Parents' Guide to King Ivory

Veteran B movie maker John Swab turns in a surprisingly compelling epic thriller by telling a story about the illegal drug industry from many angles, one marred only when it falls back into B movie territory. King Ivory runs a long 130 minutes, but it uses every moment of its run time to paint a believably realistic narrative. For example, the storyline with teen Jack could have played out like an after-school special, but it flows with actual logic. As the son of a police officer, it's not surprising that Jack is moody and rebellious, and his decline—from smoking pot to an incident with molly—leads directly to fentanyl. Many small details add to the atmosphere, most notably Foster's "Smiley" character, who has a tracheostomy tube in his throat (he must place his fingers over it to speak). We also spend a little time with Layne and Ty's colleagues at the police station as they tell vulgar stories, play vulgar pranks, and act with bravado and machismo . And the rules for Lago's new drug-dealing job are outlined meticulously, including when and how he takes his lunch and bathroom breaks. (In one scene, he asks what happens if he runs out of drugs. "You won't ever run out" is the unsettling answer.)

Writer-director Swab, who actually is from Tulsa, assembles a strong cast here, including one Oscar nominee (Greene), one Oscar winner (Leo, with whom Swab has worked many times), and Foster, who deserves a nomination. They clearly thrive on the screenplay's extra space and rich details. The obligatory chase scenes and shoot-outs feel a bit routine, as does as the slightly wobbly hand-held camerawork throughout, but King Ivory is still worth a look.