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Amazon.co.uk Review
Marking the action film debut of MMA star Gina Carano, Haywire is an utterly relentless piece of cinema. It's from director Steven Soderbergh, himself better known for films such as Traffic and Contagion over straight-out action movies. That does mean, though, that he's comfortable finding his own way through the genre, and he does so with considerable style. Many of the trappings of the modern action movie are avoided as a result.
Carano plays a black ops specialist, who inevitably ends up being betrayed, and finds herself on the run from a cast of surprisingly high profile actors. Chief amongst them? Michael Douglas. But Haywire also finds room in its ranks for Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor and many others. Some appear fleetingly, others for longer, but there's a sense that you never quite know who's going to appear next.
Carano's never going to win acting awards, but her genuine MMA skill lends the film real authenticity to its action sequences. Bluntly, this is one action lead who you genuinely believe could do you some damage. The fast moving visuals keep pace with her, and the film, save for a stutter as it approaches the end, exceeds expectations. The DVD itself has a smattering of interesting extra features, but it's the rewatchable nature of the main feature that gives the very best value for money here. More action roles for Carano would be welcome, too. --Jon Foster
DVD Description
Stephen Soderbergh directs an all star cast in action thriller Haywire, including mixed martial arts supremo Gina Carano as Mallory Kane, a highly-trained black ops specialist, contracted for hazardous covert missions by the US Government. When her paymaster’s point-man (Ewan McGregor) teams her with fellow agent (Channing Tatum) to extract a Chinese journalist held hostage in a Barcelona safe house, the mission swiftly unravels and she barely escapes with her life. During her next assignment in Dublin, with Irish assassin Paul (Michael Fassbender) Mallory is violently betrayed and pursued across the city by the local police and assorted ruthless hitmen.
Now the target of an international manhunt, spearheaded by the CIA official who hired her (Michael Douglas), Mallory realises she can trust no one and is forced to flee across the US from upstate New York to the New Mexico desert. There, she seeks refuge in the home of her ex-soldier father (Bill Paxton), but danger is not far behind her. As she confronts her heavily-armed pursuers, she begins to understand the cause of her betrayal, and the part played by a shadowy Spanish official (Antonio Banderas). Battling with her superiors to uncover the truth behind their deception, she sets out to exact revenge on those that want her dead.
Now the target of an international manhunt, spearheaded by the CIA official who hired her (Michael Douglas), Mallory realises she can trust no one and is forced to flee across the US from upstate New York to the New Mexico desert. There, she seeks refuge in the home of her ex-soldier father (Bill Paxton), but danger is not far behind her. As she confronts her heavily-armed pursuers, she begins to understand the cause of her betrayal, and the part played by a shadowy Spanish official (Antonio Banderas). Battling with her superiors to uncover the truth behind their deception, she sets out to exact revenge on those that want her dead.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Gina Carano makes her bid for stardom under the watchful eye of director Steven Soderbergh and with a supporting cast full of Hollywood A-listers in this fast moving actioner.
In her first lead role mixed martial artist Carano gets to showcase her incredible fighting skills alongside acting talent that is certainly reasonable; albeit unlikely to trouble the Bafta voting panel. With the first fight scene arriving barely two minutes in, the story is revealed through a narrative flashback. In truth the plot is nothing special and could have been lifted from an average Van Damme or Seagal film although neither of those veterans have ever worked with so talented a cast or director. The plot is secondary though and merely serves as a vehicle to showcase Carano's talents and as such it does its job well. Leading men Tatum, McGregor and Fassbender get to go one-on-one with Carano while Douglas and Banderas make the most of cameo roles.
The film is slightly different from most action movies, rather than quick edits Soderbergh leaves the camera on a single view longer than most directors and sometimes we see sections of fights as though viewing from afar with the volume turned down. Despite the unusual touches this is a good if not great movie and I hope the so-so box office doesn't mean this is a one off for Carano. She makes a great leading lady and I hope to see her kicking ass on screen again in the near future.
In her first lead role mixed martial artist Carano gets to showcase her incredible fighting skills alongside acting talent that is certainly reasonable; albeit unlikely to trouble the Bafta voting panel. With the first fight scene arriving barely two minutes in, the story is revealed through a narrative flashback. In truth the plot is nothing special and could have been lifted from an average Van Damme or Seagal film although neither of those veterans have ever worked with so talented a cast or director. The plot is secondary though and merely serves as a vehicle to showcase Carano's talents and as such it does its job well. Leading men Tatum, McGregor and Fassbender get to go one-on-one with Carano while Douglas and Banderas make the most of cameo roles.
