If you've watched any of Louis Theroux's quests before you know what to expect with 'Law and Disorder in Philadelphia'. Having mainly saw his voyages into lighter topics that entertained - sex work, gambling, porn - it was a much different feel watching him question hardened police officers and low level drug dealers, suspects, dirtbags.
Released in 2008, it doesn't present any answers just a straight ahead view of what's going on in a major US city with a drug problem. Users are gonna use, pushers are gonna push. Both end up incarcerated or in body bags. You've got cops flexing to maintain order. An ignorant code of the streets. Guns. Poverty. Somewhere is the decent citizen.
You get some good sounds bites. How young African American men choose to work corners because it's seen as cool even though it pays less than McDonalds. Street mentality of not appearing weak. He talks to junkies. Relatives of victims. One rare young woman who agreed to testify against the man who shot her and killed her sister & boyfriend.
You might find yourself eye rolling, sighing or saying "give me a break" when it comes time for talking to drug dealers or militant residents who think the police are the real problem. Louis has the habit of appearing naive. The proceedings are somewhat depressing (which partly might have been the point), but it makes for a decent view if this sadness isn't already all too familiar to you.
