16 Blocks (2006)

An aging cop is assigned the ordinary task of escorting a fast-talking witness from police custody to a courthouse. There are however forces at work trying to stop prevent them from making it.

Director:

Richard Donner

Writer:

Richard Wenk

Stars:

Bruce Willis, Mos Def, David Morse

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bruce Willis	...	Det. Jack Mosley
Mos Def	...	Eddie Bunker
David Morse	...	Det. Frank Nugent
Jenna Stern	...	Diane Mosley
Casey Sander	...	Capt. Dan Gruber
Cylk Cozart	...	Det. Jimmy Mulvey
David Zayas	...	Det. Robert Torres
Robert Racki	...	Det. Jerry Shue
Patrick Garrow	...	Touhey
Sasha Roiz	...	Kaller
Conrad Pla	...	Ortiz
Hechter Ubarry	...	Maldonado
Richard Fitzpatrick	...	Deputy Commissioner Wagner
Peter McRobbie	...	Mike Sheehan
Michael F. Keenan	...	Ray Fitzpatrick (as Mike Keenan)

Storyline

Jack Mosley, a burnt-out detective, is assigned the unenviable task of transporting a fast-talking convict from jail to a courthouse 16 blocks away. However, along the way he learns that the man is supposed to testify against Mosley's colleagues, and the entire NYPD wants him dead. Mosley must choose between loyalty to his colleagues and protecting the witness, and never has such a short distance seemed so long...

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Plot Keywords:

detective | courthouse | witness | jail | convict | 

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Taglines:

1 Witness... 118 Minutes...

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, intense sequences of action, and some strong language

Details

Official Sites:

CMC [Taiwan] Metropolitan Filmexport [France]

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 March 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

16 blocs

Filming Locations:

Casey's Bar - 613 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$52,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$13,986 (Chile) (24 November 2006)

Gross:

$13,986 (Chile) (24 November 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alcon Entertainment, Millennium Films, Emmett/Furla Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The gun used by all the cops was the Glock 17 which is chambered in 9 mm.

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Goofs

When Jack Mosley drives the bus down the alley after Eddie climbs back into the bus, the NYPD SWAT Team starts shooting at the Driver's side in an attempt to hit Jack. In one shot we see rounds ping below the driver's side of the window, but in the next following shots, the white paint where the bullets supposedly hit is unscathed.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jack Mosley: [tape recording] This is Detective Jack Mosley, Shield number 227. I guess this will be my last will and testament. This is for Diane. Now, they're gonna come talk to you and they're gonna tell you things. But what they tell you isn't really what happen. So Diane, I think you should know what really happened. I was trying to do a good thing.

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Crazy Credits

There are no opening credits save the title "16 BLOCKS".

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Connections

Featured in HBO First Look: 16 Blocks (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe"
Written and Performed by Barry White
Published by Unichappell Music, Inc. obo Itself and Sa-Vette Music
Courtesy of the Island Def Jam Music Group
Under License from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

A few hair-pin turns before the 16 blocks are traversed

This is not a remake of "The Gauntlet," though the theme is a familiar one. There are, in fact, several movies with similar plots; "3:10 to Yuma" and "Narrow Margin" come to mind. A reviewer emailed me that "Midnight Run" not only has a story like "16 Blocks" but Bruce Willis' character Jack Mosley has a name that is a composite of the movie names for two of the leading roles in "Midnight Run": Robert De Niro's Jack Walsh and Yaphet Kotto's FBI Agent Alonzo Mosely. This, of course, may be mere coincidence. Though the story may seem like déjà vu, the action is fast paced making this an exciting film to watch.

Anyone who doubts that Bruce Willis can act needs only watch his standout performance in "Pulp Fiction" to see what depth this actor can bring to a demanding role. The role of Jack Mosely may not be challenging to Willis, but he still gives it all he's got which is plenty. Playing the part of an over the hill New York cop with a game leg, nothing to live for, and a drinking problem seems easy for Willis to make it all believable.

The criminal, Eddie Bunker, Jack must deliver to testify within a certain time frame is played with gusto by hip-hop artist Mos Def. Eddie is the most verbose prisoner ever. He rattles on and on about anything that comes to mind, some of it funny, some of it trite. He also has a riddle that is not answered till near the end of the film.

A standout performance is delivered by David Morse as the leader of the dirty cops, Frank Nugent. Morse is in danger of becoming typecast as a dishonest lawman. I'm hopeful he will become more diversified in his roles since he is such a talented actor.

This is another winner from action director Richard Donner. If you like his other successful concoctions such as the "Lethal Weapon" flicks, "Superman," "Conspiracy Theory," and "The Omen," then you will certainly enjoy "16 Blocks."