THE PRINCE

US, 2014, 93 minutes, Colour.
Jason Patric, Jessica Lowndes, Gia Mantegna, Bruce Willis, Rain/ Jung Ji Hoon, John Cusack, 50 Cent Jackson, Jonathon Schaech.
Directed by Brian A.Miller.

The Prince seems an overdone title for this gangster thriller.

The audience is immersed in the gangster world, first seeing Omar, Bruce Willis, the gangster chief, suffering the death of his wife and child in a car bombing, swearing revenge on the perpetrator. The perpetrator is Paul, Jason Patric, seen as a mechanic, 20 years later, anonymous and caring for his daughter who is at college.

The main action of the film takes place over a couple of days, Paul concerned about his daughter, trying to track her down, meeting one of her friends, Angela, Jessica Lowndes, who accompanies him on his search, tracking down drug dealers, exercising a kind of violence that alarms Angela.

His back story is revealed, a man who could shoot without mercy, his days on the street, the army, with the gangs, his expertise, his partnership with Sam, John Cusack. His lead to a dealer called The Pharmacy, 50 Cents Jackson, and rescuing his daughter, taking refuge with Sam, but building up to a confrontation with Omar and his men, especially his Asian sidekick, completely ruthless, shooting at whim and will, played by martial arts expert Rain.

The film is constant on action, an extraordinary number of deaths, eliminating a lot of the thugs who act as security and protection for gangster chiefs.

The film has very strong cast in its leads, making it, perhaps, a little more significant than it might have been.

1. Gangster drama, the 1990s, 20 years afterwards? Revenge? Brutality?

2. New Orleans, the atmosphere, in the past, the present, towns in Mississippi? The musical score?

3. Locations: the garage, apartments, New Orleans, grandiose buildings, clubs, drug houses, the streets?

4. Introduction, the flashbacks, Omar, crime lord, farewell to his wife and daughter, the explosion, seeing Paul? His anguish? Promise of revenge?

5. Introduction to Paul, ordinary, his work as a mechanic, as a father, restricting his daughter, studies, the talk on the Skype screen? The phone calls, the strange man answering?

6. Flying to search for her, going to her apartment, and her not being there, the photo with Angela, the name of the club? His searching for Angela, the offhand response? Her wanting something to eat, their talk, her hostility? Criticising him as a restricting father, the rebellion?

7. Information, going to see Ted, the drug supplier? The confrontation, his denials? His uncle, remembering the past, the story of Paul and his shooting so many, not shooting the uncle – and saying that he ran out of ammunition?

8. The fights, Paul being tough, defeating the attackers? Angela and her puzzle? The car chase?

9. Paul, the title, his back story, in the streets, the army, his skill in gaining work, Sam and the partnership, the clashes with Omar? The bomb killing the wife and daughter – the intent for Omar himself? Paul and his escape, disappearance, anonymity for 20 years, not wanting to go to the police?

10. Information about The Pharmacy, going to the drug house, getting in, tough, the women? Finding his daughter, shooting The Pharmacy, so many killings in the drug house? The escape?

11. Sam, different paths, and his prosperity, the house and his men? The reunion, his help, the memories? Paul and his return, the shootouts in Sam’s place?

12. Angela, initially aloof, travelling, involved, the dangers, her helping?

13. Paul going to see his old friend, dead, his son, suspicious, the shotgun, the bag that he had been holding, the ammunition?

14. Omar, his success, his henchmen? The deadly assistant, no scruples in shooting, fighting with Paul? The car chase, the pursuers, Paul killing them,
the henchmen and shooting the messenger, ruthless?

15. Omar and his place, lavish, vengeance, his headquarters, Paul coming in, killing all the guards, the fight with the henchman, his death? Omar holding his daughter, Beth knocking him, Paul shooting him?

16. The success of the film as a thriller, as a presentation of gangster types, immersing the audience in this kind of world?