Review of Repo Men (2010) by Patrick E — 22 Jan 2011

If ever there was a film that needed a little more time in the editing room that it's the Miguel Sapochnik directed Repo Men starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker. An excellent idea for a sci-fi action film, it sadly turns out to be too long with long stretches of nothingness.

Set in the future, organ transplants have become privatized and are carried out by a large company. Anyone who needs a transplant can get a new one for a price, usually a hefty one. Those who can't meet their repayments come in contact with the Repo Men, men who come to reposes the organs and leave you dying on the street. Remy (Jude Law) is one such Repo Man but when an accident requires him to get a transplant, his thoughts on his job quickly change leading to a lack of money and an inevitable face off with his former colleagues and his best friend.

There is no doubting the effects and shooting style of the film, they both look truly excellent. The future cityscape is chock full of advertising and looks very authentic. The CGI effects are very good but it's the practical gore effects that look truly excellent, a really brave decision from the director to stay away from CGI. The plot is very good and when the action arrives it's wonderfully shot and very brutal at times. However there are many bad points to Repo Men as well, especially the fact that at 2 hours it's far too long. If there were more action scenes then there wouldn't be a problem but long stretches of the film are devoid of any real happenings and seem to drag on for too long. Then there is the ending which too many will be consider a cop out even if it does go against the usual Hollywood conventions and will doubtless anger a large number of people.

Repo Men has lots of good qualities, great effects, good acting and well staged action but the fact that it drags on for too long is its real down point. Still it's well worth a watch and does provide some good entertainment a nice story to boot.