Direct to DVD Dissection profiles a twist on a vigilante movie featuring Nicolas Cage, with the action movie SEEKING JUSTICE.
Released Date: June 19, 2012
Released by: Anchor Bay
Run Time: 105 Minutes
The Story
After his wife is assaulted, a husband enlists the services of a vigilante group to help him settle the score. Then he discovers they want a ‘favor’ from him in return.
The Cast
Nicolas Cage as Will Gerald, a husband who ends up mixing with a shadowy organization who give him a chance for revenge. At this point, no introduction is needed for Cage. For good or bad, he’s known.
Guy Pearce as Simon, the main contact between Will and the company, an organization that deliver vigilante justice to those they feel have wrong the world. Pierce has a big track record, from classical Elizabethan dramas and serious roles, with some crazy roles one in a while, like LOCK UP or PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT.
January Jones as Laura Gerald, the wife of Will who’s attack ends up sparking the entire situation that threatens to endanger both of them. Best known for her work on the TV show MAD MEN, she’s also appeared as the comic book character Emma Frost in the movie X-MEN: FIRST CLASS.
Jason Davis as Alan Marsh, the target that the company sends Will out to deal with, and ends up revealing some things to him. While having some appearances in some random films, he’s probably better known in the series PRISON BREAK as FBI Agent Wheeler.
The Dissection
By all accounts, this is a movie that would have no problem fitting into a theatrical release. Both Cage and Pearce have had recent releases, though they weren’t received well. (GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE for Cage, LOCK UP for Pearce.) However, this one just got a very, very limited release before getting a more focused DVD release. It’s a similar situation with another Nicolas Cage film, TRESPASS, which got a release to cable networks and DVD instead of a big release, even with some name stars in the cast.
International Poster
Focusing on the movie, people expecting another TAKEN type of movie, it’s not. It actually is a bit of a inversion of the concept, showing both dangers of crime fighting. Beyond the known issue of criminals and how they can get away with things, there is the other side of how far someone can go to the dark side in the name of “justice”. It’s an interesting concept, but one that starts to run out of steam before the end of the movie. It ends ups with an issue of having to work out the issue for the ending, but with not enough time to establish all the things needed by that time. Still, there are some interesting moments, especially during the final scene.
On the acting front, there are some strong people in the role. Cage and Pearce deliver some great work in their roles, especially Pearce. Even Jones, who isn’t known for her acting skills, has some moments during the latter half that pop up. The acting helps to build up the story, especially in the first half. Also, the visuals and the effects in the movie also work to give the movie a streamlined look. It’s all very good and works to assist the movie in the concept. It’s lower budget in terms of big movies with big casts, but its miles ahead of movies like CHAINED: CODE 207.
One complaint that could be laid on the movie is that there are some moments that end up leading to nothing in the end, especially with Jones’ Laura, and how she deals with the incident that happened to her. It has a few moments through the movie, but nothing concrete and without the importance given to other stories in the movie. Still, beyond that, it does leave a nice impression of the viewer.
The Verdict
It’s gotten a bit of a bad reputation from some other reviewers and critics (and Film Brain), but the movie is getting some good word from the viewers that watch it. At the very least, it’s worth a viewing. In the grand view of Cage movie, it’s no VAMPIRE’S KISS or LORD OF WAR, but it’s not a WICKER MAN. It’s some good run, worth checking out at least once.
Recommended.
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