Woody Harrelson in a scene from "Rampart" (credit: Millennium Entertainment)

 
You can hear KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl’s movie reviews on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM Fridays at 8:53am & 4:53pm.

(KCBS) – Jan Wahl reviews “Rampart,” starring Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster, Robin Wright and Sigourney Weaver.

RAMPART (R)
From his earliest days with lighthearted comedy on Cheers to an amazing performance in “The People vs. Larry Flynt” to the strong work as The Messenger, Woody Harrelson is nothing short of terrific. He turns in performances that are multi-dimensional, illuminating, and shading even the most vicious and violent.

Those words would bring us to “Rampart,” (R) for he plays a rough, ruthless and damaged soul who just keeps getting it wrong. He is an L.A. cop with a destructive nature, terrorizing the mean streets and everyone who is unlucky enough to meet up with him. The film is based on a true story, and one still felt in the Rampart Division of the LAPD.

There is a terrific supporting cast here: Cynthia Nixon, Robin Wright, Sigourney Weaver, Ben Foster, Ned Beatty, Ice Cube – but the film belongs to Harrelson, able to infuse even the weirdest into reality.

Unfortunately, the movie feels derivative of other genre films, repetitive and relentlessly downbeat. Two hats for Harrelson’s always reliable and interesting performance.

See Right Now: “Hugo,” “The Iron Lady” and “My Week With Marilyn.”

Watch On Video/DVD: “50/50,” and “Midnight in Paris“

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