Death Sentence

Les temps des héros seagal ont disparu, aujourd'hui leurs familles sont représentées par des gestionnaires cravatés joués par des acteurs de caractère. James Wan sait travailler avec les acteurs, il a du talent en tant que réalisateur pour la dynamique, une atmosphère rock brutale voire folle, et il joue parfois habilement avec de longs plans efficaces (le parking). C'est dommage que son œuvre visuellement impressionnante soit parfois entravée par des "moments stupides et illogiques" qui ne sont pas corrigés même par des moments psychologiquement et émotionnellement sincères (les conversations intimes avec sa femme, avec son fils). Le résultat est simplement amusant et intéressant, et maintient l'intérêt du public quant à où le réalisateur nous emmènera la prochaine fois. Il a en effet plus à offrir, mais il lui est plus difficile de trouver une harmonie entre son approche de réalisation et le scénario, qui a si bien fonctionné pour lui dans Saw. (31/10/2008)

A ruthless bloodbath, like it came out of the 80s. Comparisons with earlier Charles Bronson movies is certainly fitting. It’s good that Wan brought this pair back to life, because ruthless, atmospheric shootouts where the main protagonist loses everything and sets out on the road to revenge are woefully few and far between these days. And Kevin Bacon in the main role was superb. (11/01/2008)

EdaS speaks to my soul, I would just add that even Arnold feeding a fawn with his daughter at the beginning of Commando was more believable than Bacon's emotional outpourings here. The action is pretty decent, Wan is good with the camera, but the rest is just bad. I don't think even Pepek Vyskoč could eat that. And back to Kevin Bacon, as brilliant as he was in The Woodsman, here I felt sorry for him. It was awful, Kevin. I miss Charles Bronson. (22/01/2008)

Kevin Bacon is a stud and he's good with a shotgun. James Wan once again revels in dark camera filters, and the whole thing is nicely straightforward and devoid of all unnecessary bullshit about morality. A simple but perfectly effective film that offers exactly what is expected of it. (22/11/2007)

I join the ranks of those who didn’t like the direction the story takes in the last half hour. If the film had finished three quarters in, my rating would be higher. But what happens after that is pretty awful. Kevin Bacon suddenly stops being believable and all his behaviour becomes contrived (and that also applies to other characters). A solid thriller like this deserved a better ending. I’ve nothing against Wan’s direction, I liked it, but I hope he picks a better script next time. 65% (01/07/2008)