Review of Dead Man Down (2013) by Cumin — 12 Oct 2021

Very good mix of action, suspense and drama !!!!!

I am a real fan of Colin Farrell and also like Dominic Cooper, and Terrence Howard as actors. Colin is not my favorite actor of all, but surely he is a top one for me. The trailer of the movie really attracted me. I have not seen anything else directed by this director, but he did a spot on job with this commercial thriller. It is not the best movie in which Colin Farrell has acted, but it is noteworthy. The director did a refined job mixing 5 main genres in one thriller: action,thriller, drama mystery & romance. The atmosphere is intense and adequate. It shows a humid, cloudy, dark New York. I meant the photography was gritty because it had to be like this taking into account the movie's story. The melding of the story and surprises is perfect but the main defect from the movie is its irregularities in the pace. They are not serious at all, but here and there, it is too low. It does not matter because it is not a strictly-action film. The action scenes are very well done. They are realistic, but not frequent. Violence and blood is present in the movie. The story is about revenge (a very frequent issue in movies), which is not new, however the plot has a few twists, characters and scenarios that make this a very entertaining and tense film. One of the strengths is the cast and their emotive performances. They all did a stellar job, especially Colin, the lead actor. He played the part of a simple inmigrant who seeks revenge from the ones who killed his wife and daughter. Noomi Rapace is his sentimental partner, with a deep performance, as well, as a tormented woman. Dominic Cooper is the "best friend". He delivers a more than accurate performance. Terrence Howard is the boss of the criminal syndicate responsible for the murders of the protagonist's wife and daughter. I think I had never seen Howard play the part of a devious character. In this film, he did an authentic portrayal of a bottom feeding criminal. Another strong point is the character development. This is supported by these amazing performances. As it is not a purely action film, the character development is relevant. We know what motivates every vital character very well. In conclusion, despite its irregularities in terms of pace, the movie is tense and entertaining. These irregularities are partially due to the mix of genres. Farrell, the character development and the action are the best elements (apart from something I will not explain that occurs almost at the end). I recommend this to those who like action thrillers and any of the actor's fans.