WILD CARD
US, 2015, 92 minutes, Colour.
Jason Statham, Michael Angarano, Dominik Garcia- Lorido, Hope Davis, Milo Ventimiglia, Max Casella, Stanley Tucci, Jason Alexander, Sofia Vergara, Anne Heche.
Directed by Simon West.
Jason Statham has been toplining actions shows since his performance in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998. He has often made two films per year, branching out in his participation in The Expendables series as well as the Fast and Furious franchise. He is also co-star in other features, especially with Melissa Mc Carthy and a tongue-in-cheek performance in Spy.
This film is based on the novel by William Goldman who contributed to the screenplay as he did for the original film, Heat, with Burt Reynolds, 1986.
The film focuses on a compulsive gambler,ex-special forces from England, living in Las Vegas. He is approached by a wealthy young businessman, Michael Angarano, to show him around the city and to help him play in the casinos.
This is combined with a sub-plot where a young woman, a friend of Statham’s, is brutalised by gangsters, wants revenge, asks Statham to help, but he refuses – nevertheless using contacts to find out who they were, eventually confronting them and humiliating the gangster, Milo Ventimiglia, and beating his bodyguards.
Needless to say, threats for revenge. And, needless to say, Statham prevails – but with the unexpected helping distraction from Michael Angarano who know longer feels that he is too timid and is grateful for Statham and his help.
Quite a number of good character actors turn up in supporting roles, Hope Davis working in the casino, Anne Heche in the bar, Stanley Tucci as the manager of a casino, Jason Alexander very briefly as a partner and Sofia Vergara appearing only in the opening.
1. A Jason Statham action show? His popularity over many years? British background? Athletic? A good guy – with flaws?
2. The Las Vegas setting, the glitzy casinos, interiors, gambling? The streets? The ordinary homes? The musical score?
3. From a novel by William Goldman, his career? Screenplay? Based on Burt Reynolds’ film Heat?
4. The opening, Nick Wild in the bar, listening in, becoming involved in the fight, the protagonists wanting to go to Atlantic City, persuading his girlfriend, the fight, supporting him, the knockout for Nick? The humour and irony of the later contract, the man employing him to fight lose – but pulling off his hairpiece!
5. Nick, the mystery of his background, in action organisations? His gambling impulse? Wanting to get out of Las Vegas but staying?
6. Holly, the friendship for many years, her being beaten up, left at Emergency, calling out his name, coming to him for help? His refusal? The story of her assault, his contacting his friend in the laundry at the hotel, giving him the name in the room? His going up, alone, the bodyguards, the naked girls, Di Marco in the bath? The threat, the cash, Nick and his nonchalant attitude? Holly coming in, the garden shears, the threats to Di Marco, the cuts? His fear, weeping, the humiliation in front of this bodyguards? Holly and the money? Nick and his beating the bodyguards, tying them up? Di Marco and his later accusation, with Baby, the interrogation, Di Marco refusing the proof about Holly’s attack and his work? The later set up, Di Marco and the thugs converging on Nick, the fight, his killing them all?
7. Cyrus, the approach, his age, the revelation about his being clever, his millions of 19, his low self-image? His researching Nick, wanting to employ him, doing the rounds of the casino, the Golden Gate, his luck at the table? His reappearance, knowing all about Nick? Wanting to employ him to overcome his fear?
8. Cyrus, in the bar, watching Nick at baccarat, winning all the money, the gambling compulsiveness, losing everything? Telling him that he was afraid, Nick’s confession? The thugs, Cyrus singing the song to distract them, enabling Nick or to leave and win the fights? Cyrus getting the ticket to Corsica, the money? The mutual help?
9. Nick and his office, Pinky and the discussions? Cassandra at the casino and his helping her? The waitresses at the bar?
10. The story of a tough man, yet his weakness, going into action, his fighting skills, his eventually becoming free?
