REDEMPTION DVD (2012)

SYNOPSIS: Jason Statham stars as an ex-Special Forces officer who comes home from the Afghan war a shattered man. Broke, homeless and lost in a haze of drugs and booze, Joseph Smith attempts to piece his life back together. But while employed as a collector for a local mob boss, he quickly learns the identity of a friend's murderer and, bent on revenge, finds himself sinking deeper into a dark world of violence in this high-octane action-thriller.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Will having Joe Wright (Atonement) on board as producer and the writer of Eastern Promises, Steven Knight as director makes a difference to a Jason Statham movie?

The answer if you must know right now is a mixed bag. Opting to be more of a character study than the usual over-the-top action stuff Statham is known for; Redemption still plays out as an intriguing title for the general masses with a couple of ass-kicking scenes thrown in for good measure.    

Like the title suggests, Statham’s character, Joseph Smith is a man looking for redemption whether it’s from God, from society or the people he loved. After escaping court martial from the army, Smith becomes a homeless alcoholic man huddling in a piece of cupboard with a runaway teenage, Isabel. When he finally found solace in the home of a photographer who has left New York for the summer, Smith decides to get his act together. Finding a job as the driver and debt collector of the local Chinese mob, Smith begins a relationship with a nun, Sister Cristina (Agatha Buzek) and attempts to make up financially for his ex-wife and daughter.  

The road to redemption is never that easy and no one can live happily after without any consequences. Writer-director Knight could have easily filled his tale of Smith carrying out his bone-crunching exercises to his enemies and opponents instead he prefers his leading man to languish in brooding and deadly circumstances. His friendship with the Polish nun bizarrely soon turns into a love affair and we realised Sister Cristina has a dark secret of her own. Smith’s Chinese boss is in fact into human trafficking and drugs and his anger, PTSD condition sure had a hard time improving once he learnt that his roommate Isabel is killed by a psychotic client who has a penchant for beating up prostitutes.

This is one thoughtful title that sets it apart from the usual generic movies that the bald headed Statham frequently stars in. Given his limited acting range, he still manages to give a convincing edge to the character of Joseph Smith. Knight might be a little too ambitious with the various narrative threads especially the recurring flashbacks of Smith’s Afghanistan stint which is clumsily handled and haphazardly closing the movie with a revenge angle. In spite of the flaws and lack of fights, for a crime drama set and shot beautifully in contemporary London, Redemption is a delight. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

NIL

AUDIO/VISUAL:

While the movie is often shot in dark alleys and at night, Redemption rarely gives any visual problems. More of a dialogue based feature, the audio is clear and perfect.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee