Pride and Glory is a 2008 crime/drama film, directed by Gavin O'Connor. It stars Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight, and Noah Emmerich. The film was released on October 24, 2008 in the United States.
Premise
Ex Cop Tierney (Jon Voight) is the head of a multi generational mafia family with his sons Lanny (Noah Emmerich), Ray (Edward Norton) and his son in law James Egan (Colin Farrell) all being policemen. When four of Lanny's guys are killed during a shootout turned bad- everything looks straight initially-however Ray who is assigned the investigation soon begins to discover something more sinister.
Investigations reveal that a ring of policemen were making money by working for a drug dealer and assisting him by murdering another drug dealer by the name of Angel Teaso. As Ray stumbles deeper into the case- he discovers that his brother in law Jimmy Egan is the main player in this game and while his brother Lanny is innocent of the actual deed- it is his inattention (owing to his being occupied by his wife who had cancer (Jennifer Ehle)) that causes his boys to play havoc.
Ray Tierney now has a choice whether to be loyal to the job he was assigned to or to follow his father's advise- and get a slap on the wrist- by foregoing any mention of the role his brother or brother in law played.
[2]
Cast
The film also features Shea Whigham;[5] Frank Grillo and John Ortiz as police officers;[6][7] Manny Perez;[8] Lake Bell;[9] Rick Gonzalez;[10] Christina Cabot,[11] Jennifer Ehle as Francis' wife, Abby, and Declan Quinn. Quinn said the biggest challenge was "[trying] to find a fresh way to do a police drama where it feels real and not like something we've seen a hundred times before."[12]
Plot
Four cops down: two dead, two likely. An NYPD drug bust has gone horribly wrong, and Detective Ray Tierney heads the investigating task force. He already has ties to the case. His brother was commander of the ambushed officers. His brother-in-law, a fellow officer, often partnered with them. The more Ray uncovers, the more those family ties are tested. And the more the fraternal order starts to fray.
Production
Gavin O'Connor and his brother Gregory began writing the film with New York City police officer Robert A. Hopes in 1999, after the completion of Tumbleweeds. The brothers, whose father was a police officer, were given "rare" access to the police department and its officers.[13] Gavin O'Connor described their intent: "My father was a New York City detective, and I grew up in that world. It's a birthday bash of honest cops, which was everything my father was about. Though it is fictional, it is an homage to my father."[4] They also hoped to create a film which evoked those of the 1970s, using corruption in the police force, as a metaphor for wider institutional corruption.[14] The script was optioned in June 2000 by Fine Line Features, a subdivision of New Line Cinema, and Joe Carnahan was hired to rewrite the script. Production on the film was expected to begin later in 2000, with Gavin O'Connor directing and Gregory O'Connor producing.[13]
In 2001, the project was subject to a turnaround deal, which saw the rights ceded to Intermedia. Production was expected to start in February 2002 in New York City, and Mark Wahlberg and Hugh Jackman were in talks to star.[15] The film's development was subject to further delays until 2005. Carnahan cited the September 11, 2001 attacks as the primary reason for the delay: "There was a moment after 9/11, where the notion of doing what might be deemed an anti-cop film, particularly an attack of the NYPD, would be grounds for hanging."[16]
In September 2005, the rights were once more with New Line Cinema. Production president Toby Emmerich had been a fan of the script for several years, and the studio entered negotiations with Norton, Farrell and Emmerich to star.[4] Production was set to begin in New York City in January 2006,[4] though principal photography did not begin until the following month.[17]
Release
Pride and Glory was originally scheduled for release on March 14, 2008, and trailers for the film appeared, with showings of No Country for Old Men, Atonement, and American Gangster.[14] In January 2008, New Line announced that it was pushing back the release until 2009, citing both Norton and Farrell's 2008 releases of The Incredible Hulk, and In Bruges respectively.[18] The studio has not commented further on the delay, which angered O'Connor. He blamed internal New Line politics for the delay, specifically chairman Bob Shaye, saying, "I don't think [Shaye] believes in it, and he's decided he'll only release [sure bet] films. He never had the decency to call me." O'Connor has said he will withhold delivery of his next script for New Line, Warrior, until he discovered the film's fate, and also looked at the possibility of taking the film to another studio. In February 2008, O'Connor held a screening at the headquarters of talent agency CAA, in order to publicize that the film may need a new distributor.[14]
