Review of Lockout (2012) by Jeffrey T — 28 Jun 2016

Typical Luc Besson storytelling (although he's only credited with part of the screen play and having the "original idea") that has special effects only a couple of notches better than a SyFy Channel Saturday night special (the opening motorcycle/car chase is especially bad, a halo jump from space that takes about, oh, 40 seconds, and then there's the bizarre "attack on the Death Star" ripoff/homage sequence).

The physical action sequences would be standard fare if not for Joseph Gilgun's whacked out psycho prisoner, which adds a ton of fun. Guy Pearce has some great lines ("This should stop the bleeding. And hopefully the talking") but I don't think his character's bored persona took much "acting" - Pearce seems spiritless, possibly reflecting on where his career has taken him.

All in all Lockout is sorta fun if you're in the mood. I wish Besson would get back to directing; he's written some good stuff lately and this had potential. If he was in The Fifth Element form this could have been something.

Oh, and kudos to whoever edited the Lockout trailer and added those voice-overs ("There's only one man who can get her out ... Snow ... He's the best there is ... but he's a loose cannon"), they were hysterical and I was truly disappointed when those lines weren't in the actual film (but slightly relieved at the same time).