21 Bridges

When we look back on the filmography of Chadwick Boseman years from now, Andre Davis won’t be remembered alongside Jackie Robinson or Black Panther.

His protagonist in 21 Bridges might be forgotten as quickly as the standard-issue urban police thriller he inhabits. Still, Boseman showcases his versatility while bringing more depth and complexity to his role than the screenplay warrants.

As an NYPD investigator, Boseman adopts a New York accent and a knack for piecing together clues and deciphering forensic evidence. As the film opens, we see Andre trying to cope with his predetermined legacy as the son of a cop who was killed in the line of duty.

Add in Andre’s checkered history since joining the force himself, and the opportunity to lead a high-stakes manhunt provides an opportunity for redemption.

Specifically, he gets the call after a massive late-night drug bust and robbery, followed by a shootout in which seven officers are murdered. With two suspects on the run, Andre is assigned a narcotics detective (Sienna Miller) as a partner by a quick-tempered precinct captain (J.K. Simmons).

Given the heinous nature of the crime, Andre makes the call to essentially put Manhattan on lockdown by shutting down all 21 bridges — thus the film’s title — and close all tunnels leading in and out of the island borough. That gives him just a few hours before the morning rush hour, when the city must open back up.

The frantic police effort is chronicled in parallel with the getaway efforts of perpetrators Michael (Stephan James) and Ray (Taylor Kitsch) to flee. However, Andre soon suspects he might be fighting internal corruption, too.

If you’re able to buy into the premise, the script generates some moderate suspense from its cat-and-mouse scenario, although a third-act twist feels both contrived and obvious.

Veteran television director Brian Kirk doesn’t inject much visual flair into the film’s depiction of a vibrant nocturnal cityscape. There are a few effective action sequences along the way, including a bloody shootout through a reinforced apartment door during which the cops and crooks never see one another.

Eventually, 21 Bridges feels more calculated than compelling, relying on mindless violence while failing to freshen up familiar genre elements.

Rated R, 99 minutes.