Takers is finally coming out this year after being on hold for 2 years, due to Chris Brown’s drama with Rihanna and T.I.’s one year jail sentence. Since things are back in order T.I. has decided to release the film, but have you noticed whose name has been taken out of the credits?
Interesting Chris has been moved over to the producer group, he’ll hopefully make some change off this film unlike his album which suffered earlier this year. Just a little inside info for you.
Armored is a suspense/drama that never hits its mark or gives you the punch you are waiting for. The overall film is basically a mediocre theatrical release, which could have gone straight to DVD without question. It’s about six friends who are veteran armored truck security guards who run in a tight pack. Probation is over for the new guy Ty Hackett (Columbus Short) so the crew does a test run heist to initiate the newest member into the pack. Matt Dillon plays Ty’s Godfather Mike Cochrane who looks out for his best friend’s son. The movie starts up with Ty heading to work, being picked up by Mike and to the locker room where director, Nimrod Antal (Vacancy (2007) lacks the intensity the film so desires.
The movie has plenty of potential, but it’s a lack-luster in the intrigue and motivation department which become slightly cliché’ in most all the action sequences and the drama. It move a medium pace, but you start wondering if the films low-level of suspense is ever going to get better. It doesn’t! The movie is filled with countless formula moments “Armored” heads into gear, slow gear that is. Armored could have used another rewrite of better direction. It’s not easy to film a movie about armored truck security guards, but the development between the characters could have gone a little deeper, so the emotional intent of each character would be a little more interesting. Basically you have the loose cannon, Baines (Laurence Fishburne), Palmer, which you might remember from Next Friday (Amaury Nolasco) The one who’s found God and is conflicted, Dobbs (Skeet Ulrich) the spineless follower and Quinn (Jean Reno) the oldest of the crew looking for early retirement.
The movie is based primarily around Ty, who has stepped up to take care of his younger brother Jimmy Hackett (Andre Jamal Kinney), after his mother and father have passed away. They don’t go anymore into that part of the story; you just know Ty is having a hard time juggling being a guardian after coming home from being in the war. They touch a little bit on Ty trying to re-acclimate back into society and touch on his guilt for killing innocent people in the war. The Key element which makes the perfect plan falls apart. Ty’s character is struggling with post war dysfunction which could have been explored deeper, but wasn’t. Bottom line Ty is asked to join this so-called scheme that is a (perfect) done deal, because there are no bad guys only good. The first giveaway and foreshadow. The next, is the cliché ultimatum as Ty is forced to do the heist to save his brother from the foster care system. Once the story finally kicks into motion it does another nose dive into a stagnant scenario of played out good gone bad clichés once again.
The big moment finally comes and here I was expecting something a little stronger from the director and his suspense techniques, but the film just flat-lines and never climaxes. Armored truck 12 & 17 are set to sail and have the whole thing worked out, it’s a perfect plan that goes wrong. The plan is going smooth until Baines shoots and innocent homeless person who witnessed them hiding the money. It Trigger Ty to save the innocent man and divides the men into a game of cat and mouse. From that point the movie becomes a predictable mess. I was praying they would pull the rug out from under me and surprise me, but the answer was no. In fact, it was depressing as this film has so much testosterone in it that you would expect a high level “Fast & Furious” style movie. I don’t blame the actors in this case as more of the lagging of suspense and disenchanted thrills fall flat on their face because of the director’s choice of filming.
Movies of this nature are all about the angles and the perception. Intense close-ups of the eye’s, more manipulation and betrayal which could have helped this sinking boat at anytime, but it never came. I completely understand why this movie which was filmed back in 2007 with an original 2008 release date, but then pushed back for a complete year later. Obviously this movie has been going through some pre-screening whoa’s and pick-ups, which still didn’t help this movies pace or intensity level. Sometime going back to the beginning hurts you or saves you; in this case it made the movie just ok, not good and definitely not great. It’s sad to say I was very excited to see “Armored” only to find it to be a grim disappointment.
Now, don’t get me wrong Mat, Laurence, Amaury, Columbus and Skeet all were on point with their performances. Even Jean and Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes), Eckehart the rookie cop trying to fill his daddies shoes is foreshadowed to be careful, so you know what happens to him. What is so interesting is Milo looks so young in this film. It had to have been during the first season of Heroes when this movie was done. Moreover, Armored is that action film that is sort of entertaining, but is empty on the inside like the film “Waste Deep,” major potential but do to a weak vision the movie fails to punch the mark. Leaving the movie goers asking that ancient old question “Was I just robbed of my time?” Now, I’m not saying not to see the film, it has some great performances, but I am saying only pay for the matinée, it’s not worth full price at night.
Recommendation: “Armored” this hard edge action drama about Armore truck security with a flawless plane to steel $42 Million is great for a matinée on the weekend.: C-
Release Date: December 4th, 2009 (wide)
Director:Nimrod Antal
Producer: Russell Hollander, Debra James, Chris Lemos
Stars: Matt Dillon, Jean Reno, Laurence Fishburne, Amaury Nolasco, Fred Ward
Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama and Thriller
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense violence, some disturbing images and brief strong language.
Stay Tuned for Season 2 of VasoRich Leak Radio. Glass The Tramp and Pricci will having you laughing once again and you never know which celebrity will be hanging with them.
July 10, 2010
CNM247
FLIX | CRITIC 
You must be logged in to post a comment.