Dark Blue

Dark Blue

Year: 2003

Runtime: 118 min

Language: German

Director: Ron Shelton

Budget: $15M

ActionDramaThrillerCrime

Amidst escalating racial tensions in Los Angeles, a shocking murder ignites a wave of violence and vengeance in South Central. Two highly-trained LAPD officers from the Special Investigations Squad find themselves embroiled in the escalating conflict. As they work to bring the perpetrators to justice, they are forced to confront their own personal struggles and question their roles within a system grappling with deep unrest and the potential for widespread chaos.

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Timeline & Setting – Dark Blue (2003)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Dark Blue (2003). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1992

The events unfold in 1992, a year defined by intense public scrutiny of the LAPD and rising social tensions in the city. The investigation and its consequences play out as the riots erupt, turning the crime drama into a larger confrontation with authority. The time period heightens the stakes, showing how systemic corruption can erupt into public chaos.

Location

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California, serves as the urban backdrop for a noir-inspired police corruption tale. The story moves through motel rooms, private meetings, and back-alley confrontations, portraying a city under pressure from crime and power plays within the force. The tension peaks amid the 1992 Los Angeles riots, echoing the moral collapse at the story's center.

🌆 City setting 🚓 Police backdrop

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:30

Main Characters – Dark Blue (2003)

Meet the key characters of Dark Blue (2003), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Eldon Perry (Kurt Russell)

An LAPD sergeant whose calm, controlled demeanor masking a willingness to bend the law to protect his career and partners. He guides Keough toward a false lead and becomes the architect of a system that feeds on cover-ups. As the web closes in, Perry confronts the costs of a corrupt machine he helped sustain.

💼 Corruption 🤝 Loyalty conflict 🧭 Moral ambiguity

Bobby Keough (Scott Speedman)

Perry's loyal but morally conflicted partner. He participates in the staged killings under orders and becomes a dangerous loose end in the corruption scheme. His internal conflict grows as he considers testifying, only to be drawn deeper into violence before his fate.

💔 Moral injury 🕯️ Conscience 🗡️ Violent consequences

Jack Van Meter

A corrupt superior who orchestrates the operation from behind the scenes, encouraging fabrication of evidence and manipulating Perry and Keough. He treats the robbers as expendable pieces to be eliminated to protect the hierarchy.

🏛️ Authority abuse 🔗 Manipulation 🕵️ Power behind the scenes

Darryl Orchard

One of the robbers whose actions trigger the chain of events. He is used as a tool by Van Meter and, along with Sidwell, becomes a focal point in the dirty pursuit of justice. His presence exposes the greed that fuels the crime.

💰 Robbery 🗡️ Violence catalyst 🤝 Rivalry

Gary Sidwell

The other robber whose actions set the plot in motion. He becomes a target as internal power plays unfold, and his fate underscores the brutal consequences of trying to control outcomes within a corrupt system.

💰 Robbery 🧳 Escalation 🗡️ Violence consequences

Beth Williamson

An investigator who uncovers connections between the case and Perry’s circle, and who becomes entangled in the political machinations surrounding the case. Her choices reveal the leakage points of the corrupt system.

🧭 Investigation 📜 Corporate secrets 🔎 Secret alliances

Arthur Holland

Assistant Chief who questions Perry's testimony and is wary of the corruption. He is part of the institutional machinery that enables cover-ups and internal scrutiny, driving the tension between truth and loyalty within the department.

🏛️ Authority 🔍 Internal probe 🧭 Bureaucracy

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:30

Major Themes – Dark Blue (2003)

Explore the central themes of Dark Blue (2003), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Corruption

Powerful figures within the LAPD manipulate evidence and investigations to shield themselves. Perry and Keough are drawn deeper into a web of deception as their superior orchestrates cover stories and punishments. The film uses the corruption within the police to question the notion of justice and the cost of loyalty.

💔 Guilt and Consequences

The killing of an innocent man under orders haunts Perry and Keough, highlighting the personal toll of following corrupt orders. Both men wrestle with guilt, fear, and the possibility of turning against the system they serve. The story treats moral injury as a central force driving the characters toward confession or ruin.

🌆 Unrest and Chaos

Set against the Los Angeles riots, the plot shows how civil upheaval magnifies the reach and consequences of police violence. The breakdown of order exposes the fragility of authority when confronted with street-level chaos. The riots serve as a climactic backdrop that tests loyalties and forces difficult choices.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:30

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Dark Blue Summary

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Dark Blue Summary

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Dark Blue Timeline

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