'Rainbow Drive' is a somewhat confusing cop thriller because it involves a lot of characters and several different crimes. Peter Weller plays a detective who, while sleeping with another man's wife, discovers a house full of murdered people in what looks like a gang killing. But, although he discovered the crime scene which rightfully makes it his case, he is told by his superiors to back off. That the case is already being taken care of. Except, they're saying a gang is responsible when clearly it isn't. And, as the detective is trying to find out from partners and others he works with why he's not being allowed to investigate this one particular case, he obviously has to be extremely careful because those who are involved in the corruption are watching closely.
The problem with movies like this, which has numerous culprits (both minions and high-level villains) is that when the villains reveal their motives and intentions, they do so in such an uninteresting manner. Star cop, who's investigations dangerously lead him to his suspects, simply forces them to confess. Or, the villain will choose to confess thinking he has the upper hand and will eventually defeat this last loose end. Well, when you have several people doing that in the finale of one film, the results are very uninteresting if done only through dialog. Here, it was one low-level minion who confesses what could've better been made evident to the viewer through actions and dialog or action alone. His confessions unveil too much of the corruption, and it's hard for the viewer to keep track of this. Meanwhile, the finale, most powerful and most corrupt villain explains just a bit more much later. It's told in such a droll fashion what should've been revealed either through a longer film, or through clever action of some sort.
I was surprised, however, that this movie does not permit the viewer his usual happy ending expectations wherein everything is resolved so perfectly, and often too quickly or unrealistically. Instead, the viewer is in for a rather nice, abrupt surprise.
Those in the mood for a mild, made-for-TV cop thriller might give this one. But, I would recommend it more to fans of the cast.
The problem with movies like this, which has numerous culprits (both minions and high-level villains) is that when the villains reveal their motives and intentions, they do so in such an uninteresting manner. Star cop, who's investigations dangerously lead him to his suspects, simply forces them to confess. Or, the villain will choose to confess thinking he has the upper hand and will eventually defeat this last loose end. Well, when you have several people doing that in the finale of one film, the results are very uninteresting if done only through dialog. Here, it was one low-level minion who confesses what could've better been made evident to the viewer through actions and dialog or action alone. His confessions unveil too much of the corruption, and it's hard for the viewer to keep track of this. Meanwhile, the finale, most powerful and most corrupt villain explains just a bit more much later. It's told in such a droll fashion what should've been revealed either through a longer film, or through clever action of some sort.
I was surprised, however, that this movie does not permit the viewer his usual happy ending expectations wherein everything is resolved so perfectly, and often too quickly or unrealistically. Instead, the viewer is in for a rather nice, abrupt surprise.
Those in the mood for a mild, made-for-TV cop thriller might give this one. But, I would recommend it more to fans of the cast.