Bullet to the Head (2012) Review:

Action films have come a long way from what they used to be. Violence would only contain so much graphic details and the length at which action scenes would be were for shorter periods. This all changed though when the 1980s rolled around and the opposite happened. The actors who in part influenced this were people like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Coinciding with them were their directors for their various films. What's interesting is when those traits are attempted to be replicated in films nowadays. Sometimes, what worked in the past doesn't produce the same result later on which is more than likely what happened with this film. Originally being headed by Wayne Kramer, the story and direction was intended to be darker. But due to disagreements between him and Stallone, it can be assumed the type of film this was supposed to be changed.

Sarah Shahi & Sylvester Stallone

The story is about hitman James Bonomo (Sylvester Stallone) and detective Taylor Kwon (Sung Kang) being forced together to take out a common enemy. The reason for this is both their partners were killed by the same person. That person is Robert Morel (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) a wealthy business man who is in cahoots with Marcus Baptiste (Christian Slater). The person doing the killing is Keegan (Jason Momoa). That's really all that this film is, one big revenge action film with nothing deeper than that. The script was written and adapted by Alessandro Camon (The Messenger (2009)) from a graphic novel by Alexis Nolent and Colin Wilson. That is it though, aside from director Walter Hill taking over instead of Wayne Kramer. Realistically, this film is just another call back to buddy cop films of the 1980s and nothing more.

When it comes to plot, there isn't much for the audience to get behind. Stallone plays his usual grizzled self and Kang plays the inexperienced foil to that of Stallone. Scene after scene the actors go around interrogating and killing and the cycle continues. It's not a bad film if a viewer is into that, but it offers nothing new. The narrative is as generic as it comes. The way Jimmy Bobo and Taylor Kwon are connected to a single person and how that person is connected to others is beyond bland. All the supporting characters are cardboard cutouts of some high powered authority who has "all kinds" of connections. Christian Slater and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje are just there to look big, but mostly they amount to very little. It's rather unfortunate.

The other supporting cast members try too, but again are not that intriguing. Marcus Lyle Brown plays Kwon's backup and Sarah Shahi plays Lisa, Jimmy Bobo's daughter, a tattoo artist. Her history is explained a little, but not given much else. However even with all these critiques that doesn't the mean the actors don't have chemistry. Stallone and Kang work well off each other. Shahi is one tough actress and the person who looked like he had the most fun was Jason Momoa as Keegan. While this was before his Arthur Curry / Aquaman days, Momoa was known for other roles like in HBO's Game of Thrones. For what it's worth though, the action in this film is entertaining. Stallone still has the moves as well as Kang, Momoa and Shahi.

"Take it easy,.....I didn't know you were Stallone's daughter"

Being that Walter Hill began his career with action films like 48 Hrs. (1982) and later on like Undisputed (2002), it's no surprise that the action is a strong component to this feature. The cinematography was taken care of by Lloyd Ahern II who also worked on Last Man Standing (1996), the god awful Turbulence (1997) and also Undisputed (2002). Here, Ahern's camerawork is nice and steady though and works well with the action. More surprisingly was the film score composed by Steve Mazzaro. Being that this was his first feature film, the sound is unlike the usual action cues. Since this takes place down south, Mazzaro includes lots of guitar and harmonica which suits the setting. While he has composed additional music for other composers, his first outing here is a nice welcome.

Unfortunately, this is  a bare bones action film that doesn't require much to keep the brain engaged. Something more could have been done, but instead it's just mindless fun, the actors work well and the music is nicely composed.

Points Earned --> 6:10