The murder of Christopher Wallace a.k.a. “The Notorious B.I.G.” remains unsolved to this day. After the passing of so many years, that’s almost impossible to believe. But perhaps not when after seeing City of Lies – a true crime tale (based on Randall Sullivan‘s non-fiction book called LAbyrinth) that aims to solve one of the most shocking shootings in American history. Starring Johnny Depp as retired LAPD Det. Russell Poole, a man whose family and career is ripped apart as he gets closer and closer to what he believes is the truth of what truly transpired in the early morning of March 9, 1997.
Director Brad Furman (The Infiltrator) introduces Poole, less than two weeks after Biggie’s death, driving up to a crime scene where Marcus Gaines (Amin Joseph), an LAPD officer, was murdered in a road rage incident by an undercover officer named Frank Lyga (Shea Whigham). Gaines is linked to Death Row Record’s Suge Knight, and Poole is hooked and begins connecting the dots. He’s really good at doing that.
Furman shapes this sluggish story by having Poole recount what he’s found over the past practically twenty years to journalist Jack Jackson (Forest Whitaker). Jackson is far removed from his Peabody Award-winning days when he goes snooping around Poole for a name. The name of the individual responsible for killing Biggie. Poole ain’t having it. Yet, the more Jackson finds out, the more he starts digging in to what Poole already knows. They’re an unlikely team where each are in need of redemption.
City of Lies is undoubtedly an incredibly strong incrimination of police corruption and cover-up. While scantly touching on race, its sights are decidedly set on holding the LAPD’s feet to the fire and finally receiving justice for Wallace and his family by turning Poole’s theories in to truths . Unfortunately, this is done through a very dusty process with two lackluster lead performances. Furman and writer Christian Contreras have their film limping from scene-to-scene and it spills over on to Depp and Whittaker who are in need of some gusto pronto. Their chemistry is almost as cold as the cold case they’re chasing.
Even if you know nothing about this side of what may have lead to Wallace’s death, there’s hardly anything here that is surprising in what is uncovered. Initially set to be released in 2018, City of Lies painfully shows its age as it feels largely worn out and outdated. Likewise, it’s left looking rather depthless when it comes to timely themes that have since sent this country into protest and in demand of change.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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