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Absolutely brilliant

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

And so goes the chorus for rapper Ice-T's hit gang warfare anthem "Colors," which also happened to be the name of the 1988 gang warfare action film "Colors," which was directed by the late actor/director Dennis Hopper, who does not appear at all in the film."Colors" was one of the earliest films to deal with the bloody gang violence that by 1988 when the film was released, close to 400 gang-related murders had occurred in the greater Los Angeles area. The police were overworked and unable to effectively deal with the increasing gang violence, communities were forced to live in fear, and the L.A. streets were a virtual war zone."Colors" was also different from previous films dealing with gangs in the fact that although it was told largely from the point-of-view of the dedicated police officers out there on the streets trying to curb the rising gang violence and ease community fears, it also showed us some of the inner-workings of gangs and why some people, mostly teenagers and young adults, join them and find such a dangerous lifestyle so rewarding. For once, gang members are given a human face so that we understand why they may do what they do as gangs.The film focuses on the L.A. Police Department's anti-gang C.R.A.S.H. (Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums) unit. At the beginning of the film, and using a set-up familiar to the many buddy-cop action films produced during the time, veteran C.R.A.S.H. officer Bob Hodges (Robert Duvall) is partnered up with the brash, young Danny McGavin (Sean Penn). Hodges knows the streets and has an informal rapport with many of the local L.A. gangs, and many of them know him; there's a sense of mutual respect between Hodges and the gang members. Danny also knows the streets, but knows nothing of how to fight the gangs terrorizing them and he just wants to bust heads and make arrests."Colors" is almost episodic as Hodges and Danny go from one anti-gang operation to another, but a plot of sorts forms at the scene of the latest gang homicide. A young "Blood" gang member is gunned down in his backyard by a rival "Crips" crew, led by Rocket (Don Cheadle, in an early role playing a character with much restrained malevolence). Hodges and McGavin are put on the case, and as their investigation goes on, it brings them into contact with many of the other local L.A. gangs fighting for "turf" in the streets - eventually culminating in a bloody turf war with the cops and surrounding communities caught in the middle."Colors" does have its weaknesses in an occasionally spotty script and weak dialogue. But the film keeps you watching and engaged to what's going on on the screen. Fault can be found, of course, with the buddy-cop formula of pairing a veteran like Robert Duvall with an unseasoned rookie in Sean Penn. But their pairing works, as the two constantly clash with one another over their differing approaches to the job - but gradually build a grudging respect for the other man and his perspective on how to best handle their situation."Colors" was also remarkable, as I mentioned earlier, in that the gang members themselves are not nameless, faceless entities occupying your typical us-vs.-them war flick. No. Hopper actually took the opportunity to go inside the gangs so that we get to know some of them as characters. We don't condone anything they do, but we get to know them and understand why gang-banging is so appealing - family, belonging, lack of ambition and/or opportunity, power/status, the overall lifestyle, etc. It was a brave and revealing, and unflinching, insight, and a departure, since not having this could have made "Colors" seem like your run-of-the-mill late-'80s cop movie.A great action-crime film that comes highly recommended from this viewer.8/10

Colors is an excellent,powerful and gripping Crime Drama that combines great direction,a fantastic cast and a memorable score. All of those elements make Colors an unforgettable film that is Dennis Hopper.Sean Penn and Robert DuVall at their best.Set in Los Angeles,California,Colors tells the story of veteran LAPD cop Bob Hodges(Robert DuVall)who is teamed up with young hot shot cop Danny McGavin(Sean Penn)to patrol the streets and deal with local gangs such as the Crips,Bloods and Latino gangs while dealing with each other as partners.Before there was Boyz N The Hood(1991)and Menace II Society(1993)set the standard for Urban Drama in LA there was Colors a brilliant and intense Crime Drama that set the table and was also a mixture of amazing talents such as director Dennis Hopper and actors Sean Penn and Robert DuVall who all collaborated on this great film that was not only a critical and Box Office success but was also the right movie at the right time for Los Angeles in 1988. During the 1980s Los Angeles was known for being seen as such a beautiful place that was filled with glitz and glamour and the rich and famous,but Colors gave audiences a different side and look to Los Angeles that wasn't seen during the 1980s where parts of the city were not very pretty and gang violence was out of control with the cops trying to stop it but with little success. And while Colors is a obviously a more conventional movie than Dennis Hopper's landmark classic Easy Rider(1969)Colors is still an incredible film that is very underrated. Powerful,violent and at times shocking from beginning to end Colors is a film that punches viewers in the face with tons of grit and intensity that just never stops until the end credits roll. Colors is movie that combines elements of not only Crime Drama but also Action film,Gang movie and Cop drama into fascinating study of Gang life and violence seen from the points of view from both the cops and the gangs from the LAPD to the Crips and Bloods in South Central to the Latino gangs in East LA with tons of characters getting enough screen time. There is certain scenes with the gangs and cops that some will find a little over the top(and there is some funny moments in the film despite the serious subject matter)I think some of the scenes were pretty accurate about what was going on at the time on the mean streets of LA. The film while a study of gangs and gang violence is also a look at the partnership between McGavin and Hodges and how the two deal with gang bangers where as Hodges is more calm and friendly being the veteran,young McGavin while not a bad guy or a bad cop is more brutal and wants to busts all the criminals with an iron hand which Hodges doesn't agree with which makes them clash on how they do things. While it's the kind of thing people would see in a another movie(like in a Buddy Cop film)the dynamic and partnership between the two characters I think adds to the film. The violence in Colors is shocking and not for the weak at heart but is fitting for the tone and feel of the movie showing the harshness of being a Cop and a Gang banger. There is also a few scenes of Action that keeps the story moving and even an exciting car chase that gives the movie an energy. The ending of Colors is effective and powerful but brings the film full circle in many ways. A fantastic ending.The cast is great. Sean Penn and Robert DuVall are excellent as Danny McGavin and Bob Hodges,with Penn and DuVall showing great chemistry. Maria Conchita Alonzo is great and sexy as Louisa,Danny's girlfriend. Randy Brooks is sensational as Ron,a guy who works with gangs. Trinidad Silva is wonderful as Frog,the leader of 21st street gang. Grand L. Bush is good as Looney Tunes,Frog's friend. Glenn Plummer is fantastic as High-Top,a Blood gang member. Don Cheadle is effective as Rocket,a Crip gang member. Damon Wayans is funny as T-Bone,a member of the Crips. Leon Robinson is good as Killer Bee,another member of the Crips Geraldo Mejia does a fine job as Bird,a member of 21st street gang. Romeo De Lan(Felipe),Sy Richardson(Sgt. Bailey),Courtney Gains(Whitey)and R.D Call(Officer Baines)give good performances as well.The direction by Dennis Hopper is terrific,with Hopper bringing a gritty and realistic style and look to the film. Amazing direction,Hopper.The score by Herbie Handcock is fantastic,stylish and energetic matching the energy of the movie. Great score,Handcock. Also,listen for the classic Hip-Hop title song Colors by Ice-T.In final word,if you love Dennis Hopper,Sean Penn or Robert DuVall,I highly suggest you see Colors,an excellent,powerful and gripping Crime Drama that you will never forget. Highly Recommended. 10/10.

