Monday, March 11, 2013

Dead Man Down


There’s something oddly reassuring about seeing a good, new movie in the theater during a season when good, new movies are not in the theater. As is customary, good movies aren’t released theatrically in the first months of the year. It’s the dreaded time after the studios have pushed for Oscars, but before they’re hitting us with summer blockbusters. So, while there’s no real mystery as to why late winter/early spring boasts a cinematic lull, that certainly shouldn’t take away from the pleasure of spotting a diamond in the rough.

And believe me, I can hear cries of afoul from here. Some may argue that the only reason I enjoyed Niels Arden Oplev’s Dead Man Down is because it was released during a time when we expect nothing. If Dead Man Down came out four months ago, buried among the dramatic heavyweights, I might’ve written it off as a mindless, would-be thriller. But that’d be wrong. Jack Reacher, as an example, came out last December, precisely to offset the cinematic bleakness of strokes, manhunts, manic-depressives and so on. Jack Reacher was a mindless, would-be thriller then, and it’d be a mindless, would-be thriller in mid-March.

Point is, I dug Dead Man Down. A lot. Damned the month in which it was released. It’s a densely plotted, well acted, and swiftly executed action thriller that aims to be nothing more. It’s as if Oplev was acutely aware of what his film was, and how far he could push it. It isn’t gunning for awards or aiming for stacks of cash, it’s merely trying to pass the time amicably.
After low level New York City thug, Victor (Colin Farrell) kills a colleague, Victor’s emotionally and physically scarred neighbor, Beatrice (Noomi Rapace), blackmails him to murder the man that ruined her life. Beatrice was crafty enough to videotape Victor killing his cohort, and if Victor kills the man who drunkenly crashed into Beatrice’s car, then all will be right in the world. That’s literally the first 10 minutes of the movie, and believe you me, that ain’t the half of it. What develops is a film documenting genuine criminal activity, helmed by Victor’s vengeful boss, Alphonse (Terrence Howard), while mixed with a touch and go, love/hate romance between Victor and Beatrice.

But, again, don’t think Dead Man Down isn’t well aware of how easily it could be labeled as cliché. We’ve all seen the couple in peril fall in love amidst the chaos. We’ve all seen the action romp in which everything is explained, and nothing is left purposefully astray. We’ve seen them, and, thankfully, so has director Oplev. Because Oplev is aware of where his film can go, he makes Dead Man Down different. He gives it patience and restraint. Look, I’m not saying the film doesn’t occasionally breakdown with an over the top action sequence, but when it did, I was game.
Rapace’s breakthrough role was as Lisbeth Salander in the Oplev-directed The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and it is great to see them team up again. I have yet to witness a Rapace performance that didn’t completely floor me. Woman’s got it.

I’ve been a staunch supporter (and occasional apologist) for Colin Farrell since his remarkable turn in Tigerland. He’s had some missteps, but more often that not, I’m wowed by his ferocity. Victor’s the meatiest role Farrell has had in a while, and in my opinion, he sunk in and nailed it. Same goes for the film’s impressive supporting cast, including Howard, Isabelle Huppert, Dominic Cooper, F. Murray Abraham and Armand Assante. It’s as if everyone involved knew they could put in a little more, and propel Dead Man Down above run of the mill.

Don’t mistake this review as an overtly positive assessment of an unflawed film. Dead Man Down has its flaws – I’m not going to argue that. But, for two whole hours, I gladly pushed them aside and let myself enjoy the show. Which, in this season or any, is good enough for me. B

16 comments:

  1. Just watched Jack Reacher and in your scale of rating I would give it a C-, so I'm really hoping to see this one soon. I like Farrell better than Cruise so, I assume that will already be a plus. Though, I was still surprised about Reacher. It wasn't as hard-hitting as Cruise usually tends to be.. which was a nice change for him.

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    1. Yeah I definitely didn't mean for this to play like a Reacher bash, it was just an example, you know? I dug much of Jack Reacher (namely Werner Herzog's scenery chewing villain), but its plot got so needlessly convoluted, I was left with a feeling of, well, a C- feeling, if you will.

      Thanks so much for reading and commenting here, hope you enjoy Dead Man Down!

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  2. I'll definitely check it out on DVD if only to see Rapace's performance - I completely agree she is always amazing! Shame the movie bombed, poor Farrel can't catch a break :/

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    1. It is a shame the movie bombed. I honestly enjoyed it. I think you'll dig Rapace's performance. Woman's a killer.

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  3. I think part of the reason it bombed was because it was released by WWE Studios that gave one of its wrestlers Wade Barrett a small role. If there's anything that is associated with WWE these days, it's a bad sign. Especially considering how watered down and lame the WWE product is thanks to John Cena. I really hate that guy.

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    1. You know, when I saw the WWE logo in the credits, I was really damn confused. Seems so random. I think I'd have to agree with you here. I can't imagine WWE knows much about movie marketing... so who knows.

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  4. I'll definitely look for this when it comes out on DVD.

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    1. Great for an entertaining night, you know? Nothing too complex or riveting, but enjoyable all the same.

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  5. hmmm this is a refreshing review. i was wondering about the cliched aspects

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    1. I do seem to stand alone on this one, but that's okay. I didn't find it cliched at all. I mean, it teeters on familiar territory, but I dug it throughout.

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  6. Good review Alex. Rapace and Farrell seemed like they enjoyed working together, mainly because their chemistry is the only thing keeping this movie together. Everything was a bit too serious for my taste, and made me just want to slap somebody in the face and show them how to have a good time. I never, ever got that and I just wish I did. Very, very disappointing, especially after a trailer like their's.

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    1. Thanks Dan! I do get where you're coming from here, but obviously we disagree on how much we liked the film. And that's all good, you know? Definitely agree that Rapace and Farrell were great together.

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  7. I probably won't be able to catch this in theaters, but I'm thrilled to hear that the performances are good. Can't wait to see it.

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    1. Yeah man, I thought the performances were solid all around. Definitely fine to wait for DVD on this one.

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  8. I like this film and like the performance in it.

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