The film is slightly different from most action movies, rather than quick edits Soderbergh leaves the camera on a single view longer than most directors and sometimes we see sections of fights as though viewing from afar with the volume turned down. Despite the unusual touches this is a good if not great movie and I hope the so-so box office doesn't mean this is a one off for Carano. She makes a great leading lady and I hope to see her kicking ass on screen again in the near future.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
OK, I'm writing this simply because I cannot for the life of me see why this has so many 1 star reviews. This was a really nice surprise to watch. She's real, totally believable & kicks ass with the best of them. Also, the supporting cast are excellent. OK, so it's a little bit like Oceans 12 via a very watered down Bourne, but that's not a bad thing. People seem to forget that Male/female roles in these kind of films simply aren't interchangeable, I mean look at the horror that was SALT! You have to adjust things to suit a female lead & in this case it's worked well.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I purchased this DVD recently which is the lowest price anywhere and comes with a nicely designed sleeve making an ideal gift!
This film brings MMA superstar Gina Carano to the screen! Now, the first I heard of this film was as a trailer before seeing another movie at the cinema. What attracted me was the beauty of the female and the cast. Before seeing this trailer I had never heard of Gina Carano. YouTube though shows her in all her splendid glory of what she is known to by her many fans: An MMA Fighter. Supporting Muay Thai and other skills she has the looks of a Supermodel and the knockout of a heavyweight!
The film itself is a little strange in that there is very little dialogue and a number of fight scenes in what makes a basic revenge story. It is ok as a one time watch and has an amazing cast of actors such as Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, Channing Tatum and Ewan McGregor. The fight scenes are very convincing as there is no background music to them and you can 'feel' every punch and kick that lands with a realistic 'thump'. This is what Gina Carano does best and what makes the film work!
My favourite scene, the climax of the hotel room fight where the contents is trashed, Gina gets this guy in a head lock between her legs and, grabs his hair and forces his head down further into the lock and towards her crotch. It's an attempt at eroticism with what looks alot like forced oral sex - but it works!
This film brings MMA superstar Gina Carano to the screen! Now, the first I heard of this film was as a trailer before seeing another movie at the cinema. What attracted me was the beauty of the female and the cast. Before seeing this trailer I had never heard of Gina Carano. YouTube though shows her in all her splendid glory of what she is known to by her many fans: An MMA Fighter. Supporting Muay Thai and other skills she has the looks of a Supermodel and the knockout of a heavyweight!
The film itself is a little strange in that there is very little dialogue and a number of fight scenes in what makes a basic revenge story. It is ok as a one time watch and has an amazing cast of actors such as Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, Channing Tatum and Ewan McGregor. The fight scenes are very convincing as there is no background music to them and you can 'feel' every punch and kick that lands with a realistic 'thump'. This is what Gina Carano does best and what makes the film work!
My favourite scene, the climax of the hotel room fight where the contents is trashed, Gina gets this guy in a head lock between her legs and, grabs his hair and forces his head down further into the lock and towards her crotch. It's an attempt at eroticism with what looks alot like forced oral sex - but it works!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Tedius, disjointed, and badly acted vengeance movie
This movie was a dreadful start to 2012. Supposedly a launching platform for Carano's acting career Carano, McGregor, and supporting actors are awful (Carano's acting was bad... Read more
Published 1 day ago by P. Gan
Sweet lullaby
Avoid this film like its got Acne...the dull mundane jazz music playing through the whole film left you falling asleep. Read more
Published 2 days ago by benny1
What the Hell!
15 minutes this lasted in my Blu Ray player, what a load of rubbish.
From what was a memorable opening scene with what sounded like a cool score, i waited with baited... Read more
From what was a memorable opening scene with what sounded like a cool score, i waited with baited... Read more
Published 3 days ago by Billy Bob
average
not brilliant not bad. could have done better with the storyline. the cast were impressive but the acting was poof. gina did her best but the whole film was just too average.
Published 3 days ago by Galaxy
Good fun but very familliar
Steven Soderbergh has directed some great films and is normally one of my favourite directors,one of those whose work i always look forward too. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Mr. R. W. Graham
Not Soderbergh's best
Think "Salt", but shot in a convoluted art-house manner and you have "Haywire".
Steven Soderbergh puts together a great ensemble cast, but most are simply wasted in... Read more
Steven Soderbergh puts together a great ensemble cast, but most are simply wasted in... Read more
Published 6 days ago by Mr. B. J. Roberts
"..BRILLIANT ACTION THRILLER.."
This is a very awesome and interesting thriller with a cool story with plenty of action and twists in the plot as it unfolds, there has been allot of female assassin type bond... Read more
Published 7 days ago by S. Drury
One star is one too many!!
I just cannot express enough how much you should not watch this film.
By the time the plot unfolded we were all beyond caring. Read more
By the time the plot unfolded we were all beyond caring. Read more
Published 8 days ago by D. Mortimer
Agood action film, worth seeing.
Firstly i enjoyed this film even though some of the reviews have slated this film.
I have given it 4 stars as a action film. Read more
I have given it 4 stars as a action film. Read more
Published 9 days ago by keith01
Nothing special
I had high hopes for this movie, but left he cinema disappointed.
It's not awful, it's just not that great - and it should have been given who the directed and starred... Read more
It's not awful, it's just not that great - and it should have been given who the directed and starred... Read more
Published 10 days ago by T. Wolfendale
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