Sticking with the negative for a moment, the audio levels are all over the place. The beginning was so quiet that, even with my laptop at full volume, I had to turn on the captions to figure out what people were saying. I left them on throughout the entire runtime because some moments were audible and fine, but several were very faint. Unfortunately, this wasn’t just a scene or two here or there. The audio drifted in and out between shots in the same scene. It’s maddening. To paraphrase Film Threat’s Alan Ng, “sound is one of the most important aspects in filmmaking. Master that, and a lot can be forgiven.”
So, what does work about LA Undercover: Against The Code? For starters, the acting is great. Sure, Sierra might not make much sense as a character, but Cole gives the part all she’s got. When Sierra yells at Corey that she hates him, it is heartbreakingly believable. Cook grounds the cop’s grappling with his mission and his personal life in sincerity. Thompson comes across as truly threatening just by sneering. Armstrong plays Ty, and he believably sells the danger of the drug empire at the center of everything. Cureton is calm, which is creepy.
“The pace at which things unfold generates tension and excitement…”
Also, the direction is very moody. Armstrong and Cook make excellent use of lighting to visually represent the characters’ emotional states. The action sequences, of which there are only a handful (this is largely a crime drama, and talking is par for the course), are exciting. Editor Demetre Ramos-Davis keeps the pace chugging along, which is a double-edged sword of sorts.
The acting and directing of LA Undercover: Against The Code are quite good. The screenplay doesn’t allow anyone fresh to the franchise to fully invest in what’s happening for close to a third of its runtime. The pace at which things unfold generates tension and excitement, but there are precious few moments to understand the characters’ dynamics toward one another. Add in the poor audio quality, and what’s left is a serviceable indie crime drama that fans of the first will enjoy. For all others, this is a decent one-time watch.
For more information about LA Undercover: Against The Code, visit the 247 Live Culture Facebook page.
"…the acting is great."
