REPRISAL

Best, 2018, 89 minutes, Colour.
Frank Grillo, Bruce Willis, Jonathan Schaech, Olivia Culpo, Natalia Sophie Butler, Colin Egglesfield.
Directed by Brian A Miller.

Reprisal is the kind of action drama that audiences watch when they simply want an action show, robbery, car chases, confrontations, plenty of gunfire. And, it helps when the cast is led by Bruce Willis and Frank Grillo.

The Cincinnati locations make an impact, the city itself, the streets, the bridges, homes, warehouses, banks.

The central character, Jacob, played by Frank Grillo, is a bank manager of ten years. He has a loving wife, Olivia Culpo, a daughter with severe diabetes, prone to collapse. And he has a sympathetic next door neighbour, James, a former policeman, played by Bruce Willis in his knowing way.

The audience has seen the villain, played by Jonathan Schaech, preparing meticulously for a bank robbery, plenty of weaponry, military uniform, heavily disguised. The bank robbery is brisk, the robber using notes, not speaking, getting away quickly. The police are initially suspicious of Jacob.

Jacob is very disturbed by the experience, but is helped by James, maps, discussions, speculating on where the robber will strike next. They pinpoint various locations – and, just as Jacob is leaving, the villain appears. A chase through the city follows, the robber planning to hijack a van, Jacob disturbing the well-planned robbery. However, his wife and child are abducted, surveillance in his house, his having to return the money that he had taken from the hiding place the robber had used.

Some smart moves with James’s contacts, plenty of chase and pursuit, a lot of gunfire (very American style), the robber is killed, wife and child recovered, and a finale where Jacob will trained as a policeman (in the tradition of his father).

Nothing more, nothing less.

1. The title? Motivations? Gabriel? Jacob?

2. The Cincinnati settings, the views of the city, the river and bridges, the streets, buildings, bank, warehouse, aged care? Feel of the city? The musical score?

3. The introduction to Jacob, bank manager, relationship with Christina, with Sophia, her diabetes, the need for diet, her collapsing? Christina and her work with children? Jacob and work in the bank?

4. The introduction to Gabriel, the preparations for the robbery, armed, disguised, helmet? The entry into the bank, the huge lock, the rifles, not speaking, the notes, shooting the guard, the employees and their fear, opening the safe? His escape?

5. The role of the police, interrogating Jacob, suspicions? Christina and her concern? His return home, unable to sleep, the drinking, preoccupation? The memory of his father as policeman, his death?

6. James, the neighbour, former policeman, supporting Jacob, the discussions, the maps, Internet for identifying the lock, the speculation about where he would hit again? Robberies for cash, guns? James and his contacts for backup?

7. Gabriel, the aged care home, his father and his confusion, drinking, Gabriel taking stances? Defying the authorities? His father’s warehouse, Gabriel’s set up, the targets and models, his practising shooting and attack, making measurements? Eventually going out, on the bike?

8. Jacob, the speculations, going to different sites? Contact with James? His seeing Jacob? Following him? The chase through the city, the van, Jacob’s attack, opening the van, the robbery? The continued pursuit, Jacob with the money, Gabriel’s return, Jacob going home?

9. The surveillance and the house, Gabriel taking Christina and Sophie? James and his contacts, supplying the earpiece to Jacob, the contact, eventually rescuing Christina and Sophie, the ambulance?

10. Gabriel, the confrontation with Jacob, wanting the money back, James and his initial suspicions with Jacob having the money?

11. The setup, the pursuit, the amount of shooting? Jacob and his escapes? Eventually shooting Gabriel? The family safe?

12. Jacob, change of heart, joining the police force?