Mutiny – Movie Reviews by Ry!
Mutiny – Vengeance on the High Seas: I am Cole Reed
Upon the surface of normality, there is a sense of feeling that thought of, been there / done that. That trivial sense of redundancy can come across as stale, but there is satisfaction in simple enjoyment. For film, tackling the same discourse can be a mixed bag, but it can still be a fun escape for the action genre. In this review, I look at the latest action film to hit the big screen. From a standard premise, we embark on a journey of mystery and vengeance. For all its standard decorum, Mutiny is a fun tale of action and adrenaline on the high seas.
When tragedy breeds vengeance, one man must discover the truth on a shipping tanker at sea. For many, an action film is one where you get a general sense of what is expected. From car chases to the over-the-top like moments, the ravishing delight of the genre has a lasting appeal. Even if the story feels lethargic within overused tropes, the fondness for the escape endures. With this latest action film, it doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but does enough with the typical to stand out (a bit). The story begins with a general setup of characters and situations. Within that setup, we meet our lead character, Cole Reed (Jason Statham). He is a former police officer turned bodyguard, hired by the KMG shipping company to protect the CEO. After scenes of expositional dialogue, we dive into the crux of the film: A mysterious entity wants to stop the sale of KMG. This leads to convenient plotting, where Reed is framed for the murder of the CEO. After a quick action sequence, he heads undercover to find out the truth, leading him to board a KMG shipping container. Once the film moves to the ship location, new characters are introduced (you can view the list at the film’s IMDb page – link), setting up a second act that mixes the mystery with action. Here, the film moves along a linear directive that never strays from its own foundational elements. You have some one-to-one combat scenes and grounded conversations, but nothing moves beyond the standard flare of the genre. This provides a place where the obvious stands out while dancing within its own situational sandbox. The lack of depth to the mystery, common villain archetypes and expositional dumps might cause some lack thereof appeal, but the filmmakers recognize what this is and builds off what grips fans to this genre; subtle brutality and claustrophobic atmosphere. Staying on the course is trivial, but within that … it provides a simple escape of a popcorn flick.
As the truth is slowly revealed by Reed, the ‘stay the course’ directive provides a raw lens at what is at stake. The circumstantial evidence might be typical, but it plays with certain topical elements that grip you (to a certain degree). After more expositional dialogue, Reed learns he is against the clock at what he has discovered (on the ship). This heavy-handed revelation leads to a third act of predictable setups and a final confrontational climax. Mutiny is no reinvention of the genre, but it simply just delivers fun. IF you are a fan of action films, this is one for you. This is a fun popcorn flick, but one at the right price.
Full Score – 3 out of 5 (Theater Discount)