Ripped from the headlines! It’s the return of Uwe Boll taking on the recent financial disaster the only way he can: revenge film style! And Direct to DVD Dissection is there! So, can Uwe Boll handle this recent event in history better than a film that’s based on a video game?
The Story
Jim is an average New Yorker living a peaceful life with a well paying job and a loving family. Suddenly, everything changes when the economy crashes causing Jim to lose everything. Filled with anger and rage, Jim snaps and goes to extreme lengths to seek revenge for the life taken from him.
The Cast
Dominic Purcell as Jim Baxford. Best known for his role in the TV series’ PRISON BREAK and JOHN DOE, as well as appearing in films like BLADE TRINITY, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II, EQUILIBRIUM, and the STRAW DOGS remake.
Erin Karpluk as Rosie Baxford. Has appeared in the TV series BEING ERICA, and in roles in shows like THE L WORD, FLASHPOINT, and the new BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.
John Heard as Jeremy Stancroft. He appeared in films like HOME ALONE 1 & 2, BIG, MY FELLOW AMERICANS, and in the last DTDD reviewed film, WOULD YOU RATHER?
Edward Furlong as Sean. He has been in films like TERMINATOR 2, PECKER, AMERICAN HISTORY X, DETROIT ROCK CITY, and THE GREEN HORNET.
The Dissection
Jim (Dominic Purcell) right before the titular Assault.
First off, the movie is a revenge film. Similar to films like DEATH WISH and BOONDOCK SAINTS, with the anti hero who goes after a criminal element when the law can’t reach them. The difference being the criminal element in this film carry briefcases instead of guns. Plus, there is a lot of set up involved than in other films of this type. The first two-thirds of the film is spent showing Jim’s slow descent into financial ruin, and put on the path of taking revenge. Also, the villains, for some of them, do have some depth to them besides “doing evil things cause they’re evil”, causing events due to a sense of self preservation. It doesn’t extend to all of the antagonists, but there is enough to the main ones.
The main character, Dominic Purcell, works really well being this intimidating figure. He is a big man who is a former military member and wokring as a security guard for an armored car. In the scenes where he goes off on his rampage, he acts a lot of The Terminator, walking slowly while mowing down people with guns and barely flinching when taking shot. It works. However, there are 2 or 3 scenes where he needs to show emotions other than anger and rage, emotions like sadness, desire, and even happiness. While he does show these emotions, it’s all mixed in with his constant look of anger and rage. It comes off as inconsequential, and in one early scene, very very awkward.
The other characters, though, deliver some good performances. There’s Michael Paré and Keith David in the film as Jim’s friends from the police force, Frank and Freddy respectively, who do good work. Edward Furlong especially does a great job in the role of Jim’s friend and coworker Sean. They represent the last bastion of normalcy for Jim when his life turns into a nightmare and do feel like people who would band together in the face of this extreme adversity. Meanwhile, Heard works really well, outlining his plans to save his own skin in a way that makes sense and he does give a good glimpse in the mindset he’s in. There are some characters, like Eric Roberts’ Patterson, who feels like irredeemable jerk, but in that case, it’s cause it’s played by Eric Roberts. Erin Karpluk as Rosie delivers a good performance, though the climax of her character is a bit questionable in the motive.
Jim and Frank (Michael Paré) in the diner
The script, while it goes hit you over the head several times with the theme of the movie, does deliver a nice slow build up the mayhem. However, in the last third of the movie, there is a degree in which suspension of disbelief is too much to bear. Jim’s rampage in the film gets to the point where you lose count of how many times he would have, and should have, gotten caught, especially with how he ends up handling the events. I know it is the nature of films like this, but it’s almost like the ending should involve the police bringing in Iron Man and Spider-Man to find out about this killer. It feels like an origin story for the Punisher, or in the vein of the revenge genre, a film that acts as a better BOONDOCK SAINTS II than the actual BOONDOCK SAINTS II.
Onto the extras, the DVD and Blu Ray features a Making Of feature with Uwe Boll talking about making the film BAILOUT (this one’s original title) and the stars speaking of the writing and the plot, and also speaking of how great Uwe’s direction is and his ability as an independent film maker, which might make people who are not fans of Boll’s movies gag a bit. There’s also details on certain stunts in the film and how it works and it’s all practical effects and stunt work. It also has a director’s commentary with Boll, who really goes on long discussions about the subject matter, as well as shooting in Vancouver and the elements of shooting and from time to time, talking about the actual film. It also includes a trailer and French language selection along with English, but no subtitles.
Freddy (Keith David) and Sean (Edward Furlong)
The Verdict
If you’re a fan of films like DEATH WISH or BOONDOCK SAINTS, or even Boll’s RAMPAGE, this will a good next offering to take in. The premise lends itself well to the premise of a revenge film, and it has some good build to a very interesting pay off. It does go a bit too far with it, as well as hammering hard the idea that the Wall Street investors are bad, but it does more to add to the experience more than takes away. Worth watching.