S.W.A.T. (2003) Movie Information:

S.W.A.T. (2003) Directed by: Clark Johnson S.W.A.T. (2003) Written by: David Ayer, David McKenna, Ron Mita, Jim McClain, Robert Hamner S.W.A.T. (2003) Cast: Samuel Jackson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, Josh Charles, Jeremy Renner, Brian Van Holt, Olivier Martinez, Reg Cathey, Larry Poindexter

S.W.A.T. (2003) U.S. Distributor: Columbia Pictures S.W.A.T. (2003) U.K. Distributor: Sony Pictures

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S.W.A.T. (2003) Synopsis:

Jim Street is a former S.W.A.T. team member, who along with his partner Brian Gamble, is thrown off the team in the aftermath of a controversial decision they made during a robbery/hostage standoff. Gamble quits the force in disgust, but for Street, being a policeman is his life and he agrees to a demotion, hoping to someday have the chance to redeem himself and once again wear the privileged S.W.A.T. uniform. He gets that chance when team commander Dan "Hondo" Harrelson is assigned to recruit and train five top-notch officers for a new Special Weapons and Tactics unit. After weeks of rigorous physical training, the new team is immediately thrown into action when a notorious drug lord, offers a $100 million bounty to anyone who can free him from police custody. As they escort the kingpin out of Los Angeles into the hands of the Feds, the S.W.A.T. team is pursued by a ruthless and well-armed band of mercenaries.

S.W.A.T. (2003) Movie Review:

The Special Weapons And Tactics unit of LA police department is the most decorated and professional S.W.A.T. operation in the world. Sgt. Hondo Harrelson (Jackson) has been given the task of putting together a new top-notch team that will be the best that the department has to offer. Their first assignment is to transport an international organised crime boss, Alex Montel (Martinez) to a federal prison but when Montel announces on television that he will pay $100 million to whoever can free him, the mission is taken to a whole new level.

Based on a little known TV show from the 1970s, S.W.A.T. is an action movie that has more in common with films of that genre from the 1980s early 90s than the modern action blockbuster.

The bar has been raised over the last few years when it comes to action flicks but this movie seems to be stuck in later part of the last century. The plot is overly predictable, the action sequences are nothing spectacular and the villain is dramatically over the top. Its saving grace however is the two leading men.

Samuel L. Jackson is arguably the coolest guy on the planet. The man has a screen presence that exudes cool and his performances always grab your attention. This movie is no exception as his character Hondo Harrelson puts together his new S.W.A.T. team. Colin Farrell is another actor who is on top of his game. Whatever movie he stars in, his performances always standout as he lives up to that next big thing moniker he has been given. Bringing these two actors together is what drags this movie out of the mundane as their screen buddy chemistry and verbal interactions are a welcome interlude from the extremely average and predictable plot.

The rest of the cast are fine but are given nothing much to do. LL Cool J's Deke Kay and Michelle Rodriguez's Chris Sanchez are criminally underdeveloped which is very frustrating as these are talented actors. The same goes for Olivier Martinez's Alex Montel because you never really find out that much about him other than he is a rich, wanted organised crime boss. Most noticeably Jeremy Renner just isn't convincing enough to be a suitable foil to Colin Farrell's character.

While the action sequences are Ok, they are nothing new or exceptional by modern standards, especially during the climatic fight, which seems rushed and an after thought. This could be because of director Clark Jackson. Having made his name directing TV shows like Third Watch, The Shield, NYPD Blue, Homicide: Life on the Streets and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, his small screen origins are evident as the movie feels very episodic, like a two-part season opener. The first part is all character introductions but the momentum changes in the second part to all out action, with all the interactions and banter lost to shot outs and explosions and the movie suffers for this.
S.W.A.T. is saved simply by the inclusion of Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell. Without them the movie would have been distinctly average but their presence elevates it into decent action adventure.

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S.W.A.T. (2003) review written by: Jamie Kelwick