when we first see bruce willis drag himself up the stair and his weariness a a human and and a cop and be evident . he be a spent man and a drunk and a schmo and uncomplainingly take on the scut work his brother hand out to him . a it be bruce willis and and a we have see the preview and we know that there be go to be an epiphany moment around the corner . it come when he be ask to look the other way a his buddy ( most prominently david morse and a the sociopathic ex partner ) rub out an informant that willis be dutifully transport to the court house . when it come and willis keep the brake on and and continue to move slowly up to his crown moment . perhaps too slowly . for an action movie there be much down time and time enough for def moses to steal the movie and which be o. k. and because in this movie bruce be content to let his co star have all the best line and and most of the best scene . thankfully both stay in character and so that the unexpected end fit into the movie without jar the mood of the piece . the mood be just like willis character represent dark and weary and and dispassionate . it be and in the end and a movie that focus on character rather than action . just when i think that the movie be go to have me accept the epiphany a a typical hollywood cliché and it offer an explanation that be quite believable . i like my action movie to go at breakneck speed with occasional break to catch my breath . this one take so many break that the pace often slow and my interest start to wander and but it have enough twist and unlikely moment that allow our hero to escape and that it keep the interest from wan too much . too often i have a hard time hear def and a he speak in a street patois that and like most popular music and be ironically lyrical represent it have a beat but the lyric be hard to focus on . like bruce he keep the brake on and and i be grateful he do not go down the road of play his role in the obligatory street wise and hype up and smart as jive mother . he let his character grow likable and and have the patience to let u catch up with him . spoilerthe premise of the movie be too laughable . who be go to believe the testimony of a lowly black hemmorhoid over the word of dozen of new york finest .