Director Niels Arden Oplev (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) makes his eagerly anticipated English-language-feature debut with this action thriller about a tough New York City enforcer and an alluring blackmailer who both put their lives on the line to seek vengeance against one of the city's most powerful crime bosses. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Director: Niels Arden Oplev
Cast: Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Terrence Howard, Dominic Cooper, Isabelle Huppert
Release Date: Mar 08, 2013
Rated R Violence, Language Throughout and A Scene of Sexuality
Runtime: 1 hr. 58 min.
Genres: Suspense/Thriller
Review:
By Cindy Prascik
Dearest Blog, yesterday I escaped my miserable workday existence for a couple blissful hours at the cinema. On my agenda was the Colin Farrell thriller Dead Man Down, which I just couldn't squeeze in on its opening weekend. (Hindsight: "Oz? Really??")
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailer.
Colin Farrell is a man on a mission, but will his agenda be derailed by a mysterious woman (Noomi Rapace) with her own plan?
Dead Man Down is a double-barrel crime thriller, two stories running side by side, connected by a single character's involvement in both.
The bullets fly early and often, but quieter scenes between the two damaged leads are awkwardly perfect. Colin Farrell is as magnetic a leading man as Hollywood has to offer, and though the movie has a well-known and decorated supporting cast, it's his to carry, and he does so with his usual brilliance. Noomi Rapace is perfect as a broken woman who would add her burden to his. Terrence Howard's crime lord is cool, brutal, and defiant, even under siege, and Dominic Cooper is great as a young thug looking to work his way up the criminal ladder.
This might normally be the part, dear Blog, where I complain that not enough stuff blows up, but...well...lots of stuff blows up. And lots of folks get killed. And even when those things aren't going on, this film has so much to recommend it that I don't even mind...ummm...I don't even mind much!
Dead Man Down clocks in at a well-paced two hours, and is rated R for "violence, language throughout, and a scene of sexuality."
Feels a little hokey to throw down such a high rating so early in the 2013 game, but of a possible nine Weasleys, it wouldn't be fair to give Dead Man Down less than eight.
Until next time...
It wasn't easy, but we got the Black Friday deals at Wal-Mart!
Yay for Cinday! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review, very excited about it especially because Oplev's previous movie ("Dragon Tattoo") was such a fucking masterpiece.
oh btw, if you need any guest reviewers: call me! ;D
I know her reviwe made me look forward to it as well! Will do man!
DeleteDead Man Down kicked fuckin ass! Such an awesome movie.
DeleteYou and Cindy have given it positive reviews, so I'm looking forward to it!
DeleteWhat was the rating? Did I miss it? Good review though, looks like I should rent this sometime.
ReplyDelete-James
Cindy uses her "Weasley scale" :-) She gave it an 8 out of 9.
DeleteThis does look really entertaining, but I have to pass until DVD. I'm not that big of a Colin Farrell fan to see it in the theater.
ReplyDelete"Thanks for reading! Agreed, if you're not a Farrell Fan, no need to see this at the cinema. There's nothing that'll be diminished if you wait for DVD, but definitely worth checking out at some point. The best film I've seen this year, so far! - Cindy P."
DeleteTerrence Howard wasn't happy with Iron Man, but he was willing to do this. Yeah, still confused by that. Good review Dan.
ReplyDeleteTerrence Howard has made some odd choices man. Cindy's review of this film so all the kudos go to her :-)
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