Certified Hard Girl Gina Carano shows us that she means business in Steve Soderbergh’s latest outing, Haywire. Here is Scott’s review
TITLE – HAYWIRE YEAR – 2011 DIRECTOR – STEVEN SODERBERGH CAST – GINA CARANO, EWAN MCGREGOR, MICHAEL FASSBENDER, MICHAEL DOUGLAS WRITERS – LEM DOBBS
Now I am not sure that Gina Carano has a vast career ahead of her as a high browed thespian, accepting awards for her dramatic prowess, but oh my days can she kick butt!! She proves this and then some in Steven Soderbergh’s high octane action thriller, Haywire.
The story penned by the writer behind The Limey, Lem Dobbs, is a highly paced and lean story full of action sequences and dark intentions. Most of these are directed at Gina Carano’s character Mallory Kane. She is a gun-for-hire operative used for hush-hush government ops.
The film starts with Kane as a fugitive, on the run from her employers after an operation goes wrong. In Barcelona she rescues a hostage and stumbled into so very dirty business within her own organization. Now she must track down her boss and try to uncover exactly what went down in Barcelona.
The story of HAYWIRE is not trying to break any new ground. It is a simple maths equation of trying to solve what X is by using the factors that are there for us all to see. Where the film works though is that Soderburgh is intent of moving us along at a very fast pace and from a very restrictive point of view. We learn of ever deceit as Kane does, every twist and turn is fed to us in a very careful manner.
Carano is the strong silent type. She was hand-picked for the role by Soderburgh because of her physical power and fighting skills. She is a MMA legend and she certainly knows her stuff. She struck me as a bit of a Jason Statham with boobs in her performance… Which for me was a good thing. She takes on opponent after opponent, she takes no prisoners, she asks no questions.
The amount of talent she takes on is impressive too, Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor as well as numerous nameless soldiers. She can dress up and look glamorous and sexy but she looks most comfortable in a fight banging someones head through a wall!
Now I am not trying to say this movie is the best film this year. It never really challenges you to think. But my word is it entertaining. There are many moments through the film that make you say … ‘WHAT?? Did she just? Oh my!!’.
Soderbegh keeps it simple. He sets up a number of set pieces and impressive camera runs which will leave you breathless. The actual explanation of the plot is slightly beside the point – we know who the heroine is, we know she is in trouble, and it keeps us looking over her shoulder while she tries to figure a way out of it all.
In many ways HAYWIRE reminds me of an old 70s action movie, wasting little time to explain itself, and just getting on with it with a pumping funk soundtrack. As a side note if I were Carano’s other half I would NOT dare to leave the toilet seat up!
FRC Rating
HAYWIRE IS RELEASED NATIONALLY IN UK ON 18TH JANUARY 2012
Have you seen this film? Do you agree with me? Or did you not enjoy it as much? Comment below…
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36 comments
January 18, 2012 at 2:32 pm (UTC 0)
Fine review, Scott. I’m looking forward to this one. Thanks.
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January 19, 2012 at 9:16 am (UTC 0)
Thanks Matey, I hope you get as much from the film as I do!
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January 18, 2012 at 2:40 pm (UTC 0)
Excellent review Scott. You pretty much captured my feeling about Haywire. I do hope Gina does go on to pursue an action movie career. She has a nice onscreen presence and I can see her carrying even more challenging roles as she gains experience and works with decent directors.
You were wrong about one thing. You said she didn’t ask questions. She did ask questions but once she got the answers it was “Game Over”. Ha.
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January 19, 2012 at 9:16 am (UTC 0)
Thanks FS.
You are right she does ask questions, but she definitely takes no prisoners!!
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January 18, 2012 at 4:51 pm (UTC 0)
Good work! A great score for it too!
Might try to see this Friday afternoon
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January 19, 2012 at 9:18 am (UTC 0)
Thanks Mike. I hope you enjoy it. But we often disagree about films!
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January 18, 2012 at 6:42 pm (UTC 0)
Great review Scott.
I will make sure to see it when it’s here
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January 19, 2012 at 9:18 am (UTC 0)
Thanks for commenting Novia! I hope you enjoy it when you do
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January 18, 2012 at 6:43 pm (UTC 0)
I’m looking forward to seeing this, it’s got Ewan McGreggor in it so it’s a winner for me
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January 19, 2012 at 9:19 am (UTC 0)
HAHAH I hope you can cope with him fighting with a girl?
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January 18, 2012 at 10:24 pm (UTC 0)
Somehow I’m not surprised you like this one matey, I think tons of guys will um, appreciate miss Carano
The clips I saw at Comic Con were brutal, you don’t wanna mess w/ this girl (poor Fassbender!). I might rent this one, not that interested to see it on the big screen.
