A drama inspired by the real-life experiences of former New York Deputy Police Commissioner Jack Maple, The District revolves around Jack Mannion (Craig T. Nelson), a tenacious champion of the underdog and an avowed crime-fighter, whose revolutionary tactics have resulted in a 50-percent drop in crime, first in Boston, then in Newark, N.J. His latest challenge is Washington, D.C., which, despite being home to more law enforcement agencies than any other city on the planet, is riddled with crime and has a local police department that is demoralized and ineffective. Appointed Chief of Police by the mayor, Mannion works closely at Police Headquarters with Deputy Chief Joe Noland (Roger Aaron Brown). In his quest to 'make crime a thing of the past,' Mannion has recruited Temple Page (Sean Patrick Thomas), a young detective on the force who is Mannion's eyes and ears on the most crime-ridden, drug-infested streets in America. Nancy Parras (Elizabeth Marvel), an intuitive officer, rounds out
Mannion is played by Craig T. Nelson, whose big-boned frame and stony head give him the proper heft for the part. The attempt to give Mannion a spontaneously quirky side is shakier.
[Craig T.] Nelson casts aside restraint and seizes command of the camera as a tough idealist armed with charm, chutzpah, a healthy ego and a quirky weakness for show-business allusions.
Whatever the politics of it, The District is a decent drama. Not great, but certainly interesting, especially if it actually deals with issues of race and politics.
While the premise is that of a cop show, the delivery is more in line with The West Wing -- with plenty of lengthy, idealistic sermons on law enforcement coming from Mannion.
As portrayed by Craig T. Nelson, Jack could be on his way to becoming the country's new favorite TV cop. Nelson attacks the role with uninhibited gusto, as if Jack were regularly dipping into the evidence locker for a handful of amphetamines.
[Jack] Maple believes he created a hero in the character of Mannion. I see a self-aggrandizing, self-important hotdog in black and white shoes who I wouldn't put in charge of a swing dancing class let alone the police department.
The events portrayed in The District are almost true to life, at least right out of the newspaper, albeit with a little mixing and matching. But the characters don't come to life, and none of the actors do their real-life inspirations any justice.
