Review of 6 Bullets (2012) by Tim B — 18 Feb 2013

Jean Claude Van Damme is an awesome action star. Make the jokes about his 'washed up ways' all you want but the man still tries with his roles and action flicks and he'll always get my respect for that (as opposed to a few other 'action stars' who make cameo appearances in flicks and let their stunt doubles do the rest.

6 Bullets (a title I still don't really get) was a well-rounded action flick. The fact that it involved the sex-trade underground world involved me more. It's always been a subject that repulsed me and that factor upped my interest in seeing the good guys kick the bad guys' asses.

The initial premise hooked me in fast and the actors involved kept the interest going. Van Damme played a more 'damaged' hero than usual and did very well. I'm glad he's pushing the boundaries a bit.

He gets more substance to work with than his more 'typical' roles from the 80's and 90's. Joe Flanigan, Anna-Louise Plowman and Charlotte Beaumont were all excellent as the core family unit.

They all felt genuine in their roles. Ernie Barbarash kept the somber film on a somber note. I also loved his creativity when it came to the action scenes (the movie was not a major Hollywood production).

The pace was also lightning quick. Overall, awesome directing. Add to this some moments of high brutality, suspense and some nasty/gory bits and you get an action flick with some serious themes and some epic action to boot.

Up until the last bit of the movie, I was enthralled and involved. Then the last act came in and carried its share of a mess. First off, Van Damme was barely involved. Normally, the last act would have Van Damme 'Van Damming' all the baddies.

Here, he just kind of stayed in the background. Not very cool. I was also put off by one particular plot twist involving the parents toward the end. No way would anybody in their right mind would 'involve' themselves like that when they had someone like The Van Damme working for 'em.

Then again, the way Van Damme was used in the last act, probably for the better that they were 'there'. I'm just being a picky action-flick geek there. Overall, 6 Bullets was a dark, action-packed, well acted/directed and very serviceable flick that should please both the action brat and Van Damme fan.

Low budget=usually better quality. This one is a shining example.