenes like Ray and Jimmy clearing a bar and then having a big fist fight. The dialogue too was weak, suffering from the usual cop-film clichés we have all heard before. Finally the film also drags a little in the beginning and goes a little silly in the end. It was the middle part of the film which was the best.

There was potential in the film but it was not fully realised. It needed some re-writes before it should have been made. But it is a noble effort of film.

Rich & finely crafted dramatic NY cop thriller about Irish-American family & NY cop loyalty & corruption, good vs bad, and the blurring of the lines

[danieljfarthing · 8/10 · 4 August 2023]

In 2008 New York thriller "Pride And Glory" Edward Norton's a cop reluctantly pulled in (by top brass dad Jon Voight) to investigate the shootings of four fellow cops who worked under his bro Noah Emmerich (married to Jennifer Ehle) with hard-ass Colin Farrell (married to his sister Lake Bell), Shia Whigham & Frank Grillo. What unfolds is a rich & finely crafted tale of Irish-American family & NY cop loyalty & corruption, good vs bad, and the blurring of those lines. The drama occasionally slips to melodrama, but co-writer (with Joe Carnahan) / director Gavin O'Connor does an excellent job applying the polish, eliciting great performances & keeping it taut. Terrific film.

Gritty formulaic cop drama

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 17 April 2014]

Four NYPD cops are down in a drug bust gone wrong. Ray Tierney (Edward Norton) heads the investigation. It's what his father ex-cop brass Francis Sr (Jon Voight) wants. The four are his brother Francis Jr (Noah Emmerich)'s men. As Ray digs, he finds corruption in the department that has entangled his family. Jimmy Egan (Colin Farrell) is his brother-in-law who leads a group of corrupted cops.

It's a gritty crime drama with lots of top notch acting talents. The acting is good, but there is nothing here that is new or surprising. Writer/director Gavin O'Connor has infused this movie with a grimy messy style. The tone is dark. The story is a little bit confused with a few too many characters' POV and is also somewhat formulaic. It's a movie that has been done better elsewhere.

Top tier talent in a mediocre product

[Craig_McPherson · 3/10 · 28 October 2008]

If there's any value to be gleaned from Pride and Glory it's that even movies built around a pairing of top tier actors with a strong supporting cast can be miserable failures if the story isn't up to snuff.

Ed Norton and Colin Farrell play two New York City cops at the center of this tepid tale of corruption and murder. Both are linked by family, with Farrell's Jimmy Egan married to Ray Tierney's (Norton) sister. When a crew of officers are found shot in a botched raid on a crack house, the force puts a full court press on finding the gunman, and hands the reigns of the investigating task force to Tierney.

Director and co-screenwriter Gavin O'Connor wastes little time in establishing that the killer was part of a slimy corruption ring involving criminal gangs and cops, however he quickly lifts the veil off the mystery by revealing the identities of the officers on the take, forcing the story to simply go through the motions leading up to the inevitable and all too predictable climax.

Norton and Farrell both turn in strong performances, as do Jon Voight and Noah Emmerich as Tierney's father and brother respectively, and if a movie was judged on acting alone, Pride and Glory would be in the top shelf. Unfortunately it's built upon a theme that's been mined countless times before, and fails to break any new ground in the process. The end result is a film that is destined to be one of the many unremarkable titles that line the racks at the local DVD outlet, or pad the bargain bins at department stores.

As the police often say: "move along folks, there's nothing to see here".

Feels like a dull re-run

[Mesuzah · 11 January 2009]

This movie brings absolutely nothing new to the table. There's 100 on a dozen of the corrupt cop movies, and it was just as predictable as most of the others.

The acting was OK, Edward Norton did is his job to excellence. Colin Farrel played his psychotic, stressed out and angry role as best as he ever can of course. The best acting in my opinion was from Jennifer Ehle, but she only has a minor part in the story.

The filming, sets and locations where pretty much bog standard. There is not a single thing about this movie that make it stand out over the countless others in its genre.

I guess if you are a novice to movies, and have not watched a lot of them yet that you can find this exciting.

i've seen this movie before

[lalonde_j · 6/10 · 23 October 2008]

i saw this at an advanced screening and i have to say that nothing about the movie struck me as the least bit original, save for a couple of violent spectacles that are hardly enough to carry a movie. in the opening sequence, we meet ed norton's character and it's clearly signalled that he has faced some trauma that has led him to accept a sort of desk-job with the nydp. i was sure that he had watched his partner die just days before retirement, but the truth of the matter is just as lamely formulaic. if someone reccomends this movie to you, that person is an idiot - an idiot that has been won over by a movie that has the gravitas of an Oscar pic but none of the substance. i don't even know how to go on. well, there are three separate scenes that involve dimly lit staircases in walk-up apartment buildings. i know, that should hardly count against a movie, but the fact is that this movie recycles material from just about every cop movie you've ever scene and, eventually, it begins to repeat it's own tired, formulaic story-line. there's something to be said for concision, and this movie lacks it in spades. _pride and glory_ is overlong, trite and, ultimately, preoccupied with its own seriousness. for your consideration: a great deal of time is devoted to fleshing out the wife of a secondary character (she (the wife) is undergoing chemo-therapy). why do we need these long, protracted scenes? no reason, really, they just wanted throw some extraneous drama your way.

Up and down Emotional Drama

[TurnUpTheAC · 6/10 · 26 October 2008]

What do you get when you have two brothers, a brother in law, and a father, who are all cops and work in the same precinct? What you get is a lot of intense moments and personal ethic questioning.

Many people may look at pride and glory as a repeat of previous films and story lines. It has many similarities to a movie such as Serpico. The difference between this and say "We own the night" in that in Night one brother is a cop and the other is not and the circumstances bring them together. In pride and glory the brothers are driven apart.

