As I watched Death Sentence, I thought to myself, “You know, in the right hands this movie could be halfway decent.” Then the opening credits ended, and I was plunged into the same old revenge-flick formula—in this case, a contented suburbanite named Nick Hume taking out retribution on the gang that killed his son, slowly becoming a stumbling, maniacal Rambo. And while a few moments are noteworthy, including a tracking shot through a downtown Columbia parking structure that is amazingly executed, director James Wan spends too much energy trying to balance the compassionate family man against his momentous inner demons, which slowly transform him into a slaughter machine; neither side seems to develop completely, and we’re left with a half-hearted Jekyl and his oblivious Hyde. (The final showdown between Bacon’s character and the gang leader, set in a makeshift ghetto church, is at best grossly predictable.)
My only true motivation in seeing this, besides my sound love of revenge films, was the promise of John Goodman as a foul, sweaty, malicious gun-dealer named Bones, whose advice to Nick “from one dad to another” is chilling, albeit inane considering the lackluster storyline twist that has just been revealed. Loud and forgettable, nothing more and nothing less. Bring on Jodie Foster.
by Adam Balz | Source: 35MM Theatrical Print
04 Sep 2007 5:13 PM | Submit Comment
