My wife and I finished this one last evening, it was a slick espionage type movie with most of the trimmings. If you enjoyed the film Eagle Eye (2008) starring Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan you will probably like this one as well. I do however think the film was lacking in comparison especially with the stunts in the movie, they were pretty predictable and bland. The actors also at times seemed like they were just going through the motions of each scene and not giving it their all. But, the concept was interesting, and worthy enough to give it a watch. The ending was not anything special, and didn’t seem like it meant anything, perhaps you will have a different view after seeing it. Most of all the scenes were in a few settings and it was obvious they were watching their budget while making this film.
I did like the creativity of the blackout sequence in the hallway – where actor Shane West playing the role of Max Peterson falls down after being knocked out. The main story is Max gets a phone that continuously gives him information about what is going to happen next, where he can place bets at casinos to win money. He is a computer specialist and has extensive knowledge about programming. Each of the previous people that received a phone with instructions have been killed so, this obviously puts Max in great danger.
Edward Burns the director and actor plays the role of John Reed a former CIA man working freelance at a casino in the Czech Republic where he meets up with Shane’s character Max. Ving Rhames also works for the CIA as Agent Dave Grant in this film and questions Max trying to figure out where things are going. You will also see Russian actors Yuriy Kutsenko as the Russian General and Sergey Gubanov as Yuri Malanin in this. Martin Sheen plays Raymond Burke the operating director of the CIA. Tamara Feldman is special agent Kamila who also is an operative. You will also see veteran actor Jonathan Pryce playing the role of Mueller the casino owner. The film was directed by Greg Marcks and the screenplay and writing credits go to Michael Nitsberg, Kevin Elders with the story done by Michael Nitsberg. I think you can buy or rent this one and be mildly entertained. I would have not picked to see this in the theatre however.
