60 reviews
Pretty slick Seagal outing
An unremarkable action thriller, but probably one of Steven Seagal's best films so far. This one has a plot that actually keeps your interest (even though the main "twist" is telegraphed ahead of time) by going beyond the simple "they killed his loved ones and now he wants revenge" scenario, without becoming a muddled mess like, say, "Mercenary For Justice". It also has a pretty slick look, and the action includes a well-filmed car chase climaxing with a spectacular car flip, and a John Woo - style graveyard shootout at the end. Seagal tries to play a morally ambivalent character, which he does up to a point, but the usual problems associated with his characters (the invulnerability and the vanity) are still present (wait till you hear a girl's remark about a certain body part of his). He is still overweight and most of the fight scenes are blink-and-you'll-miss-them, but at least he is there doing them, and doing them efficiently. The movie also benefits from a good supporting cast, though Lance Henriksen should have had more screen time. Renee Goldsberry is gorgeous & tough and earns "Pistol Whipped" a few more points. (**1/2)
- gridoon2024
- Mar 18, 2008
- Permalink
Steven Seagal is....Pistol Whipped
- Scarecrow-88
- Jan 4, 2010
- Permalink
Seagal being Seagal
Before i say anything i want you to know i like action movies,even those that contain mindless violence(i actually enjoyed the last installment of Rambo very much).
That being said,i didn't enjoy this movie very much,except maybe for some parts that make you laugh even though they're not intended to be funny. Come to think of it,it's a classical Steven Seagal movie,picturing him as omnipotent,without at least providing some good scenes where he can entertain(that's right,there aren't even good fighting scenes).
So my advice is watch this movie only if you are a fan or want to kill some time with your friends.
That being said,i didn't enjoy this movie very much,except maybe for some parts that make you laugh even though they're not intended to be funny. Come to think of it,it's a classical Steven Seagal movie,picturing him as omnipotent,without at least providing some good scenes where he can entertain(that's right,there aren't even good fighting scenes).
So my advice is watch this movie only if you are a fan or want to kill some time with your friends.
Matt Conlin is a real putz and has gambled and drunk his career away.
I saw this film on my Amazon Fire device on the TV and must say it was a bit difficult to watch because of Steven Seagal's mumbling. Now he generally does mumble his lines...but with no closed captions, I had to crank the volume WAY up and then way down when the channel scheduled commercials.
Matt (Seagal) is a loser when the story begins. He lost his job as a cop due to his drinking and gambling. Only a bit later do you learn he owes $1,200,000 in gambling debts*!! You learn all of this when he's taken to see a mysterious man (Lance Henriksen) who has bought Matt's debts...and promises to erase them if he kills someone...someone who deserves it anyway! Little did he realize that more contract killings were on their way...and there is, of course, much more to the story than that. After all, who IS this mystery man and why does he want several criminals dead?
A friend of mine, Angelo, mentioned this film...saying it was one of Seagal's worst. Well, I've seen a few terrible films starring this martial artist and was intrigued to find out if it could REALLY be that bad. Well, I still think his "Contract to Kill" is worse. In fact, aside from Seagal's mumbling, it is passable entertainment...rather mindless at the end but watchable.
*It was odd that despite being so heavily in debt that Matt STILL drives a very expensive Range Rover--which range from $45,000-100,000.
Matt (Seagal) is a loser when the story begins. He lost his job as a cop due to his drinking and gambling. Only a bit later do you learn he owes $1,200,000 in gambling debts*!! You learn all of this when he's taken to see a mysterious man (Lance Henriksen) who has bought Matt's debts...and promises to erase them if he kills someone...someone who deserves it anyway! Little did he realize that more contract killings were on their way...and there is, of course, much more to the story than that. After all, who IS this mystery man and why does he want several criminals dead?
A friend of mine, Angelo, mentioned this film...saying it was one of Seagal's worst. Well, I've seen a few terrible films starring this martial artist and was intrigued to find out if it could REALLY be that bad. Well, I still think his "Contract to Kill" is worse. In fact, aside from Seagal's mumbling, it is passable entertainment...rather mindless at the end but watchable.
