Ah, a good old fashioned body count bloodbath action movie. Reminds me of the 80’s and sometimes I miss those Arnold, Sly, Bruce Willis, shoot first and ask questions later movies. However, this movie is not all blood and guts, no, this movie has a little heart to go with the superb cheese that is this over the top action flick.
Buddy Israel, played by Jeremy Piven (Blackhawk Down,) is an entertainer turned mob stooge that has decided to turn states evidence over to the Feds in order to save his hide. The big mob boss, Primo Sparraza, played by Joseph Ruskin (The Scorpion King,) wants Buddy Israel deadd before he dies and throws out a $1 million hit on Israel. Two FBI Agents, Donald Carruthers, played by Ray Liotta (Identity,) and Richard Messner, played by Ryan Reynolds (Just Friends,) must reach Israel and put him into protective custody before the bail bondsman and a host of assassins find him first and dispose of him.
I love the style of this movie. It’s a combination of 70’s schlock and cop drama with 80’s violence. The music really brings that out with its combination of 70’s dance combined with modern hip hop beat. The hotel, the clothes, the gangsters all have that old school look and appeal but with a modern tint. It is all very cool and to me, makes the movie a little bit more special than the standard shoot’em up.
I also find that I am starting to like any movie with Ryan Reynolds in it. He has a good screen presence and his sarcastic wit reminds a little of John Cusack. He also can be the action movie hero that I have been dying for the last six years or so. I like his comedies, his horror movies, and his action stuff so I think he is a pretty good actor.
Like I said, this movie is very reminiscent of the 80’s movies of old, lots of blood body counts and nonsensical violence. But I think they take the time to develop some of the characters relationships so that you feel for them when some of them buy it or do something stupid. There is a scene towards the end of the movie where Buddy is on the floor and he is realizing he screwed up and it was very entertaining, and we bit touching.
If there is anything in the movie that is not of high quality it is the ending. Although it is not obvious, you knew once certain plot points were introduced that the direction of the story would go where it did. I will say that I love the fact that almost the entire movie takes place in the hotel, which is not what I expected from what I saw of the trailers. They may be another feature I like about this movie, it stays basically in the same place and it’s really great that all of this action takes place in the hotel.
I love this movie and it will be in my collection when it comes out DVD. For the action fan in all of us, this is a must see.
***UPDATE…this is a movie review from the old website that I am loading onto the blog***
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