As a seasoned cinephile with over three decades of film-watching under my belt, I must say that Jason Statham is undoubtedly one of the action genre’s reigning kings. From his humble beginnings in the UK to his current status as a Hollywood heavyweight, he’s given us countless thrilling performances that have kept us on the edge of our seats. However, there are two films in his impressive resume that I just can’t seem to shake off – “Death Race” and “Revolver.
Jason Statham is certainly one of the most acclaimed action heroes on the big screen, with his breakout role in Guy Ritchie’s 1998 black comedy “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.” Since then, he has solidified his status as a household name within the high-octane genre. Known for playing charismatic, collected, and hard-as-nails characters, Statham has proven himself to be one of Tinseltown’s most reliable leading men, with his action-packed films earning over $1.5 billion at the box office while simultaneously cultivating a dedicated fan base.
Throughout his illustrious film career, Jason Statham has graced numerous high-budget action spectacles, featuring in hits like the Transporter trilogy, The Mechanic, The Expendables, and the enduring Fast & Furious series (to mention a few). Although he’s a significant draw at the box office, the charismatic actor has also been involved in some films that received unfavorable critical reviews (despite audience enthusiasm). Notably, esteemed film critic Roger Ebert singled out two of Statham’s productions as among the worst action movies ever made: Death Race and Revolver. Let’s delve into why these films earned the disapproval of the late, highly respected critic Ebert.
Statham’s Pedal to the Metal Action Thriller
In Paul W.S. Anderson’s pulse-pounding dystopian action-thriller titled Death Race, the story unfolds within the deadliest and most ruthless private prison of the nation. This is a time when the government has disintegrated, leaving behind a lawless landscape.
A reboot of the 1975 movie “Death Race 2000,” starring David Carradine, showcased other talented actors like Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane, and Joan Allen. Despite these notable performances, the film received harsh criticisms from critics, with Roger Ebert being particularly scathing in his review, awarding it only half a star out of four. He also felt that the talented actress Joan Allen was wasted as the warden, despite her delivering her scenes with a chilling venom.
It appears that Ebert believed Anderson prioritized style over substance in the thrilling remake, focusing excessively on violence and car chases while complicating the storyline. Ebert’s disdain for “Death Race” was shared by other critics who found it devoid of depth and originality. In his review, he bluntly described the excessive film as an “assault on all senses, including common,” suggesting a negative viewing experience. Rent/Buy on Apple TV+.
Ritchie & Statham Join Forces Once Again
In the gritty action-thriller Revolver, Jason Statham teamed up with director Guy Ritchie again. This time, Statham played the infamous gangster and gambler Jake Green, who had been released from prison after serving time for a crime he didn’t commit. With vengeance and money on his mind, Green aimed to take down casino owner and crime boss Dorothy Macha (Ray Liotta). However, Green’s plans were thrown off course when he learned he only had a few days left to live. This forced him to use cunning and strategy to execute his revenge swiftly.
The action-thriller “Revolver” fell short of expectations, failing to match the success of previous Ritchie/Statham collaborations. It received a dismal 13% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a mediocre 56% score on Popcornmeter. Critics deemed it overly complex and pretentious, with Ebert awarding just half a star out of four, labeling the movie as “a film that violently struggles against its own structure in an attempt to destroy itself against the silver screen.
Ebert felt that the plot was a jumbled mess that tried too hard to serve up a satisfying mystery and instead relied heavily on nonsensical flashbacks and flashforwards while failing to deliver any genuine thrills. He went so far as to write that Revolver actually angered him and that it progressively lost its purpose with each passing scene, while also expressing how the acting was far better than the thriller deserved. The revered critic was thoroughly unimpressed by Ritchie’s ridiculous vision for the movie, bitingly stating that Revolver was “designed to punish the audience for buying tickets.” Rent/Buy on Apple TV+.
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2024-11-21 03:31