Review of Dead Man Down (2013) by Phil P — 05 May 2013

"You're the only one I can trust Victor".

Another week another action thriller. Up to now there's been something like 10 action thrillers this year and sheer volume that they come in each year means at least one will succeed when will it come though, there will be one that is great and achieves a fun, action packed-not-so serious plot that still delivers. This is not it but it is decent and probably the best of the lot so far.

From the director of the first 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' films I expected a degree of smart to it, I know he didn't write that but he made it interesting so despite the ok looking trailers I wanted to see it. The plot follows 'Victor' ('Colin Farrell') a member of a crime organization headed by 'Alphonse' ('Terrance Howard') 'Victor' eventually gets caught up with 'Beatrice' ('Noomi Rapace') and some things start to unveil themselves. It's a slow one, it doesn't speed along and to be honest even though I liked the twist it wasn't given much impact. When it came out there seemed to be a stunted reaction it was like the punchline to a joke that the actors didn't get. But there as some good moments whenever there's an action sequence - the roof the house at the end it shines sure it's nothing spectacular but it's shot really well. It is just a shame the story can't quite match the rest.

The acting is fine there's nothing wow but there's nothing terrible either. There is some chemistry between 'Rapace' and 'Farrell' but not a lot possibly with a better script it would have shone but I can't know that for sure. Sometimes there's a problem with being decent because it becomes forgetful - no matter how bad 'Batman & Robin' may be people remember it and unfortunately this won't be - it can be said it's a solid film but in 5 or 6 years time most will forget it existed. Its just missing a well developed script, had it had that then I have no doubt you're looking at a doubling of the 36% it currently holds. Sometimes one element can prevent a film form shining.

'Dead Man Down' is brilliant nor do I think it could have been but it is just shy of good, it could have been this years first good action thriller instead thanks to solid performances, ok chemistry between the two leads and some well directed action sequences it is serviceable and there certainly are worse films to spend your money on.