‘Man with No Past’ Review | So Bad It’s a Laugh Riot

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I couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of “Man with No Past“, a direct-to-video gem that unintentionally tickles your funny bone. This film, despite a promising foundation, grapples clumsily with age-old philosophical battles between good and evil in an action-thriller that falls flat on every count.

The heart of the mystery unfolds at a snail’s pace, making it a piece of cake to decipher its twists and turns. Even the great detective Sherlock Holmes wouldn’t be challenged here. Martin Csokas, cast once more as the pompous antagonist, is the only saving grace with his signature sneer and over-the-top delivery. His portrayal is so preposterously exaggerated that it becomes surprisingly enjoyable to watch.

Déjà Vu in Ancient Rome

During World War II, in the heart of Paris, I found myself as a relentless Nazi General (Jon Voight), backed by my ruthless enforcer (Philip Winchester) and a calculating advisor (Csokas). We were on a brutal mission, rounding up innocents to be executed in our quest for the French Resistance. Information was worth lives, and we had no qualms about taking them. However, amidst the chaos, a courageous figure (Adam Woodward) prepared to intervene, armed and ready to turn the tide. Just as he stepped forward, the scene abruptly shifted to another era.

Currently in modern-day New York City, our protagonist stirs to life in a shabby hotel room, suffering from amnesia. He discovers weapons, cash, motorcycle keys, but no identification to validate his background. The hotel clerk too can’t recall him checking-in. Inscribed on the keychain is the name “Ryder,” which coincides with a letter on the keychain. Strangely, Ryder finds himself compelled to visit a diner nearby where the proprietor, Shelly (Charlotte Weston), and her granddaughter, Morgan (Charlotte Vega), appear strikingly familiar.

Simultaneously, within the lofty Sanborn Group headquarters, Paul Sanborn (Voight) and his associate (Winchester) converse with the architect (Csokas) of a daring new project. Sanborn envisions transforming the city’s rundown areas into a gleaming modern metropolis; however, a persistent city council member refuses to approve the construction. Meanwhile, at a diner, Ryder experiences a powerful memory that unfolds, cue the music, in ancient Rome with the same characters present.

A Painfully Wooden and Repetitive Movie

It appears that the character, Man with No Past, struggles with repetitive ethical quandaries across various historical timeframes. The script penned by Steven Paul, known for his action productions on VOD like Expend4bles, Shadow Land, and Disquiet, and who previously worked with Voight on The Land of Israel with Jon Voight: God’s Story, presents shallow characters that discuss existential themes without truly conveying depth.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I find myself deeply engaged with the character of “Morgan,” portrayed brilliantly by Vega. She serves as the emotional backbone of the story, often acting as a sort of barometer for the audience, reflecting the current state of events in her interactions with Ryder. These encounters are tense and emotionally draining, leaving me yearning for clarity. I find myself wishing that Ryder would simply confront Morgan and demand an explanation for the enigmatic circumstances that have him questioning everything. Instead, he often finds himself lost in self-reflection, mirroring my own confusion about the unfolding narrative.

Paul sees coincidence as a means of fate, destiny, predestination, or any mysterious cosmic concept. The fact that Ryder happened to be in the diner is crucial, as it allowed him to see Sanborn’s henchmen intimidating innocent women who were subsequently in need of masculine protection. The scene is filled with stereotypical tough-guy poses and expressions, suggesting past encounters between these characters. As the story unfolds, these scenes recur, leaving us wondering if this is some sort of technical simulation or if there’s a religious explanation for Ryder’s memory loss and ignorance. It’s not hard to infer if you can stay engaged for almost two hours.

The Road to Boredom

As a movie enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: “In Man with No Past, there’s an ’80s-style guitar soundtrack and frequent fast-forwards that make it feel like I’m racing through time like Sonic the Hedgehog. Initially, it was a fun touch, but after a while, it became more of a distraction than an enhancement. I suspect the filmmakers, Paul and director James Bamford (Air Force One Down), aimed to shorten the running time without losing any footage.

In this film filled with disappointments, the most disheartening aspect is the uninspired action sequences. These scenes lack originality and are barely passable. It doesn’t help that the same fight scene keeps recurring, offering no variation or uniqueness. This repetition mirrors Ryder’s sense of déjà vu from one historical setting to another. Unfortunately, for viewers, this monotony becomes tedious and boring. To put it simply, the action sequences fail to serve as the usual redeeming factor in such movies.

It’s important to invest in costumes that fit the character for the story to make sense. The wigs worn by Voight and Csokas in this production seem like they were salvaged from a local theater’s trash bin, which makes it challenging to take the scenes seriously. It appears as if Paul and Bamford didn’t notice how their cast looked absurd.
In other words, while you can cut costs in many areas, your characters need to look believable for the part or else the entire narrative falls apart. This film seems to struggle with that issue, making it hard to take the scenes in Rome seriously. I’d recommend watching Aki Kaurismäki’s film, The Man Without a Past, instead. That one is meant to be funny and worth your time.

The movie titled “Man with No Past” is a creation by SP Media Group, set to release digitally and on demand on January 14th via Republic Pictures. You can rent or purchase it on common digital platforms like YouTube, Google Play, or Apple TV using the provided link.

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2025-01-15 01:35