This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Blistering performances.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed the series, almost start to finish, it has a heavy cloak of racism and misogyny covering it in almost every episode. Every black and Hispanic character is portrayed as weak, ineffectual, and cowardly. Blacks and Hispanics are the criminals and the whites are the good guys, even if they are completely corrupt and criminal themselves. We cheer for Vic Mackey through all of his sins, but we can't hold up even a shred of empathy for the minority characters be they cops or robbers.Hispanic David Aceveda is always two steps behind Mackey and his crew and allows himself to be raped by a thug. Claudette Wyms is impotent in the face of Mackey's abuses and ends up a weak, sickly caricature of a cop. Strapping recruit Julien Lowe is a self-hating homosexual and a bad cop. There isn't a single positive portrayal of a Black or Hispanic character in the entire six seasons. Coincidence? I don't think so. The negative stereotyping was relentless.Am I a Racist for Liking this Series? To answer my own question, I would have to say that I'm not a racist because the things I point out really bothered me and kept this series from being truly exceptional. Would it have killed them to have a couple of cool minority characters?I defy anyone to defend this show against my claims of racism.

I have tried to re-watch this series, but I don't think I can bring myself to see the haunting images of the finale, so I always stop at Season 6. The best part was watching the Shane/Vic dynamic over the years, and to see the birth of one of greatest character actors I have seen on TV. I knew he was good but what he has achieved recently puts him in the elite category. I'm talking about Jay Karnes of course. Haha Dutch!! You're back to being a joke around here!!!! Nice Cat!!Anyways, sorry about all that. Justified is a Top 10 show for me all time, and, of course it has everything to do with Walton Goggins. What he touches turns to gold and he never throws in a clunker minus the Rob Zombie thing. Hopefully they name an award after him someday.

Very good series. Perhaps one of the best police series ever. But really good news, however, ends with the end of the third season.From the fourth season started on bad news. Until the very end for full more 4 seasons (Oh dear, no, no, no...). It's just a stretch of old chewing gum. Much more you chew, the more you feel bored. Shakespeare was very fortunate that nobody did not require from him to write seven more seasons on Hamlet, after the success of the first and only season of play.Apparently the creators of "The Shield" have tried (unsuccessfully) to compensate the loss of substantiality with the inclusion of more and more different new faces and good actors, including the "heavy artillery" as Glenn Close and Forest Whitaker. Nothing helps, even artificial hyper energy vigor of the main character (in the performance of Michael Chiklis).My advice is - if you're not ready to undergo four more seasons annoyance and boredom (due to repetition of repetition), just to finished watching the series with the end of the third season. If not, this is equal you possibly make an attempt to chew (through for all 7 seasons) the same bubble gum that has can't withstand such infinitely long and meaningless stretch. Just no way, at least in this reality.

