The Film (3.5/5)

 Controversial at the time of its release in 1988 for its gritty depiction of street gangs in L.A., Colors now exists as a reminder of how much our perception of racial issues have changed in three decades. This isn’t a criticism of the movie - of course things have changed - but viewing this story through the eyes of two white cops who don’t always do everything by the book has definite Blue Lives Matter vibes that its makers couldn’t have possibly anticipated. As a time capsule of the late ‘80s, though, Colors remains entertaining and surprisingly unsensational.

 The two cop protagonists are seasoned vet Hodges (Robert Duvall) and rookie hotshot McGavin (Sean Penn), who are assigned to a special task force targeting the city’s gangs. The old pro/loose cannon dichotomy is one of several cop movie cliches Michael Schiffer’s screenplay relies on; Penn’s character also falls for the cousin (Maria Conchita Alonso) of one of their targets (Trinidad Silva), and Duvall’s character, naturally, is due to retire soon. What elevates Colors above other generic cop movies is the sense of verisimilitude director Dennis Hopper brings to the film. Since Easy Rider, Hopper’s eye for the details of life in various subcultures has been one of his greatest strengths as a filmmaker, and the best thing about the movie is his refusal to allow its black and Latinx characters (including then-newcomers Damon Wayans and Don Cheadle) to be reduced to backdrop.

 This is not to say Colors is any kind of progressive message movie. Hopper went from being a radical leftist to a conservative and back again in his lifetime, and his politics at the time he made Colors are hard to peg. The movie obviously favors Duvall’s older, wiser cop - who is willing to overlook minor offenses in order to build relationships with community members - to Penn’s character, a Mark Fuhrman in training. At the same time, scenes of both men chasing down and beating information out of perps have uncomfortable echoes of the Rodney King assault which was only a few years away. I’m not holding Colors accountable for future events; it’s fair to say that Hopper was more interested in depiction than editorializing, and the movie is stronger for it overall even as it’s sometimes frustratingly evasive.

 Social commentary aside, Colors is a pretty good thriller that manages to make its genre tropes feel fresh. Duvall and Penn make a good pair, adding layers of nuance to their familiar character types. And the movie is especially strong whenever it’s observing life in South Central (those scenes are allowed more breathing room in the unrated cut included here). Colors was made and sold as a thriller, and it has all of the shootouts, car chases and gratuitious T&A one would expect from an ‘80s cop movie, but it’s more thoughtful about its subject matter than it has to be; its lasting legacy may be that, as a pretty big hit at the time, it helped pave the way for movies like Boyz N the Hood and Menace II Society that were able to explore inner city life from the perspective of characters who lived there.

Audio/Video (3.5/5)

 Shout! Factory presents Colors as part of its Shout Selects line in a 1080p transfer at the film’s original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Haskell Wexler’s gritty cinematography is one of the best things about the movie, and it’s presented faithfully here. While minor dirt/debris and occasional softness are evident, detail and contrast are strong throughout, and while the film’s color palette is more muted than most ‘80s action movies, the occasional splashes of color pop here. The DTS-HD MA 2.0 audio is strong throughout, if occasionally a little thin during the action sequences, but it shines whenever the soundtrack (featuring artists like Ice T and Salt N Pepa) kicks in.

Extras (3/5)

 Two video interviews are included, the first a 30-minute one with Schiffer, who discusses the script’s origins, the journey to production and the movie’s influence. Also interviewed is former LAPD officer Dennis Fanning, who discusses his background and work as a technical adviser on the film. The theatrical trailer is also included.

Overall:

 The longer cut of Colors included here is easily richer than the one I caught on TV a few years back, and it remains an entertaining thriller as well as a fascinating time capsule. For fans for the movie, Shout! Factory’s disc is worth the upgrade.