Haywire

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Jordan

Steven Soderbergh has made a new film with ALL THE PEOPLE in it but it isn't getting a release in Australia? Must be terrible? Actually no, it's pretty fun an has some nice action in it, Roadshow are just being dicks again. 50/50, Chernobyl Diaries and Cabin in the Woods all films I really wanted to see in a cinema but will have to make do now. (Well except Cabin in the Woods, because, you know, we totally saved that one...)

Soderbergh is not who you'd think of to make a b-movie action flick as a vehicle for an MMA fighter. Besides those few shoot outs in Che, he hasn't really done many extended fight sequences. He shoots them in his very restrained style, no shaky cam, very classically framed. Often without score. I can see why this turned a lot of action fans off, but I really like the change of pace. 

And he made the decision to surround Gina Carano with some really great male actors to play off. I love it when Michael Angarano unexpectedly shows up.

The story is very basic, told in a slightly convoluted way to try and make it seem more interesting, but it's really just a typical double crossing and revenge scenario, working her way up the chain of command taking famous actors out. Very b-movie action premise.

If this was trash all the way I don't think anyone would have a problem with it but Soderbergh bringing his artistic sensibilities to it to class it up a bit probably threw people in both markets. I thought it was pretty fun though. I.e. it looked pretty and was trashy fun too.