*It was odd that despite being so heavily in debt that Matt STILL drives a very expensive Range Rover--which range from $45,000-100,000.
- planktonrules
- Nov 21, 2021
- Permalink
Steve Seagall still has it
Steven Seagall at one time was one of the best action actors around twenty years ago and by the turn of the next decade he would be a attraction to see on screen even if I never went to any of his films in the theatre. The last several years Steven seem to slow down a bit and he wasn't the same kick ass guy he once was but after watching Pistol Whipped. Steven still had it which hopefully it'll be an opportunity to be on screen again and perhaps appearing in a Quentin Taratino film may really boost a comeback for him teaming up Uma Thurman. I always liked Steven Seagall even though many critics don't take him as a serious actor but hopefully they'll praise his acolaides when they start to realize his talent.
- mbrand20022002
- Oct 5, 2008
- Permalink
Better than most of his recent films, but...
Compared to other recent Seagal films this one is OK, but it is nowhere near as good as his early movies (Under Siege, Above The Law, Hard To Kill, all of which have an honorary place in my DVD collection).
On the plus side, they don't even bother hiding the fact that Steven has become old and fat. However, he doesn't take himself too serious, by playing a down-on-his-luck drunk. The film itself is alright. Roel Reiné, the Dutch director who recently stated that his goal to make Blade Runner-like movies in the future, made the best out of it he could. He pursued Seagal to do more of his own fighting, talking and... well everything (since he has stand-ins for almost everything in other recent movies, even stepping out of a car). The plot is decent and the camera work is entertaining.
But then there's a protagonist who just doesn't want to be there. Sorry Steven, each time I try to like your films, but you just don't like making them anymore, and it shows. It is nice to see Steven do his own fighting again (or at least not with the obvious use of stunt doubles all the time), but a real comeback is still far, far away.
On the plus side, they don't even bother hiding the fact that Steven has become old and fat. However, he doesn't take himself too serious, by playing a down-on-his-luck drunk. The film itself is alright. Roel Reiné, the Dutch director who recently stated that his goal to make Blade Runner-like movies in the future, made the best out of it he could. He pursued Seagal to do more of his own fighting, talking and... well everything (since he has stand-ins for almost everything in other recent movies, even stepping out of a car). The plot is decent and the camera work is entertaining.
But then there's a protagonist who just doesn't want to be there. Sorry Steven, each time I try to like your films, but you just don't like making them anymore, and it shows. It is nice to see Steven do his own fighting again (or at least not with the obvious use of stunt doubles all the time), but a real comeback is still far, far away.
- captainpervert
- May 4, 2008
- Permalink
The movie is repetitive and goes around in circles.
- tarbosh22000
- May 9, 2013
- Permalink
Good Seagal outing
This isn't bad at all.
In what's probably his best acting performance in a while, Seagal plays a former cop with a shady past (what else!) who's up to his neck in gambling debts, is way too fond of alcohol and a pretty lousy father to boot. A mysterious man (a cool Lance Henriksen) buys up his debts and wants Seagal to eliminate a few scumbags to work it off. So in fact; Seagal's his new whipping boy.
The film's not without it's fair share of clichés, takes a few convenient shortcuts and some of the action scenes are a bit stiff but"Pistol Whipped", as another Steven Seagal direct-to-DVD flick, is really OK entertainment.
Steve is actually pretty good in his role here, looking like he's actually trying to act and he comes out a winner. He's getting a bit puffy again but he looks solid enough in the action department. Others are so so with only old pro Henriksen making any kind of impression.
Kudos to the script as well. As said, it's far from perfect but it does have a nice twist up it's sleeve and it gives our man a little better dialog than usual.For fans of Seagal this is a must. For others, "Pistol Whipped" is still an OK way to kill an hour and a half.
