Wrath of Man

This dark heist flick offers a very, VERY angry tough-guy protagonist driven by vengeance, gangs of exemplary thugs (Darrell D'Silva was the best!), raw shootouts and super-dark, heavyweight music that adds to the film’s gut-punching seriousness. Of course, the action is superbly directed with absorbing camerawork that is magical, even when the film is just building up to the action. The flashbacks in the first two-thirds are also pleasing, with the causes of events told in an original way through editing and the gradual revealing of the main character’s identity. If it had an even more sophisticated climax (which, as it stands, is rather “only” a well-done action scene) and settling of scores with the main villain (who, furthermore, should not have been played by the non-actor Eastwood Jr.), Wrath of Man would have been a reference work in the genre. (08.06.2021)

In the first act I had a problem with the characters, they seemed strangely out of touch with reality in terms of their behaviour, but once the narrative switches to other points of view it somehow falls into place. Wrath of Man is a masculine film, cold and without any hint of humour. If I didn't know who made it, I'd be much more likely to guess I was watching S. Craig Zahler's new movie than Guy Ritchie's. I don't usually look forward to new Jason Statham films, and I wasn't expecting anything from this one either, but it ended up being surprisingly the best action flick of the year so far. The ending at the depo reminded me of Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13, which is the best possible calling card. (26.05.2021)

It's as if, after the more or less upbeat and cheerful The Gentlemen, Guy Ritchie decided he had to set things straight somehow, and he made the darkest, meanest film of his career. In Wrath of Man, he cuts back on his trademarks of frantic editing and narration, the film doesn't rush anywhere and has time to crawl under people's skin – and make you feel quite uncomfortable. Atmospherically, it reminds us of something between S. Craig Zahler's films and 70s thrillers, and thanks to the non-chronological narrative, it manages to be a fairly B-movie story into something you can't take your eyes off. And then we have Jason Statham, who has never had a better role in his life. His uncompromising expression and Ritchie's unexpected approach to directing (that music!) actually make the film quite uncomfortable to watch in the end. You can feel the anger, rage and aggression bubbling to the surface, with both men doing their best to delay the moment when the carnage breaks out. It's almost torturous, but it works brilliantly. Ritche has made a very different film than his fans would expect him to make. This vigorous sidestep shows that he's far from showing everything he can do as a filmmaker. I'm happy for him and his new release. Very happy. (30.05.2021)

Feel my Wrath! I'm shocked what a gem Wrath of Man turned out to be. I was expecting a classic Statham action movie, but instead I got a well thought-out revenge-heist and gangster film with an atmosphere so dense, raw, and unpleasant at times that I was genuinely scared. There is less action than I expected, but considering the overall result, I forgive everything. The trailer showed maybe 10%, and I was shocked at how the movie turned out. I had no idea where it was heading. Jason Statham definitely has the best role of his career playing an angry, pissed-off boss with a cold expression craving revenge, but at the same time, he has character and doesn't kill people who are not against him. This is the dreamed badass protagonist I love, and I finally got to see him. The young Scott Eastwood impresses as well. He shows for the first time that he can act, playing a slimy, cold, and evil character flawlessly. The story is told retrospectively from multiple angles and perspectives, just the way I like it. There are a lot of tough guys who command respect, blood is not spared, neither are corpses. The final heist plan is as well-thought-out as in Money Heist, and the action-packed half-hour at the end is more than satisfying. The sound effects of the guns are stunning! (no muffled gun barrels). The whole movie is accompanied by a gripping and dark soundtrack that elevates it even higher. I must praise the realism and authenticity of the entire story. (the scene with the SWAT team, those guys commanded so much respect that I started to wish they would never come out of that car, otherwise they would take me away!). The final reckoning is among the sweetest revenge endings I've ever seen, and of course, there was one unexpected twist. A truly amazing manly feat loaded in all directions, and I'm looking forward to watching it again! I enjoyed it immensely. A contender for movie of the year! 9/10. (26.05.2021)

I've had a long-standing problem with Statham and I just don't enjoy watching him. But when I think about it, I don't think I've seen him do anything better. The superiority and smugness that characterizes perhaps every one of his roles suited me just fine this time. It was funny and tough at first, then hard and ruthless later. Good characters, atmosphere, cinematography, editing. Well, I haven't left a movie theater this impressed in a long time. Then again, I haven't left a movie theater at all in a long time. (27.07.2021)

Projects by Guy Ritchie usually stand out for their playfulness and lightness, which this time has been replaced by straightforward action full of violence, testosterone, developed musculature, and a sullen gaze à la Sylvester Stallone on the face of Jason Statham. Although he is not usually cast by directors in roles of intellectuals, here his unchanging frosty expression is a bit of a shame. The simple story about a journey to get revenge wouldn't bother me if Ritchie hadn't made it into such a popcorn flick. Supermen who knock down six opponents with six shots from dozens of feet away belong in fairy tales that I don't appreciate. Additionally, I get the impression that the team of screenwriters did not do a good job in this case, and a few times I incredulously raised my eyebrows at the strange shortcut in the plot or the behavior of the characters. However, Ritchie is too good of a director to make an outright bad film, especially since this one appeared at just the right time after the forced fasting imposed by the COVID epidemic. Within the genre, it is clearly above average, and any fan of action spectacles can confidently add a fourth star to my overall impression of 60%. (24.02.2022)

