Top Box Office Movies

Exit Wounds (2001) Warner Bros.
1 hr. 41 mins.
Starring: Steven Seagal, DMX, Isaiah Washington, Tom Arnold.
Directed by: Andrzej Bartkowiak

Exit Wounds

Rating:

E-MAIL GIANCARLO DE LISI

Photo: Warner Brothers

There seems to be a significant problem in a film when its' plot is unrolled comprehensively in the final half-hour. Such is the case for Steven Seagal's latest action foray ‘Exit Wounds'. Judging from Hollywood's latest fixation with hip-hop, old school action flicks featuring bass pounding soundtracks by various rap artists that have seemingly turned a profit, producer Joel Silver sticks with the same formula and reteams with ‘Romeo Must Die' Director Andrzej Bartkowiak to deliver this questionable action flick.

Upon close observation, this film could have been a lot worse. The film bases itself in a great Detroit city yet seemingly it looks a lot like Toronto. From great Canadian retail chain The Bay to giant donut chain Tim Hortons, these are just a few examples of the many slip-ups that occur in this film. The only element keeping us watching this film is to see whom Seagal will impose physical punishment upon next. In every one of his films, this one is no exception, he happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Therefore, giving him a chance to display his martial arts abilities.

There cannot be much said for this film except that it is a violent and surprisingly empty action flick. The first hour of this film introduces us to Seagal's character; Orin Boyd, a ‘balls out' cop whom after saving the Vice President in a brash manner gets reassigned to a precinct rampant with corrupt cops. Seagal's character is no different from his other characters in which Boyd uses his actions rather than words to convey his opinions and engage in countless gunfights. And when he does use words, he uses his trademark ‘I just woke up' coarse, raspy voice that makes one wonder if he can articulate at all.

Rapper DMX plays Latrell Walker; a heroin smuggling crook who has greater plans on his mind. Seemingly enough, all this takes 60 minutes to develop meanwhile leaving the audience clueless as to who is the antagonist and protagonist. Into the film's first three minutes we are exposed to an opening action sequence that displays Seagal's abilities and describes the tone of the film that director Andej Bartkowiak wants us to think. He makes it seems as if it is a simply empty, violent and formulaic action film.

Yet, in watching the film a longer period of time one can see that this film does not take itself all that seriously. The film at times, albeit through many misfired attempts, is quite ‘tongue and cheek'. The director earns my respect in terms of his ability at making us know that the violence in this film is all too surreal. The action sequences are absurd and unrealistic, and Seagal is made out to be a modern day superhero. So much so that one of his rivals even goes so far as saying that he should wear a cape when making an entrance. If one were so inclined to ask where the proof is, witness Seagal's attendance in an anger management class alongside Tom Arnold. Arnold plays a Detroit Morning Show host who aids Seagal on his quest to save the city from this band of corrupt cops.

Furthermore, the ‘tongue in cheek' evidence can clearly be seem within the film's end credits as Arnold and Anthony Anderson engage it what had to be an improvised debate set against the backdrop of Arnold's fictional morning show on topics ranging from masturbation, sex and obese women.

The film tries to be something that it is not yet does neither fail nor succeed in accomplishing exactly what it wants to set out - which is still unknown. As aforementioned, the arduous plot development is unforgivable while the exciting final half-hour barely saves this film from being a complete waste of time.

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Giancarlo De Lisi
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