In what's probably his best acting performance in a while, Seagal plays a former cop with a shady past (what else!) who's up to his neck in gambling debts, is way too fond of alcohol and a pretty lousy father to boot. A mysterious man (a cool Lance Henriksen) buys up his debts and wants Seagal to eliminate a few scumbags to work it off. So in fact; Seagal's his new whipping boy.
The film's not without it's fair share of clichés, takes a few convenient shortcuts and some of the action scenes are a bit stiff but"Pistol Whipped", as another Steven Seagal direct-to-DVD flick, is really OK entertainment.
Steve is actually pretty good in his role here, looking like he's actually trying to act and he comes out a winner. He's getting a bit puffy again but he looks solid enough in the action department. Others are so so with only old pro Henriksen making any kind of impression.
Kudos to the script as well. As said, it's far from perfect but it does have a nice twist up it's sleeve and it gives our man a little better dialog than usual.For fans of Seagal this is a must. For others, "Pistol Whipped" is still an OK way to kill an hour and a half.
Seagal tries out new material, bizarre but entertaining
"Pistol Whipped" is definitely an odd one out in Seagal's filmography, because this is one of the few movies in which he really tries to act. When you consider the guy has been phoning it in for most of his career, it's a breath of fresh air to actually see him try (though often fail) to emote. He's also helped by the screenplay, which actually gives him a vulnerable character to play this time. It's not the usual implausibly perfect (ex-)CIA guy schtick, he's an alcoholic, a bad father, he's not very intelligent (he sees none of the twists coming) AND he even gets shot! I thought I'd never see the day when Seagal would try to play someone resembling a human being. That doesn't mean the movie's perfect though, far from it. It's one of those typical crime thrillers by a guy who's seen too many Tarantino movies. All of it bathes in a faux-cool atmosphere, complete with pointless slow-motion and sped-up footage: it tries to go for visual flair I guess, but actually comes of as an over-enthusiastic hobbyist who's just found a new button on his camera. It's very watchable though, which I can't say about many other straight-to-DVD releases by Seagal (and I've seen way too many).
By the way: even though Seagal's character is far from perfect here, I'm pretty sure the man got to write one bit of dialogue himself. "Drea:And after, like, a bunch of years I finally realized what I really needed to do was grow a dick. Matt:Well, probably I would like you a lot less if you had a dick. Especially if it was bigger than mine, you know what I mean? Drea:I don't think that's possible." Not making this up, that's really in the movie.
By the way: even though Seagal's character is far from perfect here, I'm pretty sure the man got to write one bit of dialogue himself. "Drea:And after, like, a bunch of years I finally realized what I really needed to do was grow a dick. Matt:Well, probably I would like you a lot less if you had a dick. Especially if it was bigger than mine, you know what I mean? Drea:I don't think that's possible." Not making this up, that's really in the movie.
- Sandcooler
- Feb 21, 2015
- Permalink
A solid film that holds your interest.
- JGSchultz2
- Feb 29, 2008
- Permalink
Indebted to a mystery benefactor
An American action drama; A story about a man thrown out of the police force under suspicion of theft who is approached by a mysterious man with an offer to wipe the slate clean, but it comes at a high price. Seagal's persona as the drunk and indebted man, down on his luck, and showing some fragility works reasonably well but his character is undeveloped. Some of the scenes with the fallen cop and his daughter are touching all the same. The film contains some good hand-to-hand fighting sequences, plenty of action, explosions and shoot-outs. Some of the slow-motion effects are distracting but the overall production has merit. It has a predictable plot though the film's finale is well constructed.
- shakercoola
- Sep 15, 2018
- Permalink
Good Job!
I was surprised that this film was very good. To be honest, after the last two Seagal films I thought he was done, but wouldn't you know....he's back. I should have known not to count him out. He definitely hits the bullseye with Pistol Whipped. The rest of the cast for the film did a great job too. Lance Henriksen always plays a good part in anything he does. I was also happy to learn that this film was shot in Connecticut a few towns away from where I live.
I'd like to see Seagal do more small acting roles like he did with Executive Decision. Hopefully he'll be back in the theaters soon. I would have paid to see this movie at a theater.
