Pete Koslow (Joel Kinnaman) is a convict forced to work for FBI agents Wilcox (Rosamund Pike) and Montgomery (Clive Owen) to infiltrate a Polish drug gang led by The General. An undercover NYPD cop tries to make a buy from Montgomery. He quickly makes the cop and tries to talk him out of the situation. Instead, The General's nephew Stazek kills the cop. Pete is forced to take fall as Stazek holds his wife Sofia (Ana de Armas) and their daughter Anna. Pete has to go back to prison. NYPD detective Grens (Common) investigates and suspects a cover up.
It tries to be a harden police corruption crime drama but it can't measure up. My initial feeling about the killing is that it's unlikely. While the bad FBI agents are a good excuse, the movie doesn't really explain why Pete was kept off-books. Pete also has the annoying habit of keeping Sofia in the dark. That leads to the annoying repetition of scenes where Sofia keeps pleading with Pete. At this point, the FBI has the drug deals and Stazek for murder. If they can't use the evidence for that, then there is no point in the undercover work in the first place. This is a simplistic thriller trying to sell itself as something more sophisticated. As long as one doesn't ask too many questions, this is a fine little thriller.
It tries to be a harden police corruption crime drama but it can't measure up. My initial feeling about the killing is that it's unlikely. While the bad FBI agents are a good excuse, the movie doesn't really explain why Pete was kept off-books. Pete also has the annoying habit of keeping Sofia in the dark. That leads to the annoying repetition of scenes where Sofia keeps pleading with Pete. At this point, the FBI has the drug deals and Stazek for murder. If they can't use the evidence for that, then there is no point in the undercover work in the first place. This is a simplistic thriller trying to sell itself as something more sophisticated. As long as one doesn't ask too many questions, this is a fine little thriller.