Wrath of Man

Feel my Wrath! I'm shocked what a gem Wrath of Man turned out to be. I was expecting a classic Statham action movie, but instead I got a well thought-out revenge-heist and gangster film with an atmosphere so dense, raw, and unpleasant at times that I was genuinely scared. There is less action than I expected, but considering the overall result, I forgive everything. The trailer showed maybe 10%, and I was shocked at how the movie turned out. I had no idea where it was heading. Jason Statham definitely has the best role of his career playing an angry, pissed-off boss with a cold expression craving revenge, but at the same time, he has character and doesn't kill people who are not against him. This is the dreamed badass protagonist I love, and I finally got to see him. The young Scott Eastwood impresses as well. He shows for the first time that he can act, playing a slimy, cold, and evil character flawlessly. The story is told retrospectively from multiple angles and perspectives, just the way I like it. There are a lot of tough guys who command respect, blood is not spared, neither are corpses. The final heist plan is as well-thought-out as in Money Heist, and the action-packed half-hour at the end is more than satisfying. The sound effects of the guns are stunning! (no muffled gun barrels). The whole movie is accompanied by a gripping and dark soundtrack that elevates it even higher. I must praise the realism and authenticity of the entire story. (the scene with the SWAT team, those guys commanded so much respect that I started to wish they would never come out of that car, otherwise they would take me away!). The final reckoning is among the sweetest revenge endings I've ever seen, and of course, there was one unexpected twist. A truly amazing manly feat loaded in all directions, and I'm looking forward to watching it again! I enjoyed it immensely. A contender for movie of the year! 9/10. (25/05/2021)

To begin with, Wrath of Man looks like a Statham classic about a dude with a clear moral compass who eliminates gangs that rob armored cars. GTA style. But I was mistaken. The tough, focused approach chosen by Richie and maintained till the very end reveals that he has grown up at last and can deal with his ego if the story needs it. No music-video type editing and, whenever there is a one-liner, then it’s sexist and homophobic, plus cruel and bloody action. The combination of Zahler’s approach mixed with a Mann’s crime movie works like a well-oiled machine. Benstead’s music amazingly highlights the unpleasant, almost chilling undertones of the whole movie. An excellent role for Eastwood. (26/05/2021)

In the first act I had a problem with the characters, they seemed strangely out of touch with reality in terms of their behaviour, but once the narrative switches to other points of view it somehow falls into place. Wrath of Man is a masculine film, cold and without any hint of humour. If I didn't know who made it, I'd be much more likely to guess I was watching S. Craig Zahler's new movie than Guy Ritchie's. I don't usually look forward to new Jason Statham films, and I wasn't expecting anything from this one either, but it ended up being surprisingly the best action flick of the year so far. The ending at the depo reminded me of Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13, which is the best possible calling card. (26/05/2021)

This dark heist flick offers a very, VERY angry tough-guy protagonist driven by vengeance, gangs of exemplary thugs (Darrell D'Silva was the best!), raw shootouts and super-dark, heavyweight music that adds to the film’s gut-punching seriousness. Of course, the action is superbly directed with absorbing camerawork that is magical, even when the film is just building up to the action. The flashbacks in the first two-thirds are also pleasing, with the causes of events told in an original way through editing and the gradual revealing of the main character’s identity. If it had an even more sophisticated climax (which, as it stands, is rather “only” a well-done action scene) and settling of scores with the main villain (who, furthermore, should not have been played by the non-actor Eastwood Jr.), Wrath of Man would have been a reference work in the genre. (08/06/2021)

Guy Ritchie returned to home territory with The Gentlemen, having a bit of a second wind and showing that he has still got the chops to make those sort of blockbuster movies. So, with Wrath of Man, he has proved that he intends to continue on doing that. It is a stylish crime thriller that is a remake of the 17-year-old (and underrated) French movie Cash Truck and adds more angles, a whole lot more action, and a really powerful shot of testosterone, all set to a melodic and dark musical score. It has been a long time since I have been as impressed by the theme tune to a new movie as I was with this. Had it all been a little less predictable, I would have been more satisfied, however, thumbs up nonetheless. (08/06/2021)