Just what I expected

Good movie but grossly overrated

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Some really great acting done by co-stars (Sy Richardson, Don Cheadle, Grand Bush, Trinidad Silva, Maria Conchita Alonso, etc). Some great character actors at the police station, like Seymour Cassel and Jack Nance! (Only Hopper could have wrangled a group like that!) Robert Duvall hands in a solid performance here and truly leads this film.There's plenty here to like, that's for sure. However, the script is just packed full of clichés and stereotypes. Hopper's heart might have been in the right place when he made this, but he should have taken over the picture more and rewrote the script. The last time he did that (Out of The Blue), he gave us a great film. So, I wonder if his hands were bound by the usual Hollywood elites for some unknown reason?Either way, the script is juvenile and almost insulting in its portrayal of the gang problem in LA at that time. Terrible lines were made worse by Sean Penn's absolutely abysmal performance too. His entire presence here is awkward. His character is supposed to be a kid and an outsider here, so you would think his bad acting and bland presence could work here; it does not. Maybe this is Hopper's fault? I'm not sure, but Penn really disrupts the film (the date scene in the car with Alonso was hard to sit through!).One wonders what Hopper and the same cast (sans Penn) could have turned out with an indie budget and better script written by someone with actual gang/street cred. Otherwise, this felt like a Lifetime movie.

The film was the first directorial work by actor Dennis Hopper in 18 years. Like 1969's 'Easy Rider', this film was notable for its real life write the plot elements by screenwriters Michael Schiffer & Richard Di Lello. However, do to that standard of writing. It's somewhat slow in paced. There are tons of pointless boring filler, in this film. The violence action in this film is also very random, just as much as it's nudity. It really comes out of nowhere, and has little bearing to the main plot. While, most of the action scenes, are somewhat realistic in tone, however, there was at least, one scene at the beach front that really went over the top. It felt like, I was watching a different movie with its 'Lethal Weapon' style bike chase. Because of that, I couldn't say, this movie was a great film. It was too uneven. Still, the film was fine for the most part. Made in the era, before the 1992 South Central riots & many years before 2000 Rampart scandal destroy the CRASH (Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums) special operations unit of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The film tells the story of two CRASH cops, experienced season veteran, Officer Bob Hodges (Robert Duvall) and rookie partner, and hot-head, Officer Danny McGavin (Sean Penn) patrolling the streets of East Los Angeles, trying hard to keep the gang violence between the Bloods, the Crips, and the Hispanic street gangs under control. Without spoiling the American police procedural action crime film, too much, this movie was infamous for its highly dangerous production, as film producer Robert H. Solo hired real gang members as guardians as well as actors. Two of them were shot during filming of this film. If that wasn't enough, according to the filmmakers, shortly after the church shooting scene wrapped, a church service a short distance away actually was disrupted by gang gunfire. Things got worse for the production, as reportedly, Sean Penn was arrested on 2nd April 1987 and spent close to a month (33 days) in jail for assault after hitting an extra on the set of this film who was taking snapshots of Penn without his permission. It also didn't help that he was going through a nasty public divorce with singer/actor Madonna, where the newspapers stated allegations of domestic abuse. Despite what happen behind closed doors and his private life, Sean Penn did pretty well in this role. Although, it wasn't much of a stretch, since Penn was a total angry wild-man at this time. Robert Duvall is also alright, but his role wasn't as superb to me, as other critics saw it. I just seen it, as average at best. However, he does fully earns the hallowed term "actor's actor." Anyways, both of the main actors work well with each other, even if the whole 'bull and cows' (good cop/bad cop) gimmick seem to run them, as very unrealistic cops at the time. The supporting cast is just meh. Nothing much. It kinda sucks that they got Don Cheadle in this film, and barely used him. All, he does, is look menacing to the camera, and hardly speaks. He totally got wasted in his limited role as arch-gang leader, Rocket. I can also do, without Damon Wayans as Rocket's gang-member, T-Bone. All the comedy scenes with him, felt a little bit out of place like Courtney Gains's character, Whitey. If anybody, really shine in this film, it had to be Trinidad Silva as 21th Street gang leader, Leo 'Frog' Lopez. He was amazing as the informer. He really look like he belong in a real-life gang. It's too bad, that the actor died in 1988 in a car accident involving a collision with a drunken driver in Whittier, California, after filming this movie. I really hope for more from him. One thing that really made this film, very interesting is the odd mixer of gangsta rap music with that of classic 1960s country hits. It's weird, hearing Jaynett's 'Sally Go Around the Roses' & Willie Nelson 'Bloody Mary Morning' with the intense rap songs of Ice T's 'Colors' and Big Daddy Kane 'Raw'. It was so jarring to me. I guess, it's supposed to represented the large different between those, living in the white community and those living in the black projects of Los Angeles County in Color. However, the movie's music also shows the weird unionize of multiply ethnicities under the banner of those who choose to live, under the colors of law enforcement and those who choose to wear the colors of the street gangs. No matter what, the music for this film, kinda works for its plot; just as much as the location of LA, works for the soundtrack. You really do get the sense of gang-life and how it was like to be in the CRASH force. Nevertheless, I would love to see, how the original script that took place in Chicago and was more about drug dealing than gang members. It's just seems, more interesting. In addition to that, there is a version of the film that has an extended ending that is somewhat not checking out. Just don't watch that version, if you haven't saw the film, yet. Watch the theatrical cut. The new scenes are not that satisfying. Overall: If you love movies like 2012's 'End of Watch' or 2001's 'Training Day', you will probably love this movie. While, it's not the best cop movie out there. This somewhat excellent, powerful and gripping crime drama is still worth checking out.

