Review of Shot Caller (2017) by Orlando O — 21 Oct 2017

Shot Caller a crime thriller film about a family businessman Jacob (Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau), who gets sentenced to prison for 2 years for a dui car accident that left his friend dead and others injured. He gets mixed with the criminals that will test him on trying to be the big shot and being part of a gang. His choice on surviving prison in a gang will lead him to serve a longer term of 10 years for riots. Once, released his parole officer will be on his trail after his activities of continuing the gangs work. That is aided by shotgun (Jon Bernthal) and there activities of illegal weapons dealing.

Shot Caller is a slow moving film. It can be boring within the first hour or so. Once, the non-linear direction of the movie ties the pieces together. It does pick up. The direction goes back and forth with Jacob being released from a ten year sentenced in prison to the events prior when he was a businessman and his encounters when he was in prison. There is a twist that works with the film which does leave you wanting to know more on Jacobs motives behind all his actions that he makes in the movie (without giving away spoilers).

The plot is decent though. Nothing that will be memorable once it is over. Basically a criminal that is working his way to the top in prison and continuing the gangs work after he is release. The script is written and directed by Ric Roman Waugh, who also did 2013 film Snitched with Dwayne Johnson. Which has some identical plot concept as well.

Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau performance was great. He is known for playing Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones. Seeing him playing a turned gangster and sporting that mustache and being all tatted up is different for his acting. There are other good actors as well like Jon Bernthal that did decent. Which is starting to feel like all he plays is a bad boy attitude guy. Surprisingly there are other actors like Benjamin Bratt, Jeffrey Donovan, and Lake Bell that were all decent as well.

Overall, Shot Caller is a fair crime thriller film. The acting was great. The concept was intriguing with Jacob, a businessman turned criminal and his motives behind his actions. The direction is very slow moving which can be boring. And the plot is nothing worth noting or talking about even with the twist.

I rate the film 3 out of 5 stars. I only recommend the film as a rental and if you are bored and want to see a crime thriller film.