UNLEASHED

France/US/ UK, 2005, 103 minutes, Colour.
Jet Li, Morgan Freeman, Bob Hoskins, Kerry Condon, Vincent Regan, Dylan Brown, Tamer Hassasn, Phyllida Law.
Directed by Louis Leterrier.

It is very hard to put together the Jet Li of his Hong Kong films and his fine lead role in Zhang Yimou's Hero with the Jet Li of his Hollywood and western action thrillers like Kiss of the Dragon, The One, Cradle 2 the Grave. These latter are potboilers of the most basic kind one is tempted to say, after looking at some of the brutally staged fights, of the most base, violent kind.

Unleashed seems to be two films which gradually converge. The foremost story involves Li as a kind of wild child brought up in England as a lethal fighter, for rich patrons to attend a fight club to the death. His guardian is played by Bob Hoskins with few holds barred. This is an ugly, thuggy film.

Then there is the other film where Li takes refuge with a kindly blind piano tuner and his stepdaughter. Li can at last see another kind of life as well as discover the dastardly death of his mother and why he has been a prisoner. Since the blind man is played by Morgan Freeman, he brings great dignity and presence (and his fine voice) to a film that you wouldn't expect to find him in.

Of course, the two strands come together again for a last bout of violence. The trouble with this kind of entertainment (unlike Jackie Chan who opts for martial arts and fun) is that it is so often brutal and ugly.

1. The title, the literal application for Danny, aggressive when unleashed?

2. The French background, Luke Besson and his story, his style? The director and his range of action films, American films? The international cast?

3. A vehicle for Jet Li? His athleticism, martial arts, the brutal fights?

4. The London setting, the loan sharks and their world, the various companies and repayment of loans, the brutal cage fights, the contrast with the music tuner, the academic world of music? The interconnections? The musical score?

5. The initial focus on the violence, the quiet with the scenes of music and Danny learning to live an ordinary life, the dramatic return to violence?

6. Danny, the mystery of his background, Bart and his having him on a leash, taking him on money collections, unleashing him, the violence, letting him be brutal, his being an educated, following Bart’s commands? His puzzle about his mother?

7. Bart, the thug, his associates, the various companies and collecting the money from the loans? The jewellers, the antique furniture creators? His treatment of Danny, unleashing him? The entrepreneur watching, making the proposal, the cage fight? Danny, the first fight and quick win? The entrepreneur wanting to exploit him?

8. The crash, the shooting, Danny escaping, presuming Bart was dead?

9. Waiting with the antiques, Sam and his arrival, blindness, music, tuning the pianos, Danny's attraction? The melody in his mind? Returning after the shooting, Sam and his kindness, taking him in, Victoria, at home, his timidity, fright, under the bed, the food, gradually joining Sam and Victoria? The learning experiences, the discoveries? Gradually revealing his story? The desire to learn about his mother? The shopping? The cooking? The peaceful atmosphere of the film between the fights?

10. Sam, his story, pianist, Carnegie Hall, blind? Piano tuning? Kindly? The encounter with Danny, bringing him home, opening up different worlds to him, reading, music, shopping, cooking, Sam as a benign father figure? Victoria, her relationship with Sam, coming to London for the music, sharing the music with Danny, the small piano? Their duets? The effect of Danny on her? Preparing for her recital?

11. Danny, the chance encounter with Bart's thug, but still alive, putting the leash on him, taking him to the cage fight, Danny not wanting to hurt people, the brutality, the number of opponents, his self-defence and destroying them?

12. Bart, the photos, evoking memories? The music, his mother playing the piano? Going to the Academy, the documents, memories coming back, the music notes? Bart killing his
mother? Danny and the confrontation was about, retribution?

13. Victoria, her recital, going back to New York, Sam inviting Danny?

14. An unusual blend of the brutal with the gentle?