Reviewed by Nancy Snipper
Directed
by Gary Fleder, this thumbs-up, nail-biting film features Jason Statham acting
in one of his best roles. Here he plays Phil Broker, a widower who is totally
devoted to his ten-year-old daughter, Maddy. But Phil has a full plate as an
ex-narc agent who goes under cover and ends up busting a gang of meth-makers.
He kills the son of the head honcho, and this provides the main fuel for the
plot to get Broker back for this. Phil retreats to the town where his wife grew
up to seek peace and quiet. However, things take a turn into terror, when a
ballistic local, called Morgan ‘Gator’ Bodine (James Franco) promises to
deliver Broker to the remaining survivors to eke out their vengeance. The
suspense builds as Phil’s past is uncovered and falls into the gang of bloody
thugs led by Bodine. They capture Phil when they come across him inside their
own meth hideout. Phil is there to set it on fire when the light switch will be
turned on, and it does at the end of the film. Maddy gets taken by Bodine’s gal
(Winona Ryder), but is rescued by her father. The scene ends on a bridge where
Bodine gets a beating from Broker. There are many parts with good lines that
vividly reveal just how good and evil live inside these characters. A slick
film with great acting, and unlike many of Hollywood’s action thrillers, neither
the violence, nor the car chasing segments are overdone.
(This film was viewed, compliments of Le SuperClub Videotron, 5000, rue
Wellington, in Verdun, Quebec.)
(Ce film a été visionné, avec les compliments
de Le SuperClub Videotron, 5000, rue Wellington, à Verdun, Québec.)
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