I'd like to see Seagal do more small acting roles like he did with Executive Decision. Hopefully he'll be back in the theaters soon. I would have paid to see this movie at a theater.
- barleysodapop
- Apr 20, 2008
- Permalink
You're cremated now mothercooker!
I didn't expect to see Casey Ryback, but I wasn't disappointed either. Steven Seagal seems to be doing better than his last direct-to-video efforts.
He's an ex-cop with an alcohol and gambling problem, and is also neglectful of his daughter. He has a chance to get his life back together.
His quest for the bad guys leads him to a place where he didn't expect.
The action is hot and heavy with car chases and a final cemetery scene that ends in a blaze!
Seagal is back!
He's an ex-cop with an alcohol and gambling problem, and is also neglectful of his daughter. He has a chance to get his life back together.
His quest for the bad guys leads him to a place where he didn't expect.
The action is hot and heavy with car chases and a final cemetery scene that ends in a blaze!
Seagal is back!
- lastliberal
- Mar 5, 2010
- Permalink
This is NOT a return to form! Avoid.
Terrible script, I have no idea how anything like this gets taken seriously enough to go into development.
I was once a big Seagal fan but these Direct-to-DVD movies from Sony are obviously taking their toll on the guy.
He looks completely uninterested throughout the movie. I believe he's obliged to make a certain number of movies because of contract commitments (explains his 10 releases a year) and judging from his performance, he's not impressed by the work he's getting.
Avoid it at all costs, even Seagal fans be warned, this is far from a return to form.
I was once a big Seagal fan but these Direct-to-DVD movies from Sony are obviously taking their toll on the guy.
He looks completely uninterested throughout the movie. I believe he's obliged to make a certain number of movies because of contract commitments (explains his 10 releases a year) and judging from his performance, he's not impressed by the work he's getting.
Avoid it at all costs, even Seagal fans be warned, this is far from a return to form.
- running_with_scissors
- Feb 29, 2008
- Permalink
Horrendous. Action is a joke, Segal the fat man.
Steven Seagal wears a jacket for most of the film so that you can't see the bulge of his fat sticking out and getting in the way of the lack of credibility in this film. It's a comedy to watch Steven try to pretend like the cameras will hide his lack of quickness while everyone with guns watches him make his way to do his "moves" in slow motion.
Even if you're fan of this no talent clown you will want to skip this on cable and on DVD, that is unless you want to mock the man for how seriously he takes himself. It's hard to believe he was ever anything of worth at all in the martial arts and I wonder how much was actually true and how much was fabricated legend like most of his career and alleged dealings with the mob.
This is really a horrendous film.
Even if you're fan of this no talent clown you will want to skip this on cable and on DVD, that is unless you want to mock the man for how seriously he takes himself. It's hard to believe he was ever anything of worth at all in the martial arts and I wonder how much was actually true and how much was fabricated legend like most of his career and alleged dealings with the mob.
This is really a horrendous film.
Very dull and among Seagal's worst movies
Despite I am not a huge fan of Steven Seagal I have seen at least 10 of his movies and I liked most of them as I do think that sometimes they are quite entertaining. Unfortunately this wasn't the case with PISTOL WHIPPED, a movie that nearly made me fall asleep while watching (and it rarely happened in my life).
Matt Conner (Seagal) is a deadbeat former cop that was fired for his unhortodox methods and in the present he spends his days drinking and gambling. One day he receives an assignment from the Old Man (Lance Henriksen) that convinces him to kill some people for money if he wants his old life back and end all his gambling debts. Matt accepts and in the end even manages to spend more time with his daughter.
This movie was incredibly dull to watch as none of the action scenes were exciting and it truly felt its direct-to-video quality from the beginning to the end. I really didn't cared at all about any of the characters and I was even falling asleep while watching, and when this happens to me it says a lot! Not recommended even for Seagal fans.
