Den of Thieves Surprises #movie_review

​Gritty crime drama, Den of Thieves focuses on the battle between an elite group of police officers in LA and the sophisticated robbery gang they set out to bring in.

​Nick Flanagan (played by Gerard Butler) is the bad boy of the force. He’s the leader of a group of the Major Crimes division in Los Angeles. These guys don’t play by the rules. Force is always applied when they need information, so forget any body cams! When an armored car robbery goes south, cops are killed bringing the crime to the attention of Nick and his gang. As they begin to put two and two together, they realize that they are dealing with a major group who has big plans.

​Merrimen (played by Pablo Schreiber) has plans to rob the Federal Reserve office in LA where money is counted and taken out of circulation. As a former military man, he commands his troops with precision as they stand together as a family brought together for a common purpose. (Think Fast and Furious meets Ocean 11)

​Donnie (played by O’Shea Jackson, Jr.) is a man caught in the middle. He’s been brought in by Nick to snitch on Merrimen but is also being used by Merrimen to feed Nick information. Filled with strippers, drinking and swearing, Den of Thieves isn’t a movie for those who are easily offended. The big shootout scene is over the top with machine guns and dodging through stalled traffic. 

​The diversity of the cast is interesting with a variety of Hawaiian and Māori actors. But it’s the name power in the movie which is fun with 50 Cent (who has an amazing scene as a protective father) and the brother of Liev Schreiber and Ice Cube’s son. Gerard does double duty on this movie, putting up his own money as producer, so you know he really wanted this movie made. 

​In today’s world of body cams and cell phone video, a police group like Nick’s would never be able to do the many things they do in this movie, but this is Hollywood and it makes a good movie. The surprising twist at the end will leave you shocked and eager to see it again so you can catch the clues given along the way. 

​While the action is wonderful on the big screen, this is easily a movie you can see at home and save some money…especially since you will want to watch it a second time for all the clues.