Buy 16 Blocks on DVD

16 Blocks

Warner / Year: 2006

DVD Widescreen More Info Close Caption: Yes Region Code: 1 UPC: 012569810402 Catalog #: DL2290513 Languages: English Dolby Digital 5.1 (Primary), Sotho Dolby Digital 5.1, English subtitles, French subtitles, Spanish subtitles	Usually ships in 5-10 days	$11.99 (7% off) List Price: $12.99
Blu-ray More Info Close Caption: No Region Code: 1 UPC: 012569829466 Catalog #: DB2290514 Languages: English Dolby Digital 5.1 (Primary), Sotho Dolby Digital 5.1, English subtitles, French subtitles, Spanish subtitles	Usually ships in 5-10 days	$31.49 (10% off) List Price: $34.99

When new special editions or price reductions are announced.

Synopsis

Willis is in familiar but expert territory as a weary New York City cop who finds himself in the middle of police cover-up and cat-and-mouse game when he escorts a petty criminal (Def) 16 blocks to the courthouse to testify.

Review

A disgraced cop is given the thankless task of transporting a key witness from jail to the court house, where his testimony will likely bring down a handful of corrupt policemen. It's only sixteen blocks, but he's barely out the door when angry men with guns try to stop him. Willis, looking admirably awful, plays the kind of guy who, while keeping an eye on a murder scene, is told not to touch anything, and when alone, immediately scours the place for booze. It's a role Willis plays quite well (not unlike a similar, down-on-his-luck drunk in Last Boy Scout), and he's matched by the slimy Morse, who's also played nearly identical characters in the past, but is still excellent here. Mos Def (so good in Something the Lord Made) inexplicably adopts a distracting, high-pitched, nasal voice for his part, but is otherwise effective. The film marks a return to form for director Donner as well: the first two-thirds of the film are terrific, displaying a Don Siegel-like terseness and a hugely appealing, fast-paced pulpiness that's rare in mainstream films these days. Two outmatched underdog shlubs, trying to do the right thing — it's a typical but nearly foolproof scenario, and Donner and crew run with it — for awhile. Unfortunately, after an hour or so of gritty intensity, Blocks grinds almost to a halt. The wrap-up really just plays itself out with not much ado, as if everyone involved put all their efforts into the first two acts, then were too tired to do anything creative for the home stretch. Still entertaining, but a letdown after what came before. Absolutely recommended as a whole, and more than gratifying as a popcorn muncher, 16 Blocks is still a tad frustrating for just missing minor genre classic status.

-- Dean C. Galanis

Product Format Information

DVD Widescreen: $11.99

Availability: Usually ships in
5-10 days
Close Caption: Yes
Region Code: 1
UPC: 012569810402
Catalog #: DL2290513

Studio : Warner

Languages: English Dolby Digital 5.1 (Primary) , Sotho Dolby Digital 5.1 , English Subtitles , French Subtitles , Spanish Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen
Extras: Deleted Scenes
Features:
Alternate ending(s)
Bonus scene: Deleted scenes with discussions by Richard Donner and Richard Wank
Audio commentary: with Richard Wenk and Rochard Donner

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Blu-ray : $31.49

Availability: Usually ships in
5-10 days
Close Caption: No
Region Code: 1
UPC: 012569829466
Catalog #: DB2290514

Studio : Warner

Languages: English Dolby Digital 5.1 (Primary) , French Dolby Digital 5.1 , English Subtitles , English SDH Subtitles , French Subtitles , Spanish Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic 2.4