S.W.A.T.

2003 Action/Adventure

Clark Johnson's big-screen adaptation of the 1970s television series S.W.A.T. stars Colin Farrell as Jim Street, a young special weapons and tactics team member who, in the film's opening sequence, is demoted after his hothead partner Jeremy Renner shoots a hostage while trying to kill her captor. In need of good press, the higher-ups call in SWAT expert Hondo Harrelson (Samuel L. Jackson) to put together an elite team that can bring some luster back to the badge. He chooses Street, veteran T.J. (Josh Charles), and tough single mother Chris Sanchez (Michelle Rodriguez). The new team survives a series of tests before hitting the streets. Their first big assignment involves transporting an international criminal (Olivier Martinez) to federal authorities. The criminal had offered a hundred million dollars to anyone who can bust him out.

Director: Clark Johnson

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, James Todd Smith, Josh Charles

Reviews

  • One of the best cop thrillers since "Training Day."

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    27 April 2013

  • Aware of its own cuteness because the dialogue plays by the rules of meta-entertainment.

    Lisa Schwarzbaum - Entertainment Weekly

    27 April 2013

  • What we have here is a model for the paint-by-numbers, perfectly generic, proudly soulless summer action flick. An original idea would die for lack of oxygen in S.W.A.T.

    Peter Travers - Rolling Stone

    27 April 2013

  • By the time you've given up guessing whether S.W.A.T. wants to be a half-serious action pic or just affably jokey, its storytelling has turned so ludicrously melodramatic that it doesn't matter.

    Mike Clark - USA Today

    27 April 2013

  • Those who love police overkill, guns, jingoistic race-baiting, guns, macho smugness, and guns will be well served.

    Ty Burr - The Boston Globe

    27 April 2013

Awards

  • Top Box Office Films

    ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards (2004)

  • Best Actor

    BET Awards (2004)

     
  • Best Film

    Black Reel Awards (2004)

     
  • Location Professional of the Year - Features

    California on Location Awards (2003)

  • Best Action

    Golden Trailer Awards (2004)