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January 19, 2012 at 9:20 am (UTC 0)
HEHE She is very easy on the eye, and demands attention as she is so hard….
Yes I have a new girlfriend
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January 18, 2012 at 10:56 pm (UTC 0)
you had me at “Limey”
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January 19, 2012 at 9:22 am (UTC 0)
HEHE Cool!! I am glad, thanks matey for the comment
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January 18, 2012 at 11:31 pm (UTC 0)
Nice review Scott, I might check it out in theater this weekend. Gino is super hot and she looks like she can whoop my butt and many other dudes too, so she’s definitely my kind of girl. Ha ha.
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January 19, 2012 at 9:23 am (UTC 0)
HAHA Mine too!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
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January 18, 2012 at 11:36 pm (UTC 0)
Also, if they ever decides to make another La Femme Nikita film, Gina should be the new Nikita. The new Nikita TV show is okay but I’m having a hard time believing that Maggie Q, who’s 5’5 and about 90lbs can beat up guys who are 6ft tall and about 230lbs.
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January 19, 2012 at 9:24 am (UTC 0)
I only watched a couple of episodes of that show matey, but I agree with you while Maggie Q is nice to look at she is so unbelievable in the role…
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January 19, 2012 at 2:00 am (UTC 0)
Wow, could there actually be a good movie released this month?? This sounds like a fun one, looking forward to seeing it myself. Thanks for your review, Scott!
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January 19, 2012 at 9:25 am (UTC 0)
HAHA I am hoping you like the styling of it as much as I did Eric. It is very different
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January 19, 2012 at 6:51 am (UTC 0)
I don’t like the plot, so that makes me a little bit skeptical, but it’s great to hear the positive thoughts Scott, especially for a movie in January! As a part of my New Year’s resolution to see more movies in theaters, i’ll catch a viewing of this in a week or two.
Good work Scott!
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January 19, 2012 at 9:26 am (UTC 0)
I hope you see this and GET IT as much as I did Matt.
Thanks as always for the comment my friend!!
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January 19, 2012 at 8:30 am (UTC 0)
They didn’t screen this film for us. It’s a shame – sounds great.
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January 19, 2012 at 9:26 am (UTC 0)
Well I am sure you will catch up with it soon matey!!
Thanks for popping in!
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January 19, 2012 at 8:48 am (UTC 0)
Gutted I missed out on tickets for this one now. I’m not a huge fan of Soderbergh but this sounds like it would be right up my street!
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January 19, 2012 at 9:28 am (UTC 0)
It is very different to most other action movies about at the moment, plus it is miles away from Contagion, apart form the driving soundtrack holding our hand through the film.
I hope you enjoy it Tom
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January 19, 2012 at 1:45 pm (UTC 0)
I’m still not sure why would great actors like Ewan and Fass My Benders accept a role in such a film? I’ve never understood why fanboys like Soderbergh.
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January 20, 2012 at 11:45 am (UTC 0)
hehe I guess you won’t be seeing this anytime soon then Dezzy?
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January 19, 2012 at 7:02 pm (UTC 0)
I saw this last night and I really, really enjoyed it. I want Mallory to be my friend!
I’m going to write my review this weekend and I’ll give it 4 stars as well. It was fast-paced, the fight scenes were excellent and I Carano suited the role perfectly. This was her debut role and she played it very well: there’s not a lot of emotion involved with the role, just a hell of a lot of fighting!
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January 20, 2012 at 11:46 am (UTC 0)
Brilliant!! I am so happy you enjoyed it Claire!! I was worried if I am honest.
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January 19, 2012 at 10:56 pm (UTC 0)
Nice. Sounds like a kickass movie to keep an eye on. I don’t really expect much more from it!
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January 20, 2012 at 11:46 am (UTC 0)
I think that is exactly how you need to look at it Castor
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January 20, 2012 at 8:16 am (UTC 0)
Knowing our similar taste in movies I am very much looking forward to seeing this one. It’s not out yet over here, but got it marked down!
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January 20, 2012 at 11:47 am (UTC 0)
I look forward to hearing your thoughts. I hope you like it ads i did matey
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January 20, 2012 at 12:44 pm (UTC 0)
Ho Scott!
I see that you and I were of the same minds with this one.
I frankly am surprised that I liked it as much as I did. A lot probably has to do with Soderbergh’s established goodwill too.
Y’all got this on the 18th I see; it just opened today in the States. Funny how that stuff works.
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January 21, 2012 at 10:17 pm (UTC 0)
This sounds like it could be fun. Will check it out when i can
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