Category Archives: Action

Wolfs review: The Cinema of Privilege

The conmen from Oceans Eleven have aged out of the rackets, lost their girlfriends, and have been forced into real jobs to make ends meet. That’s the basic premise of Wolfs, a lazy bromance that rests on the fading charms … Continue reading

Posted in Action, Streaming | Leave a comment

Crescent City review: Murder in Little Rock

Powerful casting helps compensate for weak writing in Crescent City, a mean-spirited film noir set in Little Rock, Arkansas. Familiar faces like Terence Howard, Esai Morales, and an effective Alec Baldwin have no trouble navigating the twists and turns in … Continue reading

Posted in Action, On demand | Leave a comment

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: dull WWII spy romp

Every now and then Guy Ritchie makes a film in a crisp, focused style that can be utterly beguiling. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is not one of them. Filled with snark, bombast, and empty violence, this WWII actioner is … Continue reading

Posted in Action | Leave a comment

The plight of test pilots in Born to Run

Released theatrically last year, Born to Fly follows pilots undergoing rigorous training in order to test mainland China’s experimental stealth fighter jet. Deeply patriotic and extremely silly, it’s propaganda devoid of suspense, humor, and credible characterizations. The screenplay by Gui … Continue reading

Posted in Action, Asian | Leave a comment

Tak Sakaguchi is the One-Percenter

For several years Well Go USA has been one of the best distributors of genre films in the country. But the company finds itself in a bind with One-Percent Warrior (aka One-Percenter), a martial arts adventure starring Tak Sakaguchi. Sakaguchi … Continue reading

Posted in Action, Asian | Leave a comment

Jason Statham back in business as The Beekeeper

Action icon Jason Statham stars as the titular Beekeeper, an assassin retired from a top-secret, off-the-books branch of government designed to eliminate threats when all else fails. Statham keeps his bees at retired teacher Phylicia Rashad’s farm. When evil scammers … Continue reading

Posted in Action, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Andy Lau stars in I Did It My Way

Andy Lau continues his remarkable resurgence in the crime thriller I Did It My Way, yet another variation on Infernal Affairs. Lau plays George Lam, lawyer for a drug ring so powerful it has evaded legal consequences for its crimes. … Continue reading

Posted in Action, Asian, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Life is a cage fight in Rumble Through the Dark

You don’t expect a dark, gritty boxing drama from Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, but that’s exactly what Rumble Through the Dark is. Set in a grim world of fight clubs, liquor stores, traveling carnivals, and orphanages, the film … Continue reading

Posted in Action, Drama | Leave a comment

Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan: Blockbuster is the latest stage in his comeback

Shah Rukh Khan is the whole show in Jawan, his second blockbuster adventure in less than a year. Despite a strong supporting cast, Khan dominates the film, performing the kind of over-the-top heroics that have made him a box-office favorite. … Continue reading

Posted in Action, Asian, India | Leave a comment

Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant: a war story with consequences

It makes sense to approach Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant cautiously. The execrable Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre is a glaring example of how lazy and listless the director’s output can be. Don’t worry. GRTC is worth your time. It’s another … Continue reading

Posted in Action | Leave a comment