The Movie: Dead Man Down (2013)
Studio: FilmDistrict
Director: Niels Arden Oplev
Starring: Colin Farrell as Victor, Noomi Rapace as Beatrice, Terrence Howard as Alphonse, Dominic Cooper as Darcy, Isabelle Huppert as Valentine Louzon, Franky G as Luco and F. Murray Abraham as Gregor
Screenwriters: J.H. Wyman
RottenTomatoes: 39% MetaCritic: 42/100
Snippet from My Review: (read my full review here)
Dead Man Down feels like something Luc Besson (La Femme Nikita, Leon: The Professional) would have directed back in the mid-’90s, though the look is more modernized with a polished sheen and a penchant for slow-mo explosions and blue filters, which cinematographer Paul Cameron (Man on a Ledge, Total Recall) seems to excel in as of late. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but director Niels Arden Oplev (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) does manage to cut the expository moments to a minimum, allowing the film to rise above what could have easily become a direct-to-video feature and turns it into something I don’t mind recommending you give a chance.
Starter Questions
Here are a couple questions to help get the conversation started.
1.) My #1 question is what did you think of the final scene? Did you find it as tacky and unnecessary as I did? Do you agree it would have been better if it had merely shown them on the train, staring forward only to give a brief glance at one another before cutting to black and rolling credits?
2.) Do you agree with my Luc Besson comparison?
Now share your thoughts on the film in the comments below and feel free to include spoilers.
