A fairly middling revenge thriller, starring new action hero Vin Diesel. Diesel is actually one of the most interesting things in this production, as he's called to emote and act like never before, and he actually holds up pretty well in the performance. It's a shame about the rest of the interchangeable cast, a bunch who put in shouty, show-offy performances and don't engage the viewer's interest whatsoever.
The plot is complex and muddled, involving an imprisoned drugs baron and his new rival on the market, and little more than an excuse for some strong violence. The action, when it comes, is very impressive, including the massive shoot-out about halfway through the movie. Sadly, things become even more muddled towards the end, with a head-scratching twist and a real anti-climax of a conclusion. The biggest disappointment is in the director F. Gary Gray, who brought us the wonderful THE NEGOTIATOR. This one doesn't even come close. The film is dark, blurred and often seems to be filmed with a shaky camera, leaving the viewer straining to make out what's going on, and straining to hear the gruff voices of the cast over the incessant, headache-inducing music.
The plot is complex and muddled, involving an imprisoned drugs baron and his new rival on the market, and little more than an excuse for some strong violence. The action, when it comes, is very impressive, including the massive shoot-out about halfway through the movie. Sadly, things become even more muddled towards the end, with a head-scratching twist and a real anti-climax of a conclusion. The biggest disappointment is in the director F. Gary Gray, who brought us the wonderful THE NEGOTIATOR. This one doesn't even come close. The film is dark, blurred and often seems to be filmed with a shaky camera, leaving the viewer straining to make out what's going on, and straining to hear the gruff voices of the cast over the incessant, headache-inducing music.