Richard Donner directs Bruce Willis, Mos Def and David Morse in this action thriller where a bum detective is assigned transporting a witness to the courthouse on time and finds himself having to outsmart every corrupt cop in the NYPD.

The action is small scale but I think most Die Hard fans would have preferred things if this compelling B movie was tweaked to be John McClane’s last adventure. Willis is back in underdog mode, has to use his brain as much as his brawn, he gets an unlikely unwanted partner to bounce off of and the eventual redemption has particularly cynical Big Apple bitter aftertaste. It even gels with the downward spiral we witnessed back in 1995. 16 Blocks is grittier and smarter than the bombastic Die Hard 4.0 and the atrocious fifth franchise killer. The first two acts see Willis’ alcoholic schlub get his legs back and have to play 3D chess around Manhattan. The movie is essential 16 narrow escapes. Morse is a complex villain and Mos Def moves past his initially grating characterisation. The ending is a little trite but hey… that’s Hollywood / Donner. A mid range movie it is hard not to like, that now plays like the last flight of a rare bird. Willis in his prime, location shoot, fallible heroes.

7

Perfect Double Bill: Copshop (2021)