There are Consequences with a MUTINY

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Jean-Francois Richet and Lionsgate is the story of a man, loyalty, and revenge with MUTINY.

Cole Reed (Jason Statham) is a guard to wealthy businessman Taran (Jason Wong) and his son Kameron (Chaneil Kular). After celebrating the sale of his company, Reed drives Taran home. The problem is, they are ambushed, and now Reed is out for blood. He discovers that one of the hitmen looks a bit like him and works on one of Taran’s ships, the KMG. Managing to board the ship, he discovers that the police want him for the murder of his friend. While on the ship, he discovers a shipping container has human beings alive inside.

Arriving on the ship and being called for duty, Angie Ellis (Annabelle Wallis) is not happy because it means not seeing her daughter. Introducing herself to Captain Marko Madsen (Roland Moller) with an attitude. While on watch, she discovers the same container of people that Reed found. Going to the captain with the news, she soon discovers that he is keenly aware of their cargo, as is the crew. Running for her life, she finds Reed; they form a plan to help the kidnapped men, women, and children to get them away from Madsen.  

Angie makes a call to any ship close to them and is answered by the U.S. Navy’s captain (Adrian Lester), who becomes suspicious about the story the ship's captain is spewing. While Reed and Agie turn the ship inside out and upside down to keep the kidnapped people safe, they have to hurry. Coming up close is another boat that wants the human cargo. What they don’t know is that Reed is in revenge beast mode and finding those responsible for Taran, the kidnappings, and hurting Angie; well, what comes to them shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Well, let’s just say the water is going to get rougher than anyone on that ship could imagine.

Statham as Reed does what he is good at. First, the action is intense, and the fight scenes are going to have people shouting out loud. The characters he plays aren’t always very talkative, and in this film, it is true. He’s a man of few words and loads of action, showing no mercy, especially with things like a lock on a container. Don’t worry, you’ll understand when you see it. His character is ruthless, focused, and has no problem with taking the hits. I think his character sees each hit as like pouring gasoline on an already intense bonfire!

Wallis as Angie is a young mother trying to get back to her daughter. Being called into work with the threat of being fired, it doesn’t stop her from having an attitude or taking a hit herself. She is clever and strong, not showing an ounce of fear to the bad guys. Wallis gives her character sassy and intelligent, making it very plain that she is not a victim, but a fighter. Wong as Taran is the key reason for Reed’s need for vengeance. Seeing Reed as family, Taran knows everything will be taken care of, but not in the way he may have thought. Wong portrays his character as a man of deep feeling and quiet introspection. He is the calm in the madness.

Moller as Captain Marco Madsen is as cool as a cucumber at all times. Hard to rattle and even more difficult when he realizes Reed is on board. He’s like a dog with a bone, not about to give up easily. The highest compliment I can give Moller is that he reminded me of Hans Gruber from DIE HARD, but on the water. The final scene between him and Statham is epic and memorable. Well done, sir! Moller gives Kular, as son, Kameron, convincing his father to sell the business. A quiet character as well, and the final scene between Kular and Statham is chilling. Lester as the U.S. Naval captain, has strong spidey-senses and does his homework before getting involved in the phone call Angie made. I enjoy characters like that. 

Other cast include Ramon Tikaram, Arnas Fedaravicius, Lee Charles, Rumi Sutton, Ben Cartwright, Steven Blades, Simon Kluth, and Tom Christian

Lionsgate is responsible for the franchises that include THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT along with iconic and now untouchable JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000 motion pictures and television titles, you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

MUTINY is definitely an action, adventure, high body count film that starts slow to give the story a bit of context before Statham goes hog wild! As I said before, a man of few words letting his ability to kick the bad guys down speak for itself. Filming on the ship keeps the focus on the story with nothing but a smidge of outside distraction. It is a game of cat and mouse, and Statham, Wallis, and Moller play flawlessly. Once the action picks up, it is a roller coaster ride of hide and seek, but with a lot of weaponry.

The cast is small, keeping the focus on the star of the show, Statham. He is maybe one step ahead of Wallis and Moller, and I’m okay with that. Is the concept original? No. Does it feel like I experienced some easter eggs? Quite possibly. Whether they were intentional or not, this film will test your blood pressure for sure, but in the best way possible. This is a film that doesn’t ask anything of you but to get comfortable in your seat, keep the popcorn coming, cheer and shout and jaw drop at the surprises. MUTINY is a really good distraction for the hour and forty-five-minute run of the film.

In the end – there could be blood in the water!