Bullet to the Head *** (2012, Sylvester Stallone) – Movie Review

Sylvester Stallone returns to his roots as an iconic action star to play Jimmy Bobo, a jaded New Orleans hitman who reluctantly teams up with a Washington DC police detective (Sung Kang) to bring down the killers of their respective partners.

Thoroughly reprehensible but totally and richly enjoyable, it’s an exciting old-style buddy-buddy action thriller enthusiastically, even stylishly filmed by a one-time master (the 71-year-old Walter Hill, after a decade away from the big screen). Basically a Western in disguise, Sly’s film is even more gung ho and let’s just put a bullet in anyone’s head than Arnie’s The Last Stand. It’s advertised as full of non-stop explosive action, thrilling fight scenes and classic one-liners – and it certainly does exactly what it says on the tin.

Based on French author Alexis (‘Matz’) Nolan’s acclaimed and popular graphic novel, it’s set in some weird parallel universe to real life, where guns and killing are essential and frequent – and of course ‘fun’. Walter Hill (The Driver, 48HRS) helpfully explains that away: ‘Every film I’ve done’s a Western, a stripped-down moral universe beyond the normal avenues of social control and alleviation of the problem, even in contemporary stories.’

You could say that from the viewpoint of cinema’s possible influence on real-life violence, it’s a pity that Bullet to the Head happens to be staged in the contentious trouble spot of today’s America. But then, (1) everybody involved in this movie world has chosen to be part of it, is corrupt and deserves to die sooner or later, (2) innocent bystanders like you and me don’t get killed, (3) nobody actually believes old Sly could actually do all this stuff anyway, and, (4) again, it’s all just a bunch of actors playing and it’s only a movie.

That bunch of actors is particularly talented and effective here, by the way. Stallone moves pretty well for an old guy and clearly relishes all those classic one-liners the script chucks in his direction. Man mountain Jason Momoa makes a brilliantly terrifying and weirdly charismatic villain for Sly to come against, a sadistic ex-Special Forces mercenary who’ll stop at nothing. You just know they’re going to share the final showdown – and they do, in an impressive rumble with huge axes!

Sara Shahi nails the part of Sly’s tough tattoo artist daughter, Sung Kang keeps it reined nice in tight as the cop Sly takes on a learning curve, Christian Slater does an all-too-brief sketch in sweaty, slimy villainy, and Jon Seda is so right as Sly’s hitman partner you’re upset when he bites the dust.

And the folks behind the cameras are just as talented, producer Joel Silver, Italian writer Alessandro Camon (The Messenger), Brit production designer Toby Corbett and director of photography Lloyd Ahern. If you assemble the right talent, the movie shouldn’t go far wrong – well that’s the idea anyway, and it certainly works here under canny old Walter Hill’s beady eye.

But let’s not get in too deep, let’s just put brain in neutral, the throttle in top gear and sit back and enjoy the ride. I’m looking forward to Bullet to the Head 2.

(C) Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Film Review 1177

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more film reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/