Urban Justice

Today, I want to share a movie which had a very powerful impact on my life, Urban Justice starring The Big Man himself, Steven Seagal.  I know I say all Seagal flicks are good, well except for that piece of shit Flight of Fury from 2007.  I digress, Flight of Fury will get its own review one day but today is not that day.  Anyway, Urban Justice was a phenomenal movie.

Non-Seagal fiends are probably not familiar with this movie, being more content with Seagal’s work which was released into theaters but at this point, most of Seagal’s career has involved direct to DVD films and this direct to DVD movie is simply put, one of his best.  Don’t just take this Seagal fiends word for it, but keep in mind that this movie was seriously considered for theatrical release which would have been his first since Half Past Dead co-starring Ja Rule which was released in 2002.  Urban Justice was that good.  In fact, it had such an impact on me that I had to take Seagal’s character, Simon Ballister and use it as my own alias.  

Urban Justice co-stars one of Seagal’s most frequent collaborators, Danny Trejo albeit in more of an extended cameo type of appearance and Eddie Griffin.  The whole movie, Eddie Griffin, AKA Armand Tucker muses on the question of “what’s gangster?”  He toys with possible answers ranging from Al Pacino’s portrayal of Scarface to having relations with a gang of women who utilize toys to get it poppin’ off without him because he is busy handling his bid-ness.  None of these possible answers really hit the mark of what’s gangster, and that’s when the big man himself, Steven fucking Seagal enters the picture.  I think you can all determine where the answer to the question leads.

Seagal makes his first appearance at his son’s funeral.  Simon Ballister, as portrayed by Seagal just lurks in the background, a mysterious presence at a solemn occasion.  His ex-wife approaches him with the 411, but she must have been a horrid ex-wife because Seagal doesn’t even utter a word or acknowledge her.  That was some cold hearted gangster power move by Seagal!

That’s the catalyst for the movie and in case you forget Seagal’s motive for whooping ass in this movie, fear not as there are 3-4 flashbacks of the aforementioned funeral of Max Ballister.  It must have been quite the emotional toll on Seagal if it’s constantly playing in the background of his mind like that.  

Now the whole movie is driven by one thing, Simon Ballister’s thirst for vengeance and it must be quenched before he can rest.  He states his aim early and clearly, he wants the triggerman.  He dont give a damn about the politics which was behind his sons murder, he only cared about the man behind the trigger.  If only the bad guys had heeded his words, they’d of saved themselves a world of hurt.  And again, this is just building to the essence of what is gangster.  Seagal states his aim, and he sets out to deliver.  Nothing more but nothing less than the triggerman is all he desires, truly Gangster.

Of course, in his quest for the triggerman, Seagal has to chase down some false leads.  How else would we be able to get a full movie out of such a simple premise if the triggerman was simply served up as a sacrificial lamb?  That wouldn’t be too gangster at all and there wouldn’t be enough ass kicking to quench Seagal fiends thirst for violence.

One of these false tips claims that Danny Trejo and his hispanic gang were behind Max Ballister’s death.  Seagal quickly realizes that Trejo is a good man, much like himself, out to help his people although on the opposite side of the law.  Real recognizes real and they have a toast to Seagal’s dead son.  Despite the personal warmth between the two men, Seagal of course has to whoop some of the gang members on the lower part of the totem poles ass.  And as he exits the club, Seagal shows his inner beauty by giving a homeless man some food and drinks because that’s the kind of guy Seagal is.  Heartwarming.

Later, Seagal watches an unholy alliance of the East Side Gangsters and the LAPD double cross some drug dealers!  Seagal always does his intel because Seagal has learned, you gotta do your research and intelligence gathering before you set up on these bad guys so that they can’t set up on him!  At the 2nd drug deal, he knows their modus operandi, allowing him to set up on them while they are setting up on their marks.  Seagal is that good!  Gangster.

At the end of the film, Seagal finally brutally beats the triggerman to death nad is walking away from the destruction he has wrought when Armand pulls a gun on him and says “I know you not dumb enough to bring a knife to a gun fight.”  Seagal uses his hand speed, which is frankly a blur because he moves so quickly for such a big man, disarms Armand Tucker and walks away.  Armand ponders the actions of his bad ass white boy and declares in astonishment “Now that’s gangster!”

Great movie, 7 out of 5 stars.  Seagal is an equal opportunity ass kicker, destroying blacks, whites and hispanics as he tries to quench his thirst for vengeance.  Exceptional gun play, a hot babe, martial arts scenes, a well developed and straight forward plot for a direct to DVD flick.  Lastly, Seagal appears marginally in shape although not in enough shape to not have to wear thick dark clothes.  Eddie Griffin also delivers some funny dialogue