Review of Haywire (2011) by Liam C — 27 Jul 2012

The newest action movies today have one major flaw. The special effects may be great, but the action scenes get too chopped down with shaky camera work and quick editing. This creates a state of confusion for the audience because we can't tell what's going on. Not only that, but it also separates the audience from the movie and makes us feel...like we're watching a movie.

Haywire has the plot of an action movie that we've seen countless times. A spy who goes rogue and has to fight against the company that they originally worked for. However, what makes this film different and much better is what makes most action movies bad: The action sequences and the camera work.

Director Steven Soderbergh gives us action sequences that are easily followed and extremely well choreographed. It certainly helps that the main character is an MMA fighter. Each fight sequences makes us feel like we're really watching two people beat the crap out of each other. Not only the fight sequences, but the camera work in general, really makes us feel that we're with this character and we're a fly on the wall.

Not only the fast paced stuff, but the acting isn't too bad. Being that Gina Carano has never acted before, she doesn't a pretty decent job. There was nothing special about her performance, but it certainly was pretty good for a first timer. Not only Gina, but Channing Tatum (who I never was a fan of before) actually did a pretty decent job for the few scenes he was in.

My main problem with the film is that I found it tough to believe that she would pick up a stranger then tell him her whole life story about secret government issues. Not only that, but Mallory goes from destination to destination with out any explanation why, which got a little confusing, but that's a bout it.

Overall, the story is something we've seen over and over, but Soderbergh stands out from the pack with his great camera work, beautifully choreographed fight scenes, and one badass ending.