Matt Conner (Seagal) is a deadbeat former cop that was fired for his unhortodox methods and in the present he spends his days drinking and gambling. One day he receives an assignment from the Old Man (Lance Henriksen) that convinces him to kill some people for money if he wants his old life back and end all his gambling debts. Matt accepts and in the end even manages to spend more time with his daughter.
This movie was incredibly dull to watch as none of the action scenes were exciting and it truly felt its direct-to-video quality from the beginning to the end. I really didn't cared at all about any of the characters and I was even falling asleep while watching, and when this happens to me it says a lot! Not recommended even for Seagal fans.
- bellino-angelo2014
- Feb 20, 2021
- Permalink
Another misfire from the older Seagal
There are a couple of parts in Pistol Whipped that I enjoyed a bit, but generally I was bored. Considering that most of Seagal's latter works are interchangeable, with little difference between them, perhaps I am just growing tired of seeing the same thing over and over again, but I don't think so. Some of the latter films were watchable. the Keeper, Urban Justice, and Into the Sun were okay. Others like Against the Dark and A Dangerous Man were almost unwatchable. This is pretty bad too.
Pistol Whipped begins with an amateurishly written scene which if nothing else is a classic example of over exposition. A Los Angeles priest sits with Seagal in church, and tells him what he already knows about his life. He is divorced, broke, lazy, ex army etc... There are one or two scenes where Seagal hangs out with his daughter (who his ex wife has custody of) Sequences like that are pretty rare in Seagal films and although he is far from capable of acting emotionally, the attempts are noble.
The final half hour of the film offers two yawn-provokingly boring scenes of epic gun play. The cutting is too reckless, and the slow-mo (when used) is used badly. Enough said, I've made my point. some of the strait to video releases, are not bad to view if you really wanna work your way through Seagal, but this is definitely not one of them.
Pistol Whipped begins with an amateurishly written scene which if nothing else is a classic example of over exposition. A Los Angeles priest sits with Seagal in church, and tells him what he already knows about his life. He is divorced, broke, lazy, ex army etc... There are one or two scenes where Seagal hangs out with his daughter (who his ex wife has custody of) Sequences like that are pretty rare in Seagal films and although he is far from capable of acting emotionally, the attempts are noble.
The final half hour of the film offers two yawn-provokingly boring scenes of epic gun play. The cutting is too reckless, and the slow-mo (when used) is used badly. Enough said, I've made my point. some of the strait to video releases, are not bad to view if you really wanna work your way through Seagal, but this is definitely not one of them.
Surprisingly good...
- paul_haakonsen
- Jan 8, 2016
- Permalink
Seagal's Best Performance
I just watched Pistol Whipped (2008)
20 years on from his debut in Nico/Above The Law, Seagal puts in possibly his best acting performance as an ex cop, alcoholic, gambling addict who wants to reconnect with his daughter. Because it's a Seagal movie, he is also going around killing people for Lance Henriksen. Seagal is unusually a bit of a loser in this. He seems to be trying to channel Michael Madsen in his performance, but it is effective. Seagal isn't as obviously doubled here, even though it's still clearly not him, so the fights are not as bad, but he is pretty big now and his bowling shirts do not help matters.
If this came out fifteen years ago, it would've been considered a solid Seagal effort as a mainstream theatrical release. It's right up there with some of his better ones. It is pretty light on action and is slower moving than your usual Seagal movies, but the action really ramps up towards the last half hour, the ending was a lot of fun too. Were any more of these made?? The ending certainly left it open to the possibility.
This is Seagal's best DTV film, in my opinion. His fighting and one-liners were top notch. Speaking of one liners there is a hilarious scene where Drea (played by the lovely Renee Goldsberry) has just spent an evening of bliss with a drunken Seagal. Drea is whining about the glass ceiling at work, and how life would be better for her if she had a d*ck. Seagal chuckles and replies that he probably wouldn't have liked her as much if she had a d*ck, especially if that d*ck was bigger than his, to which Drea laughs and replies, and I quote, "I don't think that's possible" My son and I literally fell off our sofa in stitches. I'm pretty sure he inserted that line in there all by himself.
