Spenser Confidential (2020)
Directed by Peter Berg
Spenser, a former Boston patrolman who just got out from prison, teams up with Hawk, an aspiring fighter, to unravel the truth behind the death of two police officers.
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3 films that influenced Spenser Confidential
What critics say influenced Spenser Confidential
In hindsight, Berg has always had an interest in showcasing memorable fight sequences, going all the way back to 2003’s The Rundown , which cited the iconic alleyway brawl from John Carpenter’s They Live as an inspiration.
Shane Black‘s films ( The Nice Guys , Lethal Weapon , etc.) are built on an elaborate fusion of the detective movie and mainstream comedy, but they maintain something of a singular tone throughout—or at least manage to switch from comic to dramatic modes with a certain degree of grace.
What Spenser Confidential could’ve been is a cheeky buddy cop mystery caper in the vein of The Nice Guys, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang or the first Lethal Weapon.
What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: Although Spenser is accused of being Serpico, he’s actually more of a Jack Reacher -type who’s smarter than the cops and smarter than the crooks and one step ahead of all of ’em and never really gets into trouble despite causing large amounts of property destruction and killing some guys and being the catalyst for scads of general havoc.
It being set in Boston and following a tale of corruption, there are elements of The Departed and The Town, while the buddy cop elements bring to mind the likes of 48 Hours and Lethal Weapon, with a little bit of the vigilante spirit of Jack Reacher thrown in for good measure.
In Spenser Confidential, Berg clearly wants to aim both ways: a mystery drama and a buddy comedy that harkens back to ’80s and ’90s action-film template, complete with the obligatory beat-’em-up vibe (think Jack Reacher and you’ll roughly get the idea).