PARKER
US, 2013, 118 minutes, Colour.
Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Chicklis, Nick Nolte, Clifton Collins Jr, Wendell Pierce, Bobby Cannavale, Patti Lupone, Emma Booth.
Directed by Taylor Hackford.
Parker is a criminal character created by Donald E. Westlake writing under the name of Richard Stark. The have been several films featuring Parker. This film was based on the novel, Flashfire.
The film was directed by Taylor Hackford, who for more than 30 years has directed a wide range of films with such high points as Ray. This film was not particularly successful commercially, appealing to Westlake’s fans but not generally, in some areas going straight to DVD.
However, it is a higher profile role for Jason Statham, the diving athlete from England who made an impression in gangster films in the UK and, with the help of some French-financed films, especially the Transporter series, he became something of an action icon. For more than a decade he made at least two films a year, reaching a wider public with the Expendables films.
In a first, he appears at the Ohio State fair disguised as a priest, doing some priestly work comforting a panic-stricken security guard. However tough he might be, he falls foul of the group with whom he was doing the robbery and as they try to kill him, they assume that they have. This leads, of course, to a vengeance film as he tracks down criminals with the help of his contact, played by Nick Nolte, whose daughter, Emma Booth, he is in love with. In his plans to find where the gang is holed up to prepare another heist, he encounters a real estate agent, played by Jennifer Lopez, who finds that she has bitten off more than she can chew in getting this particular job.
For those who like this kind of thriller, and who like Jason Statham, this should be a satisfyingly entertaining film.
1. The title and its focus on Parker? Action? Thriller? The world of criminals? The writings of Donald E. Westlake, the novels of Richard Stark?
2. A cross-section of the United States? Chicago, Ohio, New Orleans’, Florida? The musical score?
3. The focus on Parker, an interesting character or not? Admirable or not? His code of not robbing the poor? His code of vengeance? His vulnerability?
4. Ohio, the fair, the crowds, the big business, collecting the money?
5. Jason Statham disguised as a priest, his manner, the way that he was received with respect, with the group, the clowns and the balloons? Putting up
the cover? Going under the building, the priest at the door asking to leave his case? The robbers appearance? The panicked security officer, Parker giving him priestly reassurance and car? The robbery? The fourth man, careless, his being warned by Parker, setting the fires in the wrong place, the chaos, taking the money, the driver waiting, the escape?
6. The personalities of the group, their work together, interactions? The boss and his proposal for a new job, Parker refusing, the argument, getting the guns, firing the guns in the car, Parker diving out the car window, lying on the road, the shooter coming back to kill him? Firing the shot?
7. Parker in the ditch, his being rescued by the couple, taken to hospital, his over-rapid recovery, the old man with the machine for talking, his hold on the wardsman, taking his uniform, wheeling the old man out of the hospital, easily stealing the car, the woman with the emergency?
8. The gangster, his relationship with Parker, Claire and the relationships, love? Offering the job, making the connections? After the failure, the phone calls, giving the leads?
9. Claire, her relationship with Parker, the house under attack, her escape, Parker arranging a meeting place and safe house?
10. The lead, Parker going to the club, the band playing, the threat, holding the man down with the chair, the information about Florida?
11. Going to the passport-maker, the killers, Parker urging him to shoot them? Later the gangster turning up and killing the man?
12. Lesley, her mother, the policeman and his attraction towards her? At work, cheating with getting the notes from the rival, showing Parker around the houses, Parker and his disguise with the 10 gallon hat, the Texan? Looking at the houses, trying to find where the criminals were? Inside? Lesley, the policeman asking her questions, coming to Parker’s rescue, Parker and his being attacked, wounded, her being taken, the bluff about shooting her?
13. The leads the group, the plan, the jewellery heist, the setup, the socialites, the gang posing as movers? Parker’s arrival, the confrontation, surprise that he was alive, the shootout, his vengeance on the man who shot him?
14. The issue of money, jewels? Going back to Chicago, the fence, his controling situations, Parker shooting him?
15. Lesley, the parcel of money, her mother’s comments? The old couple thinking that Parker was an angel and the television interview?
16. A portrait of a hardened criminal with some soft spots?
