Explosive
Summary
Brown’s Requiem gives Michael Rooker a chance to shine in one of his first leading roles. The film noir genre suits him perfectly and the pic is brutal and twisted enough to make it enjoyable.
Plot: A down on his luck P.I. named Fritz Brown is hired to keep an eye on a beautiful runaway, but gets much more than he bargained for when the bodies start piling up and dark, sinister secrets are revealed.
Review: I love the works of novelist James Ellroy. They’re raw and gritty and tough. And seem perfect for big screen adaptations. His name is probably most recognised thanks to L.A. Confidential, but I’ve always loved his less recognised works and adaptations, like this film and 1988’s Cop — which is my favourite film of all time.
The gruff Rooker is perfectly cast as the wayward P.I. with a heart of gold beneath his bruised exterior. Brown is a text book noir hero, complete with a dark past and predilection to violence when pushed. Like all Ellroy works, the powerful and wealthy are massively corrupt and our protagonist always has a soft spot for a damsel in distress.
Selma Blair plays Jane Baker, said damsel, and she’s pretty good in the small role. Will Sasso steals every scene he’s in as Fat Dog Baker, her obese, bum of a brother who may have more than familial love in his heart for his sibling.
Genre faves like Brion James and Brad Dourif turn up in small supporting roles and of course they slime their way across the screen and burn themselves into our memory as two L.A. lowlifes in Brown’s sights.
Brown’s Requiem isn’t an action pic, but like Cop, it has some scenes of bloody mayhem. Especially when Brown learns the truth about the case he’s been hired to investigate and starts dispensing justice. The final confrontation is very nasty and gory, but that’s how bad people die in Ellroy’s world.
Writer/Director Jason Freeland never went on to do much after this film, and it’s a shame. This film is razor sharp, perfectly capturing seedy L.A. in all its dirty glory, as Cop did, and his sense of grit and use of natural locations is spot on.
Definitely Rooker’s show, Brown’s Requiem is a long forgotten, little scene crime gem that begs for repeat viewings. Hopefully one day, a boutique Blu-ray label will pick this up and give it the love it deserves. Like Brown does.