Young brash officer Danny McGavin (Sean Penn) is newly teamed up with old veteran officer Bob Hodges (Robert Duvall). They patrol the gang infested neighborhoods of East L.A. between the Bloods and the Crips as well as the Latino gangs. McGavin is hot for Louisa (María Conchita Alonso). While McGavin is itching to make arrests, Hodges tries to stay in touch with the gangs. The duo gets into the middle of a complicated gang battle.Director Dennis Hopper is trying to bring some sort of gritty realism and stereotypes to this Hollywood construct. All the 80s gang stereotypes are here but it's done well. There are some great minority actors. In addition to Penn and Duvall, they form wide range of colors to give a wide swath of life in the streets. It's wild and random as it paves the way for other gangster rap movies of its kind in the 90s and its accompanying cop drama. Heck this is years before 'Boyz n the Hood'. It's probably the first time a lot of this gang inner workings is seen on screen. It's the first time I noticed somebody being beaten into a gang. Looking back, the stereotypes and the lingo can make this look dated but that time has come and gone. The movie is bound to look dated.

The Late Great Dennis Hopper's 'Colors' is A Brilliant Film, in all respects. A Gritty, Unforgiving, No-Holds-Barred Cop-Drama, that works in every level.'Colors' Synopsis: An experienced cop and his rookie partner patrol the streets of East Los Angeles while trying to keep the gang violence under control.'Colors' is Gritty, Unforgiving & No-Holds-Barred. Its certainly, NOT meant for the Faint-Hearted. But for those, who have the stomach for such hardcore Cop-Dramas, don't dare to miss this masterful film.Richard Di Lello & Michael Schiffer's Screenplay is No-Holds-Barred. Dennis Hopper's Direction is Rustic & Raw. Haskell Wexler's Cinematography is Edgy. Editing is Sharp. Music by Herbie Hancock is Good.Performance-Wise: Academy-Award-Winning Actors, Bob Duvall & Sean Penn pitch in Spectacular Performances. And its truly a pleasure to watch the Acting Legends performer together, with such flourish. María Conchita Alonso is terrific. Don Cheadle is menacing. Randy Brooks is effective. Glenn Plummer is proficient.On the whole, 'Colors' is a must see film. Two Thumbs Up!