Spoiler alert: no one gets actually pistol whipped in the movie.
20 years on from his debut in Nico/Above The Law, Seagal puts in possibly his best acting performance as an ex cop, alcoholic, gambling addict who wants to reconnect with his daughter. Because it's a Seagal movie, he is also going around killing people for Lance Henriksen. Seagal is unusually a bit of a loser in this. He seems to be trying to channel Michael Madsen in his performance, but it is effective. Seagal isn't as obviously doubled here, even though it's still clearly not him, so the fights are not as bad, but he is pretty big now and his bowling shirts do not help matters.
If this came out fifteen years ago, it would've been considered a solid Seagal effort as a mainstream theatrical release. It's right up there with some of his better ones. It is pretty light on action and is slower moving than your usual Seagal movies, but the action really ramps up towards the last half hour, the ending was a lot of fun too. Were any more of these made?? The ending certainly left it open to the possibility.
This is Seagal's best DTV film, in my opinion. His fighting and one-liners were top notch. Speaking of one liners there is a hilarious scene where Drea (played by the lovely Renee Goldsberry) has just spent an evening of bliss with a drunken Seagal. Drea is whining about the glass ceiling at work, and how life would be better for her if she had a d*ck. Seagal chuckles and replies that he probably wouldn't have liked her as much if she had a d*ck, especially if that d*ck was bigger than his, to which Drea laughs and replies, and I quote, "I don't think that's possible" My son and I literally fell off our sofa in stitches. I'm pretty sure he inserted that line in there all by himself.
Spoiler alert: no one gets actually pistol whipped in the movie.
- slightlymad22
- Sep 10, 2019
- Permalink
A Passable Entertainer!
Roel Reiné's 'Pistol Whipped' is A Passable Entertainer, that has some arresting moments & hardcore action scenes working on its advantage.
'Pistol Whipped' Synopsis: Matt is an elite ex-cop whose life has gone down hill since he was kicked off the Force. After a rough encounter with a mysterious henchman, Matt is brought face to face with his only chance at reclaiming his life and clearing his gambling debt markers.
'Pistol Whipped' is fairly entertaining, with some arresting moments making it reach the safe zone. J.D. Zeik's Screenplay is fairly decent. Roel Reiné's Direction has potential. Cinematography, Editing & Art Design, are average. Action-Sequences are very nicely executed.
Performance-Wise: Steven Seagal is still kicking-butt, which is obviously good. Lydia Jordan does a fine job. Lance Henriksen has a brief role. Arthur J. Nascarella is decent.
On the whole, 'Pistol Whipped' is Passable Stuff.
'Pistol Whipped' Synopsis: Matt is an elite ex-cop whose life has gone down hill since he was kicked off the Force. After a rough encounter with a mysterious henchman, Matt is brought face to face with his only chance at reclaiming his life and clearing his gambling debt markers.
'Pistol Whipped' is fairly entertaining, with some arresting moments making it reach the safe zone. J.D. Zeik's Screenplay is fairly decent. Roel Reiné's Direction has potential. Cinematography, Editing & Art Design, are average. Action-Sequences are very nicely executed.
Performance-Wise: Steven Seagal is still kicking-butt, which is obviously good. Lydia Jordan does a fine job. Lance Henriksen has a brief role. Arthur J. Nascarella is decent.
On the whole, 'Pistol Whipped' is Passable Stuff.
3 stars for lance henricksen
Thats right you read it right my summary 3 stars for lance henricksen for appearing in this mess of a film,who shot this film its way too dark,steven seagal plays a gambling man here and he is offered a killing job contract then it becomes usual nonsens we have all seen before.
and this is quite a hilarious title for a film pistol whipped sounds funny..my rating is 3 stars.for lance why was he in this only god knows
and this is quite a hilarious title for a film pistol whipped sounds funny..my rating is 3 stars.for lance why was he in this only god knows
Thats more like it.
