Rift

All this sets the stage for some well-delivered performances throughout Rift. Cain doesn’t take any s**t, and boy, is he dealt a big fistful of it. He can emote while repressing his emotions at the same time. It’s quite a feat. Montalvo breathes life and strength into what would have been a nagging damsel in other hands. Garver and Wu do the movie cop dance very well. I completely bought both of them as the fuzz.

The villains are a blast as well. Brown is very potent as the gang lord, and Bonnem does a great Hans Gruber bit. Hooks will hook you with his charm. He has a manner and charisma that keeps flowing even when he is being diabolical. Also, it is refreshing to see a thriller where all the leads are people of color, with the white actors given the roles of the heavies or the loyal sidekick. That reversal of the usual formula is part of what distinguishes Rift from what swims in the big cop oceans that still cover the face of entertainment.

“…a pleasant diversion for tired brains looking for kicks.”

The only weakness here is the script by Tammie Renee Mickle from a story by Kendrick Foxx. I love a good popcorn script, but this one is a bit stale. The dialogue has a lot of fat that could be trimmed to reduce redundancies. Also, there is an overreliance on breakfast and lunch meetings as dramatic devices. These gatherings may be the way the plot of a script writer’s life advances, but not so much movie characters. The law enforcement planet this takes place on is definitely only exists in movies, as the logic and procedures here would not fly in a real agency. Also, there are no real twists or even curves, as the reveals are obvious from the get-go.

However, these are not fatal flaws, as Winn’s work brims with excitement and verve. Put a dynamite script in his hands, and he and the team are sure to deliver. As it stands, Rift is a solid production and a pleasant diversion for tired brains looking for kicks.