Brooklyn's Finest Review

Messages: The movie's main point seems to be that New York cops eventually find themselves pushed into a corner and forced into making tough decisions that include stealing and murder.

Role models: Each of the three heroes tries to do the right thing, but winds up going down the wrong path. Sal desperately needs a new house for his wife and kids (his wife is sick from wood mold) and undercover Tango does not want to rat out a friend. They both take drastic and negative paths because of these goals. The third character, Eddie, is involved in a series of ambiguous decisions, none of which seem to turn out well. The exception is his final act, which is desperate and dangerous, but which has a good goal.

Violence: The movie has very strong violence throughout, including the rough and demeaning treatment of women and prostitutes. Almost every character has a gun and uses it on some other character, sometimes without consequences. There are also scenes of characters beating each other with fists. Constant yelling.

Sex: Eddie has intense, graphic sex with a topless prostitute. (Oral sex is included.) Many other women, including prostitutes, strippers, barmaids, and girlfriends of drug dealers, appear topless. There is occasional crass sex talk as well.

Language: A cornucopia of foul language here, with frequent uses of "f--k," "s--t," and the "N" word, in all their variations. We also hear "ass," "bitch," and many other words, including a few uses of "God" and Jesus" as exclamations.

Consumerism: A Pepsi logo is visible in a storefront. The next shot shows some Pepsi on a shelf.

Drinking, drugs and smoking: Drug dealers are at the center of the story. "Tango" is undercover as a drug dealer and Sal is a narcotics cop. Drugs are visible and pervasive throughout. Eddie's prostitute snorts cocaine. Eddie drinks both whisky and beer and has a drinking problem. Sal smokes cigarettes regularly.