The Shield is one of the greatest television shows of all-time,an excellent and unforgettable T.V classic that combines terrific direction,powerful performances,terrific writing and a great theme song. All of those elements make The Shield memorable television and Cop Dramas at their best.Set in the fictional district of Farmington in Los Angeles,California,The Shield tells the stories about the personal and professional lives of L.A.P.D cops including Detective Vic Mackey(Michael Chiklis),a corrupt cop who runs a strike team that takes down gang members,drug dealers and various other criminals taking them down at all costs. While doing that Vic Mackey and his fellow police officers have to deal with violence,crime,betrayal and corruption.In the year 2002 two brilliant,unforgettable and landmark Cop Dramas and all-time great TV shows made their television debuts in the form of David Simon's The Wire on HBO and Shawn Ryan's The Shield on FX. Where as The Wire was a masterful character driven multi layered Crime Drama that focused on the drug trade from the points of view of both the cops and drug dealers in the city of Baltimore,The Shield was a thrilling and relentless Cop show that focused more on the cops trying to capture gang members and drug dealers in the city of Los Angeles and many would agree that next to The Wire,The Shield is the most riveting cop show ever made. For 7 seasons and 88 episodes The Shield is a show that shocking and powerful,gritty and brutal as well as very dark and uncompromising and with each episode punches you in the face with rapid fire intensity and relentless energy that never stops. The Shield deals with themes such as corruption,violence,death and betrayal in the L.A.P.D and it's done in an honest and complex way that never feels phony but real and accurate. One of the things that I love about The Shield is that while the show has some episodes that have the same format as other cop shows where cases are solved in one hour some story lines with most of the characters usually continue until the final episodes of a season or can go on for a long time. Whenever you watch an episode of The Shield there are moments where the show almost feels like a documentary whether it's a a moment of violence,foot chase scene,the cops at the scene of a crime or the dialog everything on The Shield feels true to life and accurate. The main character Vic Mackey is hands down one of televisions all-time great antiheroes who in my opinion is up there with other all-time great antiheroes such as Tony Soprano(The Sopranos)and Walter White(Breaking Bad)because what's amazing about Vic Mackey is that as a viewer we see Mackey as part hero part villain. Vic Mackey is a hero because he's a cop and wants to catch the criminals at all costs no matter what it takes and we root for him. Vic Mackey is also a villain because he does bust criminals Mackey is very corrupt and shady in the way he does things whether it's with the criminals or cops in his own precinct. Even though Vic Mackey does bad things we see another side to Mackey because he cares about his wife and family while being a tough cop on the streets which gives Mackey a moral ambiguity. Vic Mackey is a classic cop and iconic character that drives The Shield and is a character you will never forget. The writing by Shawn Ryan and others is wonderful because the dialog gives the main characters lots of depth,emotion and also has a tough harshness that is from the streets and truly adds to the shows greatness. The violence on The Shield is shocking and bloody but truly give the show it's edge and power. The ending in the series finale of The Shield is amazing,powerful and one of the best endings I have ever seen in a final episode and when you watch the finale you will wonder did Vic Mackey deserve his fate or do we feel sorry for him while also having an open ending for the character. A terrific ending to a great show.The cast for all 7 seasons are amazing with excellent performances by Michael Chilis(Det. Vic Mackey),Walton Goggins(Detective Shane Vendell),Jay Karnes(Detective Howard 'Dutch' Wagenbach),Benito Martinez(Captain David Aceveda),CCH Pounder(Detective Claudette Wymms),Glenn Close(Captain Monica Rawling),Forest Whitaker(Lt. Jon Kavanaugh),Laurie Holden(Agent Olivia Murray),Kenneth Johnson(Detective Chris 'Lem' Lemansky),David Rees Snell(Detective Ronnie Gardocki),Catherine Dent(Officer Dani Soffer),Michael Jace(Officer Julien Lowe),David Marciano(Detective Steve Billings),Cathy Cahlin Ryan(Corrine Mackey),Autumm Chiklis(Cassidy Mackey),Paula Garces(Officer Tina Hanlon),Brian White(Detective Tavon Garris),Anthony Anderson(Antwon Mitchell),Laura Harring(Rebbeca Doyle),Michael Pena(Detective Armando Renta),John Diehl(Assistant Chief Ben Gilroy),Anna Maria Horsford(A.D.A. Beth Encardi),Nigel Gibbs(Assistant Chief Roy Phillips),Reed Diamond(Detective Terry Crowley)and Franka Potene(Diro Kesakhian).The direction is on The Shield is outstanding and stunning with the camera moving at a fast pace with hand held photography that gives the show a raw and realistic quality. Fantastic direction.The theme song by Vivian Romero,Ernesto Bautista and Rodney Alejandro(Just Another Day)is effective and well done and matches the energy of the show. Terrific theme song.In final word,if you love Cop shows,Crime Dramas or Television in general,I highly suggest you see The Shield,one of the greatest TV shows of all-time and an excellent and unforgettable classic. Highly Recommended. 10/10.