Dead Man Down

Dead Man Down

Rated R and Released 3/8/13

Reviewed 3/13/13 at Celebration North Theatre in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary and Denny

2 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Darkness and sadness is meant to pluck at your emotions justifying the revenge that consumes the two main characters: Colin Farrell’s Victor, joined by another loner, Beatrice (Noomi Rapace). Gary, Dad and I all felt the predictable story was nothing new. It's worth seeing if you have exhausted all the other flicks or maybe better for On Demand.

There is a “rear view mirror” moment, suggesting someone witnesses something they were not supposed too. This allows these two peculiar birds to finally meet after staring at each other through the windows between their buildings. Beatrice seizes the opportunity to have a hold over Victor. They begin an awkward romance if you can call it that. Victor is by all accounts a small time mobster following a gang led by Alphonse (Terrence Howard). Although it doesn’t seem that Victor is with his band of criminal friends too much as he is pursuing other interests. Howard lends the most talent to the movie but unfortunately underutilized. While Alphonse is giving out orders strong arming the neighborhood, he mysteriously is getting terrorized himself interconnecting clearly throughout the storyline. This puzzle keeps your attention, not that is it is such a challenging mystery, but it sustains the plot well enough. Where the sadness comes in is that Beatrice was badly disfigured in an auto accident caused by an unscathed drunk driver. Plus, Victor’s dark secret of losing his family at the hand of some sinister thugs is too much to bear. The storyline and actors fall short in squeezing out much emotion in the stoic screenplay. It strums along as expected, but Dead Man Down demands more ignition to get the much needed spark going in this movie.

QUIET Rating system: 2 1/2Js

Quality: JJ

Understood story:  JJJ

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJