New Orleans is a familiar place for Nicolas Cage. It wasn’t too long ago that he was walking the mean streets there as a Bad Lieutenant. And, for what it's worth, and maybe it was the Jambalaya, Cage put in a pretty impressive performance in an entirely watchable movie. So can lighting strike twice?
Cage plays Will Gerard, a school teacher who ends up in a serious spot of bother. After his wife is raped and assaulted, a so called vigilante group (ie The Mob, basically) offers to take care of the rapist. In return for this “good deed” Gerard would have to return the favour at some point, in the not so distant future. And when favours kick in, things start kicking off as Gerard finds himself in all sorts of antics as he desperately tries to find a way out of his payback. And when said payback involves him killing off another ill-doer, which for your average school teacher, is a bit too much, he wants to get out. Thats when the real problems start. After all a deal, is a deal. One good turn deserves another. And so on.
Justice has arrived in Irish cinemas (at least) with absolutely no gusto, and considering it’s opening on the same weekend that Edward and Bella get it on, it’s surprising. Or maybe the studios are banking on people wanting an alternative. Either way, it’s a brave move, for a movie that, well isn’t exactly the big pile of gone off Jambalaya you might think. The story itself, while completely unbelievable and full of holes, is engaging to some degree. It plods away and regardless of the hiccups, it does keep you interested. In particular the second half of the movie is rather enjoyable with a good few edge of the seat moments. This is a movie that will never blow your mind, but the few set pieces that are there work well and you do find yourself enjoying this.
At times though, performance wise, Nicolas Cage is dialling this in long distance, on a really bad line. In particular the times where he is sitting and pondering and wondering what the hell to do. These moments (and there are a few) are really cringeworthy and look surprisingly amateur, especially from a seasoned actor like Cage. Besides that, he does carry it off and with the exception of being “Nicolas Cage annoying” in the opening 20 minutes with fist pumps and what not, he is likeable on screen. The rest of the cast which include Jennifer Carpenter and Guy Pearce are solid, in particular Guy Pearce who shines throughout as the bad guy, or good guy. Depending on how you view the mob.
Justice, is a welcome alternative to Vampires having babies. Besides the fact that it makes no sense half the time as well as being a little bit clunky and scattered it is rather watchable and does create a nice air of suspense. While it’s not going to have queues out the door, there are far worse ways to spend 105 mins. Worth a punt!
Cage plays Will Gerard, a school teacher who ends up in a serious spot of bother. After his wife is raped and assaulted, a so called vigilante group (ie The Mob, basically) offers to take care of the rapist. In return for this “good deed” Gerard would have to return the favour at some point, in the not so distant future. And when favours kick in, things start kicking off as Gerard finds himself in all sorts of antics as he desperately tries to find a way out of his payback. And when said payback involves him killing off another ill-doer, which for your average school teacher, is a bit too much, he wants to get out. Thats when the real problems start. After all a deal, is a deal. One good turn deserves another. And so on.
Justice has arrived in Irish cinemas (at least) with absolutely no gusto, and considering it’s opening on the same weekend that Edward and Bella get it on, it’s surprising. Or maybe the studios are banking on people wanting an alternative. Either way, it’s a brave move, for a movie that, well isn’t exactly the big pile of gone off Jambalaya you might think. The story itself, while completely unbelievable and full of holes, is engaging to some degree. It plods away and regardless of the hiccups, it does keep you interested. In particular the second half of the movie is rather enjoyable with a good few edge of the seat moments. This is a movie that will never blow your mind, but the few set pieces that are there work well and you do find yourself enjoying this.
At times though, performance wise, Nicolas Cage is dialling this in long distance, on a really bad line. In particular the times where he is sitting and pondering and wondering what the hell to do. These moments (and there are a few) are really cringeworthy and look surprisingly amateur, especially from a seasoned actor like Cage. Besides that, he does carry it off and with the exception of being “Nicolas Cage annoying” in the opening 20 minutes with fist pumps and what not, he is likeable on screen. The rest of the cast which include Jennifer Carpenter and Guy Pearce are solid, in particular Guy Pearce who shines throughout as the bad guy, or good guy. Depending on how you view the mob.
Justice, is a welcome alternative to Vampires having babies. Besides the fact that it makes no sense half the time as well as being a little bit clunky and scattered it is rather watchable and does create a nice air of suspense. While it’s not going to have queues out the door, there are far worse ways to spend 105 mins. Worth a punt!