This films concept is great. It is set up in a way for you to not be able to figure out everyones next move and it keeps you intrigued. The reason I say up and down is because the quality of the cinematography and script bring the film down at times. Many of the great quotes and speeches that you see in the trailer are brought down by the excessive cursing. In cop corruption films of recent years such as The Departed and Training Day and even a family cop drama such as We Own the Night, the cursing is used at appropriate times. If you think about most of the classic speeches in the first two there is barely any cursing. In Pride and Glory it is not only excessive but unnecessary, unrealistic, and at times very annoying. It almost seems like they were trying to set a record for most F-bombs. The film either looks under financed or the concept for the cinematography was not picked right because at times it looks sloppy and cheap. But when you are at a point of the film that these things frustrate you one scene will lift you back up. The bathroom scene between Colin Farrell and Noah Emmerich is great but again the cursing is not needed. The iron scene that you see in the previews will have you on the edge of your seat. But then your interest may decline a little based on these negative aspects. The ending however will wake you right back up as you cant guess how it will go until the final credits read and will leave your jaw on the floor.

The cast overall is great, accents are good and believable and it all starts with my favorite actor Edward Norton. Norton who has showed time and time again that he can handle deep roles such as American History X and 25th hour where his characters have to challenge their own motivations and decisions, as well as people around them, shows the same here. Without giving any more away than what is revealed in the trailers, his character Ray has to go deep into his investigation that could finger cops in a criminal scheme and possible his own family. This is another solid performance by Norton.

Jon Voight delivers again. He wants to look our for his family first, career second but the way he connects with his family is very strong acting.

Colin Farrell follows up what is arguable the best film of the year (In Bruges) that pretty much nobody saw because of lack of promotion, with this. He has been showing more range in the last few years and is earning more respect with each role. The only thing that brings his character down is how they wrote too many F-bombs in his character. It is very interesting to see how he justifies his actions and what decisions he ends up making.

Noah Emmerich gives probably the most disappointing performance of the film. The worst part is I do not believe it was all his fault. He curses more than any other character based on the amount of lines he has and every sentence is an F bomb. It totally takes away from good emotional speeeches that he can give. His scenes do not feel very realistic and if it weren't for the other strong actors carrying him he would look terrible.

Special attention has to go to Lake Bell. She does not get enough screen time in this. Her accent is right on point and so is her acting. She is very believable and enjoyable and you wish to see more of her.

Being that I am a huge fan of the three main leads this was an easy choice for me to watch. This is not however breaking any new ground. The ending is definitely a shocker and I enjoyed how they did it but I wouldn't rate this film in the top ten of the year. I would put Norton's the Incredible Hulk about this. And Colin Farrell's In Bruges is my film of the year.

But if you want a interesting concept to a story and strong performances with some violence and twists go watch Pride and Glory.

A tough cop drama, but predictable

[sioenroux · 7/10 · 26 December 2008]

Others have compared this to "We Own The Night," so I will, too. I'd say it was about the same enjoyment, overall.

The story here might have been a little better, a bit more complicated and possessing more ambiguity -- but only maybe. Don't let people tell you this film has amazing shades of moral complexity. Bad cops are bad cops, and the people who are considering whether to reveal them might have all sorts of pressure heaped on them, but the point's the same. Bad cops rot the whole fruit and undermine the very pinnings of society -- no matter the reasons for their corruption.

Here, what made the movie shine was the performances, by all four main leads, but especially Ed Norton and Noah Emmerich. Colin Farrell was pretty good, as was Jon Voight, but then so were Robert Duvall and Mark Wahlberg in "We Own The Night," but neither did they shine.

It's a classic bad-cop, tangled-messy-crime-scene, one-guy-uncovers-the-truth and what-will-he-do kind of story. Well plotted and paced, and nicely directed to keep the story moving and tension building all the way through.

If you like this kind of movie, as I do, here's another one for you to enjoy. If you like Ed Norton, as I do, he won't let you down here (although I happened to see "25th Hour" for the first time a few weeks back, and I have to say, the character here was remarkably similar).

Seen Family Of Cops, Copland, Precinct 13, Training Day? Then you've already seen this movie!

[tingnting · 6/10 · 6 November 2008]

A cop within a family of cops uncovers corruption within the family and has to make a decision whether his badge or his family come first.

This movie deals with a painfully un-original topic and as a result the director resorts to showing brutally graphic action scenes and over the top intensity (including a baby that may be tortured with a hot iron) in order to make you think it's revelational.

Ultimately the movie pretends to be emotionally deep and shocking but lacks the intensity and style to pull it off. It just isn't an interesting movie, in a genre that is so over exploited.

A fantastic cast including Farell and Norton as well as many well-known supporting artists (and a less than terrific performance by John Voight) fail to make this film worth watching.

The performances are well above average but the movie has no substance and just seems like a pointless story that we've all seen before in many different forms.

Rather go see Body of Lies.

A solid Police drama

[shadowman123 · 8/10 · 1 December 2008]

Pride and Glory is a very well constructed urban gritty police drama which is different from other various cop movies. On the surface it might just seem like a superficial police drama, but scratch the misleading trailers and underneath you have a tough cop drama dealing with the moral themes in a complex melting pot. I could not think of someone who handles complex characters better than Ed Norton and his ability to do that with what might seem like no effort is magical, Colin Farrell on the other hand was equally entertaining with his out look as a police officer. The action is nothing over the top and deals with certain issues with a very in your face way of getting its point across. Although it might be a little too long and drag on in places it however does keep you watching it due to the performances. To some it up , Pride and Glory is drama that one has to be in the mood to watch although there is heavy script and acting involved it requires a clear and rigid mind to view.

PRIDE AND GLORY : 8.3 OUT OF 10