Colors (1988)

	Directed by: Dennis Hopper	COUNTRY USA GENRE Cop/Action/Crime NORWEGIAN TITLE Colors RUNNING TIME 120 minutes
	Produced by: Robert H. Solo
	Written by: Michael Schiffer

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Officer Danny 'Pac-Man' McGavin	Sean Penn	½
Officer Bob Hodges	Robert Duvall
Louisa Gomez	María Conchita Alonso	½
Ron Delaney	Randy Brooks	-
'Rocket'	Don Cheadle	-
Clarence 'High Top' Brown	Glenn Plummer	-
Leo 'Frog' Lopez	Trinidad Silva	½
Larry 'Looney Tunes' Sylvester	Grand L. Bush	-
'T-Bone'	Damon Wayans	-
'Killer Bee'	Leon Robinson	-
O.S.S. Sergeant Bailey	Sy Richardson	-
Officer Rusty Baines	R.D. Call	-
Officer Samuels	Jack Nance	-

Review

Hot-headed, youthful arrogance (Sean Penn) clashes with experienced diplomacy and dialogue (Robert Duvall) when a new team of LAPD officers are sent to patrol South Central L.A., where rivalling gangs and drug dealers are ruling the streets. The two officers' clashes over methods and temperament are predictable but not presented without consideration, as the two come to understand that both sets of qualities may be needed in order to deal with the burgeoning gang problem. Director Dennis Hopper's take on the buddy cop movie is much less genre-conventional than its counterparts of the era. He has an awareness for ambiance and contemplation, giving his film a sort of faux-documentary style, but his storytelling is lacking and he doesn't really get to the heart of anything. The film spends most of its running time building up to a connection and a nerve which never really materializes, and then ends with a hint of affectation after laying its fairly solid groundwork. Duvall keeps everything grounded with his sensitivity and agreeable demeanour. He is the main reason the movie feels as authentic as it at times does. There are appealing supporting performances from Don Cheadle and Glenn Plummer, but their characters are ultimately underdeveloped and underutilized. The subplot concerning Penn and María Conchita Alonso is less impressive. The film was a big box office success.