Review of Triple Threat (2019) by Thequietgamer — 04 Feb 2018

A seedy crime-thriller that wins you over with one heck on an ensemble cast. Not everyone onscreen is of the usual leading man material, but they're all actors and actresses who have proven themselves to be very talented over the years. The plot soars thanks to director John Hillcoat's experience with making movies with morally gray material. Nothing is black and white in this tale of crooked cops, betrayal, murder, and impossible heists. So much so in fact, that Casey Affleck's very black-and-white minded new cop on the scene feels like the weak link in terms of characterization. Aaron Paul ends up being a close second as he is really just playing Jesse Pinkman again; a drug addict with the most backhanded sense of morals one has ever fabricated for themselves. The entire cast is on point though. It's a film without any real heroes and villains. Yet, you're given cause to root for the characters who are doing most of their living in the middle of the moral spectrum, as they are just doing what they can to survive.

The action is quite methodical and meticulously crafted in several exciting set-pieces. It's just as gritty and bloody as Hillcoat's previous works. Whether it's the more calculated heist sequences or the more chaotic bits of gangland warfare, Triple 9 is both taut and exciting. The brutality leans on realism to get the job done. Triple 9 is a dark look at corrupt law enforcement officers who are having their sins catch up with them. Most filmmaker's would kill for a cast like this, where literally everyone onscreen is both dedicated and totally killing it. It doesn't pull any punches as the twists and surprise backstabs just keep coming. The movie has no trouble holding your attention. Especially if you enjoy strong, mature stories where the characters are real and there really aren't any good guys onscreen.

9.