To begin with, Wrath of Man looks like a Statham classic about a dude with a clear moral compass who eliminates gangs that rob armored cars. GTA style. But I was mistaken. The tough, focused approach chosen by Richie and maintained till the very end reveals that he has grown up at last and can deal with his ego if the story needs it. No music-video type editing and, whenever there is a one-liner, then it’s sexist and homophobic, plus cruel and bloody action. The combination of Zahler’s approach mixed with a Mann’s crime movie works like a well-oiled machine. Benstead’s music amazingly highlights the unpleasant, almost chilling undertones of the whole movie. An excellent role for Eastwood. (27.05.2021)

Guy Ritchie seems to be finally maturing as a filmmaker around the age of 50 and has made a relatively restrained, down-to-earth and straightforward heist/inside job gangster film that has its feet on the ground, is still pretty cool and understandably free of the typical sharp humour. Statham without the kicks – a wonder in itself, but one that works surprisingly well, and the action overall is passable. At times it looks like Michael Mann is remaking Heat with a joint in his mouth, drinking Irish whiskey, but OK, as long as it doesn't take itself too seriously, and given that it's actually a very decently made B-movie without much ambition, it's fine. (03.06.2021)

This is what a purposeful remake should be. From the original story, which I liked, Guy Ritchie took the most important thing, added a lot of new things, and made a film that I like even more. The uncompromising dark atmosphere draws you in with the first scene and continues to roll to the sound of flawless creeping music, mixing with the roar of trucks and gunshots. Yes, since the hero is played by Jason Statham, unlike the French original, what he can do is not that surprising, but many other things and characters, including the perfect Scott Eastwood, who obviously can act when given the chance, do surprise. I probably most enjoyed the chapter Scorched Earth, in which the boss and the team followed the footsteps and which was really dense. Great job! (23.07.2021)

Guy Ritchie returned to home territory with The Gentlemen, having a bit of a second wind and showing that he has still got the chops to make those sort of blockbuster movies. So, with Wrath of Man, he has proved that he intends to continue on doing that. It is a stylish crime thriller that is a remake of the 17-year-old (and underrated) French movie Cash Truck and adds more angles, a whole lot more action, and a really powerful shot of testosterone, all set to a melodic and dark musical score. It has been a long time since I have been as impressed by the theme tune to a new movie as I was with this. Had it all been a little less predictable, I would have been more satisfied, however, thumbs up nonetheless. (08.06.2021)

The first film where I regretted not counting the lengths of the cuts. Ritchie's name appears five times in the opening credits, only to be replaced by a completely anti-Ritchie static one-shot burglary scene. And right in the middle of it, we can tune in to the film's main asset, a thing for which I have no better description than "weight." The length of the scenes, the slow camera movement, the stylistic restraint, and the excellent typology of the actors in supporting roles (McCallany, Donovan) give a certain impression that everything in the film is heavier in terms of weight than it usually is. It's as if the guns really were 4 kilos, the armored vans were 4 tons, and the 110kg guys were really falling on hard ground. At the same time, the film gradually melts away into how naturalistic it will ultimately become, with a lot of things taking place off-screen at first and then repeated from other angles later on, when we actually get closer to the acts themselves, so the film really has something of a "dramaturgy of violence" where the headshot at the end can still derail us because the film hasn't numbed us beforehand. I think I'll go all in after the second screening, after I've turned over the moments of visible digital camera (the slow-motion shot of Statham falling looks awful) and the protagonist, whose actor can't seem to make any other face than that he's just swallowing the curb. But most of all, for God's sake, everyone go to the cinema and buy a ticket to see this. Because I promise you, if something like this shows up in theaters at least two or three times a year, I'll be more forgiving of all those tendentious hurrah-movies about how a scowling strong woman (TM) wipes the floor with dumb guys. (23.07.2021)

Jason Statham is considered to be a minimalist actor. As for me, I don’t even think of him as an actor. I've only seen him make two faces: 1) stiff and expressionless, 2) furious. He went for the first one in this movie, which, surprisingly enough, worked like a charm. It’s simply a good old action movie that is not trying to pretend to be a work of art. I had a great time thanks to its atmosphere, suspense, and awesome action. (28.06.2021)

Guy Ritchie has gotten serious and brutal, paving the way for one of the most interesting films of his career to date. If last year's The Gentlemen was an honest and again celebrated "typical" Ritchie film, this year's Wrath of Man is in every way a very different example. In fact, there's quite a whiff of a better Taylor Sheridan about it, but the biggest similarity here is clearly to the poetics of S. Craig Zahler. I wouldn't have believed that such a marked departure from Ritchie's established directorial tradition could turn out this well. Wrath of Man is a neurotic, slow-moving revenge/heist thriller that pulls no punches whatsoever and Jason Statham’s acting steals the show. If Guy Ritchie has plans for similar ventures in the future (and it looks like he does), we've definitely got something to look forward to. [80%] (29.05.2021)

I have no complaints about the direction and music, both were excellent. However, the screenplay turned out much worse. I don't understand why five people were involved in it if they didn't come up with any good ideas. They had a hard time sweating out the plot, which the average intelligent viewer can easily guess after the first quarter of an hour. But I expect a bit more from a good action movie. At least a moment of surprise would have been nice, but never occurred for the duration of the movie. (55%) (12.07.2022)