The problem with most action films is that they give you nothing but action. They blow up buildings, crash cars non-stop and never allow anything deeper to develop. Thankfully, this is not the case with “S.W.A.T.,” a film that is suprisingly dynamic and deep.
The film follows Jim Street (Colin Farrell), a young Los Angeles S.W.A.T. officer, who finds himself kicked off of the specialized force when his partner disobeys an order during an attempted bank heist and injures a civilian. Reduced to manning an equipment room at the police station, Jim is determined to work his way back onto the force. He gets his opportunity when Lt. Dan “Hondo” Harrelson, a hard-nosed S.W.A.T legend played by Samuel L. Jackson, takes a liking to him and invites him to join the new team he’s been assisgned to assemble.
As the team goes into training, the film also follows the story of Alex Montel (Olivier Martinez), a fugitive who is wanted all over the world. When he is accidently apprehended by a Los Angeles officer during a routine traffic stop, the two story lines converge and the film really kicks into gear. The new S.W.A.T. team, fresh out of training, is assigned the task of transporting Alex into federal custody.
Complicating the matter greatly is an offer Alex extends to the nation. While being taken back into prison shortly after an attempted jailbreak, he turns to a group of media news cameras and proclaims he will give $100 million to whomever frees him. What follows is the most shrewd portion of the film – a full-on indictment of American exploitation media and the public’s obsession with wealth. Television stations everywhere broadcast the videotaped offer, repeatedly declaring how rich and powerful Alex is, and, in the process, turn him into a superstar. The scenes work because they seem so plausible in today’s society. Typically, an action film does not make room for social commentary. That’s precisely why I like it – it’s new and different. It fits right into the story, but is also subtle, so it does not detract from the film.
Director Clark Johnson does a great job of making “S.W.A.T.” work on different levels. The film could easily be divided into three different parts, each with a very distinct feel and tone. The training sequences are light, fun to watch and creativly staged. The middle of the film portrays the sociological study that really drives the film. And the end provides great action sequences with unexpected plot turns and fast paced changes of scenery. Johnson manages to keep it all together very well, and somehow it all just sort of works.
Jackson is strong as the team leader, and Michelle Rodriguez provides an interesting touch as the team’s only female member. Farrell – one of the brightest and most charismatic young stars in film today – is very good as the young S.W.A.T. officer out for redemption. People forget that he is not only a heart throb, but a talented actor. He plays the action hero well, and successfully delivers sketchy dialogue that in another actor’s hands might sound silly. Without him, the film would not work as well as it does, which as it turns out is much better than expected.
