While most know Vin Diesel from the hit XxX, I actually found his talents early on in a Sci-Fi thriller called
Pitch Black. I knew he was going to be a big star and was thrilled when he became the voice of the Iron Giant in that animated film.
New Line Cinema paried him with director F. Gary Gray which sounds like a no brainer right? Well audiences stayed away from the film's theatrical release which really made me wonder why. Now that I've seen the story of Sean Vetter I can see why this film just didn't spark.
Sean Vetter and Demetrius Hicks are ex-gang members who have converted their experiences into a career with the DEA. Both have given up "gang love" for true "family love". Stacy Vetter has made a real husband out of Sean and even though she still doesn't like it, she accepts his life as a cop as opposed to a gang member.
The boys work pays off after seven years when they take out Mexico's biggest drug lord, Memo Lucero. His arrest marks a significant stall in the drug trafficking entering the US. All seems well a few months later with Lucero in jail when suddenly a new group "Diablo" violently takes control of Lucero's former network. Even worse for Vetter is an attack one night that leaves him and his wife wounded. Upon waking up from a coma, Vetter learns his wife has passed away.
So let's stop right here. The setting is classic Van Damme/ Steven Segal/ Charles Bronson material here. An enraged man who is seeking vengeance against the killers of his one and only true love. Sounds good right? But who exactly ordered the hit on her? Seems logical that is was none other than Lucero, but could it have been someone else? Possibly the new "Diablo"?
My problem with the film boils down to the way the movie ends and resolves itself. It attempts to throw a loop to the viewer with a surprise ending but it is one so watered down and confusing that I just felt like I wasted 90 minutes. Vin's acting skills continue to improve, with one scene of emotional outbreak appearing rather real. His uncontrollable rage at the wrong moment also is well done. The movie just lets you down so hard at the end. There might be legal justice here but there's no damn justice of the heart.
The Disc:
As expected the failure of the film relegates the picture not to Infinifilm status but rather the most basic of titles that New Line releases. It's not even Platinum! Oh well the film still presents the usual terrific standard of transfers. The film retains its theatrical 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen.
Sounds are unfortunately a little muddled in areas with a rather weak Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track. There are plenty of intense action moments and yet little is heard around the room. Still the voices in the center channel are clear and even the worst of 5.1 tracks best old stereo or tv sound.
As expected there's not much in way of the extras. There's barely anything really with just some deleted scenes, a trailer and some ads for upcoming features.
bottom line:
A sore disappointment for Vin Diesel, F. Gary Gray and New Line. What happened here? Each of those elements has turned out consistent great films but somehow this one died before it was ever born. Stillborn if I ever saw one. Perhaps Van Damme's karate skills could have made this film better.
2 out of 5
By - Brian Gray
