After a storm induced hiatus Direct to DVD Dissection returns to look at a new action movie released to DVD. Featuring Steven Seagal’s stunt double, Steve Austin, and Steven Seagal, how does this movie stand up with other DVDs in the genre?
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The Stats
Rated R
Director Keoni Waxman
Running Time 98 minutes.
Studio Anchor Bay
Release Date November 6th, 2012
The Story
When former black ops operative Tom Steele and his partner Manning are assigned to decommission an old prison, they must oversee the arrival of two mysterious female prisoners. Before long, an elite force of mercenaries assault the prison in search of the new arrivals. As the true identities of the women are revealed, Steele realizes he’s caught in the middle of something far bigger than he had imagined.
The Cast
Steven Seagal as Cross. Best known for action movies from the 90’s, like OUT FOR JUSTICE, UNDER SIEGE 1 & 2, MARKED FOR DEATH, and ABOVE THE LAW, he’s also had a resurgence in the DVD market.
Stone Cold Steve Austin as Manning. Best known for his wrestling career in the WWF/E, he recently branched out into action movies, like THE EXPENDABLES, RECOIL, HUNT TO KILL and TACTICAL FORCE.
Michael Pare as Chris Blake. Worked on films like EDDIE & THE CRUISERS and its sequel, as well as several Uwe Boll films like Far Cry & Rampage, and got his start as Tony Villicana in the TV show THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO.
The Dissection
If there is one thing that the birth of home video and it’s many evolution over the the years have shown, it is that no career ever disappears once it leaves the big screen, especially if it a career in action films. It, along with horror, remains one of the genres of film that thrive in both big and small screens. Cuba Gooding Jr and Mel Gibson have returned to their action roots with it, and people like Jean Claude Van Damme have gotten a second breath and came out swinging again. People like Luke Goss and the aforementioned Steve Austin have even gone to make new names for themselves in this.
Steele (Seagal) and Manning (Austin)
Still, the big think that contributes to this is a drive to go big and make an impact. Which brings the topic to Steven Seagal. It’s been the big industry joke that, since the new millennium hit, he’s lost a step or three in his age. Most of his recent films rely more on having stand ins to do the brunt of the fights. When it comes to MAXIMUM CONVICTION, though, he doesn’t have to use it as much, in part because the focus of the action is more on gunplay than melee fighting, and also in part of the editing of this movie during the fights.
This would have made the Taker match so much easier.
The movie feels like a lower grade version of Seagal’s own HALF PAST DEAD, with an assault on a prison to go after a target and having some secret about said target, as well as the humor and how both never really take themselves seriously. However, while HALF PAST DEAD did have a certain plot to it, as well as an arc, this movie doesn’t. There is the plot, but it falls secondary to highlighting the various action scenes and gun battles. It has some entertainment value, but most people would probably just forget about the story about an hour in. Also, both leads don’t spend almost any time together, and most of the supporting cast take up the screen time during the later half.
It almost feels pointless to talk about acting. It’s like talking about the wrapper a big cheeseburger is covered with. Seagal is Seagal, and Austin’s character in the movies is the same as his wrestling persona. The other heroes aren’t much to write home about, either. Still, the villain, played by Pare, gets a nod for being pretty good in his role.
At the end of the day, though, the action is the part of the movie that gives this the point of its existence. Still, with other films like GET THE GRINGO and ONE IN THE CHAMBER, it isn’t a stand out.
The Extras
Both the DVD and Blu Ray release feature the same extras, with an audio commentary, as well as some very short cast interviews and a short behind the scenes video. There’s also trailers for some of Steve Austin’s movies, past and future.
Also, the movie features both English and Spanish subtitles.
The Verdict
MAXIMUM CONVICTION is a movie that doesn’t stand above other movies in the genre, but no regrets come if you watch it and go into it ready for it. If you like Austin and Seagal’s recent releases, it’s more of that, and there’s nothing horrible wrong with that if that’s all you want.
Get MAXIMUM CONVICTION at Redbox
http://www.redbox.com/movies/maximum-conviction
View MAXIMUM CONVICTION on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Maximum-Conviction-Steven-Seagal/dp/B0090EDEM8