Hollywood Homicide (released in theaters on June 13, 2003) drops viewers into the chaotic, multi-tasking lives of two LAPD detectives who are both radically distracted by their demanding side hustles.
Joe Gavilan (Harrison Ford) is a grizzled, thrice-divorced veteran detective who moonlights as a desperate, debt-ridden real estate agent trying to flip a luxury mansion.
His young partner, K.C. Calden (Josh Hartnett), is a spiritual rookie who teaches yoga on the side and secretly harbors dreams of leaving the police force behind to become a professional stage actor.
The mismatched duo is abruptly snapped back to their day jobs when an underground hip-hop group is violently gunned down on stage at a crowded nightclub.
The plot twists through the glitz and greed of the music industry as Gavilan and Calden discover the hit was orchestrated by a ruthless, high-profile record executive named Antoine Sartain (Isaiah Washington).
The investigation grows increasingly hazardous as internal affairs chief Bennie Macko (Bruce Greenwood) launches a personal, corrupt vendetta to strip Gavilan of his badge.
Rather than focusing entirely on the killer, the partners spend half their time chasing leads and the other half managing personal crises; Gavilan courts a wealthy psychic madam (Lena Olin) to secure a house sale, while Calden frantically rehearses A Streetcar Named Desire with an eccentric former star (Martin Landau).
Supported by a colorful array of Hollywood locals, including a slick manager (Master P), an exotic dancer (Lolita Davidovich), a weary captain (Keith David), and a dangerous ex-cop (Dwight Yoakam), the case builds to a manic peak.
The narrative culminates in a massive, sprawling vehicle-and-foot chase down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, forcing the partners to simultaneously nail their criminal targets and close a major real estate deal before the clock runs out.
Director Ron Shelton brings his signature flair for character-driven, working-class comedy to the neon-tinted streets of Los Angeles, utilizing sharp dialogue and a sun-drenched aesthetic.
Ford is wonderfully grumpy, delivering an inspired, physically active performance that parodies his own tough-guy persona, while Hartnett provides a perfectly zen, comedic contrast.
Washington infuses the film with a menacing, sharply dressed villainy that anchors the stakes.
Lou Diamond Phillips, Gladys Knight, Alan Dale, Eric Idle, Eloy Casados, Robert Wagner, Smokey Robinson, and Anthony Mackie round out the supporting cast.
Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett in Hollywood Homicide (Photo/Sony Pictures)
Reception for Hollywood Homicide
Hollywood Homicide grossed $11.1 million on its opening weekend, finishing fifth at the box office.
The film would gross $51.1 million worldwide.
Roger Ebert gave Hollywood Homicide three out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
The legacy of Hollywood Homicide rests on its unique position as a fascinating, cult-classic deconstruction of the traditional buddy-cop genre, arriving right at the tail end of the early-2000s studio comedy boom.
Co-written by real-life veteran LAPD homicide detective Robert Souza, the movie is highly praised by genre enthusiasts for its deeply cynical, hilariously accurate depiction of the absurd financial realities and second-job cultures that police officers navigate in high-cost cities.
Hollywood Homicide remains a memorable time capsule of a transitional era in Hollywood, capturing the vibrant aesthetic of the early digital music age and featuring standout, eccentric late-career cameos from legends like Landau.
