Street Kings

Release Date: 2008-04-11
Genre: Drama


Director: David Ayer

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, Naomie Harris, Jay Mohr, John Corbett, Cedric the Entertainer, Amaury Nolasco, Terry Crews, Common and The Game


Summary: For acclaimed novelist James Ellroy, the sunny exterior of Los Angeles will never shed enough light to illuminate the darkest parts of itself. In the City of Angels, moral codes designed to govern are difficult to uphold-especially by those determined to harm and protect us.

With STREET KINGS, David Ayer, one of LA's native sons, wields his camera onto the streets that are not found on picture postcards but on a city of contradictions and often-tragic consequences.

Keanu Reeves stars as Tom Ludlow, a veteran LAPD cop who finds life difficult to navigate after the death of his wife. When evidence implicates him in the execution of a fellow officer, he is forced to go up against the cop culture he's been a part of his entire career, ultimately leading him to question the loyalties of everyone around him.

Academy Award Winner Forest Whitaker plays Captain Jack Wander, Ludlow's mentor and superior. The stellar cast also features Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, Jay Mohr, John Corbett, Cedric the Entertainer, Amaury Nolasco, Terry Crews, Naomie Harris, Martha Higareda, Common and The Game.

The screenplay is based on an original story by James Ellroy and written by James Ellroy and Kurt Wimmer and Jamie Moss. Ayer, known for bringing gritty realism to films such as TRAINING DAY and HARSH TIMES, is directing. The film is produced by Lucas Foster, Alexandra Milchan and Erwin Stoff. Arnon Milchan, Michele Weisler, Bob Yari and Bruce Berman are executive producers.

Shot entirely in Los Angeles, the production team includes cinematographer Gabriel Beristain, ASC/BSC (THE RING 2, BLADE TRINITY), production designer Alec Hammond (DONNIE DARKO, THE CONTENDER), editor Jeffrey Ford, A.C.E. (BREACH, SHATTERED GLASS, THE FAMILY STONE) and music by Graeme Revell (GRINDHOUSE, SIN CITY).