Colors is a
1988 police procedural crime film starring
Sean Penn and
Robert Duvall and directed by
Dennis Hopper. The story takes place in
South Central Los Angeles, and is about Bob Hodges (Duvall), an experienced
LAPD Police Officer II, and his
rookie partner, Danny McGavin (Penn) who try to mitigate the gang violence between the
Bloods and
Crips. The film received praise from the critics as a realistic view of gangs in L.A. and in part, inspired other "hood" type films as the 80's closed. In addition, it relaunched Hopper as a director 18 years after he directed his masterpiece
Easy Rider and stirred some controversy over its depiction of gang life and gang violence.
Plot
Danny McGavin (
Sean Penn) is an officer who has just transferred to LAPD's
C.R.A.S.H. unit from patrol. Teamed with 19-year veteran Bob Hodges (
Robert Duvall), he is a volatile
adrenaline junkie, much to Hodges' chagrin. McGavin allows no challenge to his authority.