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Triple 9
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Complex, vivid crime story; very strong violence, language.

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Triple 9
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Based on 4 parent reviews
Not hard to figure out
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What's the Story?
Terrell Tompkins (Chiwetel Ejiofor) leads a team of professional criminals and crooked cops. He once married into a family of Russian-Jewish mobsters and now, in order to keep seeing his son, must placate their evil, ice-cold matriarch (Kate Winslet) by pulling off a nearly impossible robbery. Things become complicated when dirty cop Marcus Atwood (Anthony Mackie) gets a new partner, Chris Allen (Casey Affleck), a war veteran whose uncle (Woody Harrelson) is a sergeant detective on the force. The gang decides that, in order to pull off the job, they must cause a code 999 -- "officer down" -- to happen ... and that Chris is the perfect target. But another team member, Gabe (Aaron Paul), has been talking too much.
Is It Any Good?
Establishing himself as a director of tough genre films, John Hillcoat offers this multi-faceted, devilishly complex crime thriller without wasting any time on needless background. Ragged and colorful, TRIPLE 9 -- the title comes from the police code for "officer down" -- doesn't offer any expository background for its characters. What's there is observed and inferred through behavior and interaction; the characters come alive organically.
Hillcoat (The Proposition, The Road, Lawless) does a remarkable job of juggling all the characters; even those with smaller roles have vivid personalities. But the complex plot can sometimes fall prey to the movie's melting-pot quality. It's easy to lose track of things. Likewise, the action sequences, while appropriately raw, have a reckless quality that might be disorienting. But this is a strong piece of work, rugged, sturdy, and entertaining in the best way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Triple 9's violence. What effect does it have? Is it thrilling or shocking? How much is shown/not shown? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
What role do sex and nudity play in the movie? Are characters objectified, or are they seen as loving partners? What message does that send?
How are drinking, smoking, and drugs portrayed in the movie? Do they look cool or appealing? Are there consequences for their use?
How are characters painted in "shades of gray" here? Who are the "good guys" and "bad guys"? What sets them apart from each other? Are any of them role models?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 26, 2016
- On DVD or streaming: May 31, 2016
- Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor , Anthony Mackie , Casey Affleck
- Director: John Hillcoat
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: Open Road Films
- Genre: Thriller
- Run time: 115 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong violence and language throughout, drug use and some nudity
- Last updated: February 21, 2023
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