Some movies you hear about more than recognize the title of.
These are those lost films, movies that don’t do dynamic box office numbers but
that people who have witnessed it can’t stop talking about. They are movies
that make their money after appearing in theaters, more often on disc now. They
are the movies that appear on pay cable and suddenly everyone is saying they
can’t wait for the next movie the director brings out. BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99
is one of those movies.
Vince Vaughan stars as Bradley Thomas, a hard working tow
truck driver who loses his job and finds out his wife Lauren (Jennifer
Carpenter) is having an affair on the same day. After he demolishes her car,
the pair sit, talk and plan to set things right. In order to survive he agrees
to work for his friend Gil delivering drugs but only until they’re financially
secure.
18 months later Lauren is pregnant and Bradley is still
delivering drugs Gil. His latest assignment is to pick up a shipment with two
thugs that work for a new partner of Gil’s. Untrusting of either he establishes
that should things to wrong they listen to his instructions. Of course when
they pick up the drugs at a local marina and the cops show up they ignore him,
don’t dump the drugs and begin a shootout with the police. Shooting one and
knocking out the other, Bradley is arrested and convicted.
Sent to a minimum security jail Bradley is visited by a man
(Udo Kier) who says he works for the drug runner Gil partnered up with.
Offering proof that they’ve kidnapped Lauren and are holding her hostage, he
informs Bradley that unless he kills another inmate named Christopher Bridge
they will begin by killing his unborn child and then his wife.
His initial problem is that the man they want killed isn’t
in the prison he’s incarcerated in. Instead he’s in a much worse prison, one
that has the harshest of rules and worst prisoners around, Redleaf prison. Ruled
over by Warden Tuggs (Don Johnson) Bradley must first find out how things work
at Redleaf. Then he must find the prisoner he’s been ordered to kill. But
things are not always what they seem to be on the surface.
BRAWL is one of the most brutal films made in recent years.
The beat downs and fight sequences in the film are played on a realistic level
and not the standard movie styled fights. People here are maimed, scarred and
killed in the most vicious manner possible. But while the actions of Bradley
are harsh by any standard he actually remains the most sympathetic character in
the film. His actions are not directed by an inhuman nature but in an effort to
survive and to insure that his family is left untouched. His is a noble cause
even though he is performing an un-noble act.
There is a combination of work going on here that makes this
film stand out above what could have played as a simple grindhouse styled film.
First and foremost is Vaughan in what is a game changing performance for him.
Vaughan has become associated with mostly comedic roles in the past with a few
dramatic ones in the mix. This performance cements him among the better actors
in his class. Due to the subject matter my guess is few will recognize that
come Oscar time but his performance here is award worthy.
The second is the work of director S. Craig Zahler. In 2015
he broke out with a little seen western called BONE TOMAHAWK, another of those
films that once seen isn’t easily forgotten and talked about non-stop by fans.
These two films should garner enough interest in him that his future projects
are not only noticed but given a green light by major studios. His star is in
an upward motion.
Everyone involved in this film does a standout job though so
they shouldn’t be forgotten. Every actor, makeup artists, costumer, set
designer and more that worked on the film deserves recognition. It looks unlike
any movie you’ve seen and in a good way.
The movie may upset you, it may disturb you and it may make
some people flinch while watching. But watch it you should. This is one of
those movies that doesn’t fall into any pat category and is more original than
most out there. In a world of sequels and franchises that’s a good thing.
Click here to order.
well said
ReplyDelete