I'll start by saying that I have seen all of Steven Seagal's films, from Nico to this one, and at one point thought he really went downhill with shadow man and the films that followed (Attack force and flight of fury) then came Urban Justice which I thought was a bit of an improvement and then I saw Pistol Whipped, and thought thats more like it.
Unlike a lot of his previous films this one actually has a deep story, its about a disgraced ex cop who is obsessed with gambling, has a lot of dept and is an alcoholic, he is approached by a mysterious stranger that offers to clear all his transgressions if he agrees to assassinate specific targets.
The performances by the cast are excellent and also unlike Seagal's previous films, he doesn't overshadow the rest of cast, for instants, where Seagal is either framed or has lost a loved one because of a gang, and then all it boils down to is Seagal going from one area to the next and beating the living snot out of who ever made him mad, and in that case the rest of the characters only consist of gangsters, terrorist or to put it mildly, they may has well be in the movie to act as human punching bags, where as in this one you have a lot of great characters like Drea, Blu, the old man and even Matt (Steven Seagal's character).
Lastly, the direction by Roel Reine is definitely the best I've seen out of all the other direct to DVD Seagal movies, and his other credits includes Drifter and dead water(also starring Lance Henriksen).
Unlike a lot of his previous films this one actually has a deep story, its about a disgraced ex cop who is obsessed with gambling, has a lot of dept and is an alcoholic, he is approached by a mysterious stranger that offers to clear all his transgressions if he agrees to assassinate specific targets.
The performances by the cast are excellent and also unlike Seagal's previous films, he doesn't overshadow the rest of cast, for instants, where Seagal is either framed or has lost a loved one because of a gang, and then all it boils down to is Seagal going from one area to the next and beating the living snot out of who ever made him mad, and in that case the rest of the characters only consist of gangsters, terrorist or to put it mildly, they may has well be in the movie to act as human punching bags, where as in this one you have a lot of great characters like Drea, Blu, the old man and even Matt (Steven Seagal's character).
Lastly, the direction by Roel Reine is definitely the best I've seen out of all the other direct to DVD Seagal movies, and his other credits includes Drifter and dead water(also starring Lance Henriksen).
- jhpstrydom
- Mar 29, 2008
- Permalink
Steven Seagal is back!
Steven Seagal has arguably been on the dawn of his action-star career with such films as 'Foreighner' and the awful 'Attack Force'. Fortunately his latest action film is ten steps better than those flops. Steven Seagal's character, Mat, is divorced, gambles and owes tones of money. Then he is hired by an old man to kill off some of his enemies. It doesn't sound very good but it's the best Steven Segal film since 'Exit Wounds'. There are 4-5 small fight scenes. and one that spans to a minute and it is a brief return to the Seagal of the 90's. There is also a well-made car chase, not something very special but a good addition, and lots of shootouts. Seagal does all of his fight scenes and there is no voice dubbing. The direction is also a pleasant surprise and slow-mo is kept to a minimum. Seagal tries to act, but again nothing special, overall a decent cast. The best Seagal film in years, recommended. 7/10
Assault With A Really Dull Movie
Better than many of his later flicks
To say the least, I can't understand how this movie have higher scores than let's say nico, out for justice and other older steven films here on IMDb, since the fact is its a looong way for steven to actually make films in that class.
Comparing this film to his later work; into the sun, black dawn, attack force etc. this is by far a step in the right direction. This movie has a decent plot, a decent steven (yeah, it has actually), and decent action scenes that doesn't look stupid, nothing fancy like out for blood but they work.
I sure hope Mr. Seagal can push himself a little more in the right direction in his next film and maybe, JUST maybe, he might have a chance to actually make another action movie the way we all enjoyed back in the days.
Comparing this film to his later work; into the sun, black dawn, attack force etc. this is by far a step in the right direction. This movie has a decent plot, a decent steven (yeah, it has actually), and decent action scenes that doesn't look stupid, nothing fancy like out for blood but they work.
I sure hope Mr. Seagal can push himself a little more in the right direction in his next film and maybe, JUST maybe, he might have a chance to actually make another action movie the way we all enjoyed back in the days.