O'Connor said of the situation, "We've delivered something special and unique, a film that's not for everybody but has something to say. We're all heartbroken." Norton blamed a wider industry "paralysis" for the problems, rather than New Line Cinema: "We're a victim of the moment, and I just hope they will either find a way to give the film its due or graciously let us do it with someone else." Farrell said he believed in the film and called the situation "bizarre".[14]
Reception
Critical reaction
The film was eventually released on October 24, 2008 in United States. Rotten Tomatoes reported that 34 percent of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 140 reviews, with the critical consensus being that the film is "Formulaic in its plotting and clichéd in its dialogue, Pride and Glory did little to distinguish itself from other police procedurals."[19]
Box office
As of January 28, 2009, the film has grossed $43,440,721 worldwide.[20] In North America, the film opened at #5 with $6,262,396 behind High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Saw V, Max Payne, and Beverly Hills Chihuahua,[21] respectively, from 2,585 theaters with an $2,423 average.
Soundtrack
The film's original score was composed by Mark Isham.
References
- ^ "PRIDE AND GLORY". Box Office Mojo. http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=prideandglory.htm. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ "Pride and Glory — Story". New Line Cinema. http://www.prideandglorymovie.com/. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
- ^ a b c Fleming, Michael (March 12, 2006). "Inside Move: Studios leg it after injuries sideline stars". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117939618.html?categoryid=13&cs=1. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
- ^ a b c d Fleming, Michael (September 26, 2005). "New Line has 'Pride'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117929759.html. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
- ^ Dodd, Stacey (February 20, 2006). "Shea Whigham". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117938569.html. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
- ^ Dodd, Stacy (February 22, 2006). "Frank Grillo". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117938677. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
- ^ Dodd, Stacy (March 6, 2006). "John Ortiz". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117939356. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
- ^ Dodd, Stacey (April 5, 2006). "Manny Perez". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117941039. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
- ^ Gardner, Chris (July 24, 2006). "'Fiance' engages thesps". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117947341. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
- ^ Dodd, Stacy (August 28, 2006). "Rick Gonzalez". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR11179491. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
- ^ Dodd, Stacy (July 15, 2006). "Christina Cabot". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117968586.html. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
- ^ Marks, Josh (January 8, 2006). "Breakfast on Pluto". Variety. http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117935664.html. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
- ^ a b Lyons, Charles (June 26, 2000). "Fine Line options cop story 'Pride'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117783021.html. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Fleming, Michael (February 26, 2008). "Pride and Glory' delay stirs up fray". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117981505.html. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
- ^ Harris, Dana, Dunkley, Cathy (November 8, 2001). "'Pride' goeth at Intermedia". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117855563.html. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
- ^ Lesnick, Silas (October 31, 2007). "IESB Exclusive: 12 Questions with Smokin' Joe Carnahan". IESB.net. http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3611&Itemid=99. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
- ^ Fleming, Michael (November 14, 2005). "Driver in pilot seat for Eye spy skein". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117932920.html. Retrieved October 19, 2007.
- ^ McClintock, Pamela (January 17, 2008). "New Line postpones 'Inkheart' release". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117979257. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
- ^ "Pride and Glory". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pride_and_glory/. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ "Pride and Glory". The Numbers. http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/PRDGL.php. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
- ^ "Weekend Box Office Results from 10/24 to 10/26". Box Office Mojo. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2008&wknd=43&p=.htm. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
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