PG Score: 7.25/10
Wrath of Man was released in theaters on May 7th, 2021
Guy Ritchie’s latest undertaking is powered by slick storytelling mechanics, an excellent score from Christopher Benstead, and a dominant performance from Jason Statham. Wrath of Man has all the elements of a great movie within reach, but the action-thriller does not quite stick the landing in the final act.
Plot
Adopting a grimmer tone than the writer/director’s typical project, this remake of the 2004 French film Le Convoyeur follows the mysterious H (Jason Statham) as he is hired as a security guard for a cash truck company in Los Angeles. After his lethal skill set comes to light, his co-workers grow wary of his obscure past as the menacing figure inches closer to his ultimate goal.
Throughout his illustrious career, Ritchie has proven his ability to present a narrative to his audience in a unique and captivating manner. Wrath of Man is no exception as the seemingly straightforward plotline has a few tricks up its sleeve. As it gains traction, additional aspects about the crux of H’s motive and his true identity are revealed from various perspectives and timelines. Each chapter not only successfully builds momentum, but the clever mechanics employed by the adept filmmaker also add a layer of enjoyment to the already entertaining movie.
Action
For the most part, the action is intense, and there are several memorable encounters over the course of the two-hour runtime. The heist sequences are especially exciting and introduce a fair share of suspense to the movie. In terms of the path of devastation that H carves, Ritchie follows in the main character’s footsteps and does not hold back as the full extent of the gunplay is shown in great detail. While not as frequent as some viewers may like, the shootouts are rewarding enough to make up for the lower quantity. The one exception is the finale, which does not pack the punch it should. A film with buildup of this magnitude deserves to go out with the loudest of bangs, and despite its impressive scale and design, the final set piece concludes much too quietly.
Powerful Score
Composer Christopher Benstead is undeniably responsible for one of the strongest facets of Wrath of Man. His resounding original music perfectly matches the ominous atmosphere on-screen, and it further immerses the audience in the ruthless criminal underworld. Benstead’s soundtrack leaves just as much of an impression as the adrenaline-fueled firefights and pulse-pounding heists.
Cast
Jason Statham is at the top of his game as he flawlessly executes all his own stunts and reels off one-liners with a striking level of prowess. He masterfully conveys the protagonist’s cool, calm, and collected demeanor while also maintaining his unwavering intensity. H has more depth than the characters the actor typically portrays, and he hits the more nuanced notes with precision. Apart from the occasional quip, H exudes a dark energy for nearly the entire film, and Statham deftly captures this foreboding presence. The veteran action star exhibits some notable range in Wrath of Man and delivers one of his finest performances.
He is backed by an all-star supporting cast full of familiar faces. The talented list includes Holt McCallany as Bullet, Josh Hartnett as Boy Sweat Dave, Eddie Marsan as Terry (no, this is not a Ray Donovan crossover), Niamh Algar as Dana, Laz Alonso as Carlos, Jeffrey Donovan as Jackson, Scott Eastwood as Jan, and Andy Garcia as Agent King. Hartnett, McCallany, and Eastwood are the standouts as each actor fills his role quite nicely. It is a blessing to see Hartnett back on the big screen, and Eastwood shows previously untapped range, which bodes well for future opportunities.
Ritchie and Statham Still Have It
Despite faltering in the climax, the newest Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham collaboration provides ample reason to witness the Wrath of Man.
PG Score: 7.25/10