In 1988 an action star broke onto the screen in a modestly
budgeted film that took the world by storm. This mystery man claimed to have
worked for the CIA, became a master of aikido at a young age in Japan and
worked with Hollywood celebs before making his move in front of the camera. The
movie was ABOVE THE LAW and the star was Steven Seagal.
But in the late 90s his films dropped in popularity, he
divorced and most of the later output went straight to DVD. This doesn’t mean
that his films lacked quality or that they were any less ambitious than in the
past but that times had changed. As we all do he’d grown older and wasn’t as
rail thin as he appeared in ABOVE. In Hollywood this is a no no. But he didn’t
care what they thought and continued making movies that remain some of the best
action films even when the budgets dropped from what they once were.
CONTRACT TO KILL is a great example of a quality action film
starring Seagal that delivers the goods. Seagal plays John Harmon, an ex
CIA/DEA asset brought out of retirement to handle a particularly sensitive
contract. Arab terrorists are about to set up a deal with a Mexican cartel head
that will help them gain access to enter the United States with ease. This
gives them the opportunity to smuggles in people and weapons up to an including
a dirty bomb. What the government wants Harmon to do is pinpoint the location
of their meeting and let them know where it is.
But as with most movies involving spies these days crosses and
double crosses are the rule of thumb and Harmon isn’t your typical low level
asset. He’s been there, he knows how they work and figures out that the
original plan wasn’t what he was told. So he takes him team, FBI agent Zara
(Jemma Dallender) and drone pilot Matthew Sharp (Russell Wong), and sets in
motion his own plan.
Harmon realized early on that the location for the meet
wasn’t in Mexico as the intel thought it was but in Istanbul instead. With his
team they ramp up the paranoia of the terrorists and plant the seeds of
suspicion between the two. It won’t be enough to prevent the deal from going
down completely but it will allow them a greater margin of success in
accomplishing their goal. And does that goal align with that of the agency that
sent them in giving the plausible deniability? Watch and see to find out.
Segal remains the strong, silent type in his films and this
one is no exception. His demeanor and vocal stylings are low key and subtle.
Why yell when you can quietly put things in motion? His fighting style while
aikido reminds me of the term Bruce Lee created with jeet kune du, the way of
the intercepting fist. He allows his opponent the chance to throw at him and
then uses their energy and the flow of their own body against them providing
him with ample opportunity to deliver more debilitating blows. It’s worked for
him in all of his films and continues to do so now.
The supporting casts here does a great job. Dallender shows
plenty of future potential here with an acting ability and attractive
appearance that makes you wonder why she isn’t doing more mainstream features.
Wong seems on the same career path as Seagal having been in higher priced fare
in the past but seemingly relegated to lower tier films of late. He too is a
victim of Hollywood where age isn’t seen as a positive thing no matter what you
can still do which is sad. At least he helps elevate the roles provided him as
in this film.
On the whole the movie will probably not make anyone must
see list but does provide plenty of entertainment for action fans. Seagal fans
will rate this one higher than some of this other films and the plot ties in
perfectly with what is happening in the world since word has come out that
there is a possible connection between cartels and terrorist organizations
actually taking place. One can only hope there is a team like Seagal’s seen
here in place to stop them.
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