Colors (1988) *** (out of 4) A veteran L.A. police officer (Robert Duvall) gets teamed up with a new, hot-tempered officer (Sean Penn) just as a war between rival gangs breaks out in the streets. The two officers are constantly butting heads over the proper way to handle the situations of the street and things don't get any better once the gangs start fighting back. COLORS was a very popular movie in the day but it's not really a great film. I think there are many very good and many great things in the film but I think a major re-write on the screenplay could have really helped things because no matter how many times I watch the film I can't help but think they're trying to do way too much and end up missing a lot of stuff that should have been simple. On one hand you're looking at a cop-buddy picture and then you have a film trying to show people the law of the streets. I'm sure many were seeing these type of gangs for the first time and director Hopper certainly tries to make one understand why they're in these gangs and why they're willing to lay down their blood for their cause. What doesn't work overly well are a couple side plots dealing with Penn and his relationship with a Mexican woman (Maria Conchita Alonso) with connections to the street. Another thing that doesn't work overly well are all sorts of other subplots dealing with lower entry gang members that never really add up to much. I think there are some moments where the film goes away from the two leads for too long, which certainly makes the film drag in spots. What does work however are the performances by those two leads with both actors doing a great job and even better is the chemistry they have together. The old school Duvall and the new school Penn were the perfect selection for partners here because their acting styles are just so different that they end up mixing together so well. No actor can sell a veteran as great as Duvall and Penn was certainly starting to come into his own around this point in his career and that hot-tempered manor of his was nailed perfectly. The supporting players add some nice performances including Ron Delaney, Larry Sylvester, Don Cheadle and Marlon Wayans in a small role. I've read some reviews that say COLORS is nothing more than a blaxploitation flick for white people but I think this is a tad bit unfair. I think Hopper did a very good job at showing this gang life without glamorizing it and I also think the film does a good job at making the members humans and not just some sort of targets. Hopper certainly seemed to know the material quite well and his direction gets the job done but I think less could have been more.

COLORS is a film by Dennis Hopper . Originally scripted by Richard Di le Lello changes were demanded by the director who brought in screenwriter Michael Schiffer who changed the location and emphasised gang life in the ghetto . In many ways it's a precursor to the " anti-gangster " films of the early 1990s like BOYZ IN DA HOOD and MENACE TO SOCIETY . Unfortunatetly by trying to make a realist film this works against the movie One of the fundamental aspects of realist cinema is casting unknowns . Hopper prided himself on casting real LA gang members in walk on parts , but this is negated by having two very well known actors in the lead roles as beat cops both of whom are written as the old clichéd " hard bitten cop who knows how the streets work " and " young cop who doesn't but he still wants to make a name for himself " . Duvall does of course do the best with the material he's given but Penn is distracting . Watching the film more than 20 years after it was released might actually improve your opinion of Penn since he's a double Oscar winning actor who's considered amongst the best actors of his generation . Not so in 1988 when his only real claims to fame was that he would often assault anyone who annoyed him and was married to Madonna There is another another aspect that stops the film from being realist cinema and that is the soundtrack . Usually a realist film has no incidental score but here we get an often intrusive in your face music soundtrack . It's interesting how so many films from the 1980s give the impression that the most important aspect to a movie was the music which dates COLORS along with making it difficult to describe it as being either realist or a star vehicle commercial film