Netflix 'Rogue City': We watched Olivier Marchal's gangland extravangaza so you don't have to, and really, DON'T
You know things are going to be bleak when a film starts with a woman screaming, followed by a man shooting a perfectly sweet golden labrador and then himself. Welcome to Netflix's 'Rogue City', titled 'Bronx' for its French release. Why "Bronx" you might ask? Because it brings to mind the crime and urban decay of that New York City borough and has become French slang for a messed up sitch.
It is telling that this little French crime action movie is called so because take away the French actors and original dialogue and you have a cookie-cutter, Hollywoodesque film trying to emulate 'Training Day' but with none of its tension or drama. In fact, once you turn on the English dub, that little bit of exotic Marseilles flavor is also lost. Even poor Jean Reno, who plays the corrupt cop subject to blackmail gets lost in the blandness of it all.
At the start, you think you will be seeing something different. The hunky-looking cop, Vronsky, allows a gangster to visit his wife dying of cancer, making a detour just for this. Vronsky even cries when he witnesses the wife begs her husband to kill her before he goes to jail. And he lets the gangster kill her, stepping out of the room politely. Said gangster and Vronsky even talk about Count Vronsky of 'Anna Karenina'. But these opening sequences, which make you believe you'll be seeing something epic, with suitable depth, is betrayed. If you want the cop version of the 'Godfather', this ain't it, though it wants to be.
Somewhere late in the film, you have the Corsican clan's matriarch tell Vronsky that the only difference between them is a police badge. But it is the film's weakness that you never feel this in your bones as you watch different police officers (and units) go against each other even as, on the other side of the equation, rival gang members are shooting each other for vendetta or turf.
After a point, you stop caring who is shooting who and why, especially since none of the action sequences are really inventive -- except one involving a very naked man with a gun under his chin. Other scenes are usually one-shot kills. There are no chases or fights. The big pivotal action sequence is on a beach where Vronksy and his team go undercover to get the Bastiani gang members. It is shot in near-darkness and everyone is wearing black. You will get bad 'Game of Thrones' Season 8 flashbacks if nothing else.
Worse, the film muddies its "every cop is very very grey" by making Vronsky a hero figure, despite everything. He rescues himself and all his crew members, except the damaged Will. But Will is a snitch so we don't care really, especially since he killed his wife, kids, and the dog.
Vronsky also helps the new police chief Leonetti, played by Jean Reno, by getting back the blackmail material the Bastianis had on him that had turned him into a corrupt cop. Vronsky and his police captain friend, Campani, also get Nadal, one of Bastiani's bloodthirsty associates, who killed the Campani's mistress. Sigh. Yes, it is that kind of testosterone-fuelled and cliche-filled story.
Vronsky goes off into the sunset with his girl and half the drug money, leaving the rest of the dough for his team members (who also get to keep their jobs without sanctions because Leonetti owes them).
But wait, director Olivier Marchal wants to make a point. No one gets to be happy in his cop vs criminals gangland extravaganza. Just like Leonetti was in cahoots with the Bastianis, and Vronsky was friends with Maranzano, the deputy chief of Narcotics, Jankovic, had a soft spot for Nadal. So he orders hits on everyone from Leonetti and his daughter to Vronsky and his former team, Captain Campani, and even the Bastiani's matriarch and right-hand man who gave up Nadal. Every main character dies and then the film ends.
So here is the lesson. If a movie starts with a man killing a dog, go watch something else.
'Rogue City' is currently streaming on Netflix.