One of the biggest mistakes in the movie came from one of the most unexpected sources, a young and untested cop. Officer Hanson, who could not stand the racist policy of his partner Officer John Ryan, chooses to opt for a transfer out of the patrol unit. In a pivotal scene, Ryan tells his counterpart, "Maybe they didn't tell you, but I've been reassigned. Yeah, they told me. I just wanted to say good luck and it was good riding with you. Wait 'till you've been on the job a few more years. Look at me. Look at me. Wait 'till you've been doing it a little longer." He openly questions Officer Hanson's personal beliefs saying that if he waits a few years they will find themselves going down the exact same path. Although initially Hanson appears to play the role of the protagonist trying to better the community, ironically the roles will be reversed by the end of the movie. In the end of the movie, Officer Hanson makes the impulse decision to shoot Peter confirming the prior suspicions of Officer Ryan. Although the cause of Peter's death (Officer Hanson's gunshot) is simple and compact, there is a multitude of occasions and conditions leading up to Peter's death.
There are two noticeable underlying occasions which really drew the viewer's attention and could have been factors in the murder. The first one of these occasions was the chase involving Anthony and Cameron which resulted in a stern warning from Officer Hanson. As the chase concludes, Cameron makes the decision to get out of the vehicle armed with a pistol looking for a fight.
[...] Christopher statue that he has and reaches into his pocket to get it, despite Officer Hanson's warning not to make any sudden moves. The filmmaker does a great job in showing both the causes and conditions and the effects of the murder. First, the writer centers the entire movie around this shooting with the beginning being the investigation into the murder. Every event that occurs in this movie is known to either stem or lead up to the murder of Peter. [...]
[...] As the chase concludes, Cameron makes the decision to get out of the vehicle armed with a pistol looking for a fight. This is also the scene where Officer Hanson reveals some guilt left behind from Cameron's prior encounter with Officer Ryan. He tries to calm down Cameron telling the other cops that he knows him and letting him get close despite the fact that he is armed. Another favorable occasion is Detective Graham's failure to locate his brother, Peter, before he was murdered. [...]
[...] In society there are many examples of people that could have made the right decision with the right guidance. I do not think that it is okay to condone Officer Ryan's behavior but in a way, Officer Hanson needed him to show him how to handle himself. Officer Hanson shows society that even though we can try to change our mentalities; our primal instincts will most likely play a major role in our decisions. Works cited Haggis, Paul & Yari, Bob Crash. United States: Lions Gate Films. [...]
[...] In a pivotal scene, Ryan tells his counterpart, “Maybe they didn't tell you, but I've been reassigned. Yeah, they told me. I just wanted to say good luck and it was good riding with you. Wait 'till you've been on the job a few more years. Look at me. Look at me. Wait 'till you've been doing it a little longer.” He openly questions Officer Hanson's personal beliefs saying that if he waits a few years they will find themselves going down the exact same path. [...]
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