Amanda Starr

Equal Standard, released in theaters in May 2021, is an American crime drama film that delves into the complexities of race and law enforcement in New York City. The narrative centers on Detective Chris Jones, a Black officer who, after being shot by a white colleague, returns fire and fatally wounds his assailant. The film's script was penned by Taheim Bryan, who was tragically killed in New York City later that year.

Directed by Brendan Kyle Cochrane, the film features a cast including Ice-T, Maurice Benard, and Tobias Truvillion in the lead role of Detective Jones. Critics offered a range of opinions, with some finding the film unfocused and overstuffed, while others highlighted Truvillion's authentic and tender portrayal of a "good cop" amidst a flawed system. The movie has been described as an attempt to capture the essence of the Black Lives Matter movement within a cinematic context, tackling relevant themes concerning the relationship between Black communities and law enforcement.

“Trying to be The Wire of the BLM era, Brendan Kyle Cochrane's haphazardly edited New York-based drama of shifting perspectives feels too unfocused and overstuffed for a feature.”

“Thankfully, Truvillion in one of the leading parts is an exception to this overarching shortcoming. As Chris, a good cop in a barrel of bad apples, he puts forth a performance that is in equal parts authentic and tender.”

“Relevant themes and Truvillion's stand-out performance rescue this drama from preachy dialogue and oversimplification of the tensions between Black communities and law enforcement.”