A SCORE TO SETTLE

US, 2019, 103 minutes, Colour.
Nicolas Cage, Benjamin Bratt, Noah Le Gros, Carolina Wydra, Mohamed Karim, Ian Tracey, Sean Owen Roberts, Bailey Coppola.
Directed by Shawn Ku.


A lot more value here than might have been expected . The IMDb comment showed how Nicolas Cage fans responded – and how the Nicolas Cage non-fans, irritated by his continually acting in action-oriented films responded – there were mixed reactions. The comments which came from those who did not expect much from Cage or his action shows, just another one, easily dismissible. However, there were others who found the drama, at least, above average.

This is a B-budget action drama, featuring the ever-present Cage (who seems to churn out almost half a dozen of your kind of film each year for the past decade), Canada-filmed, the supporting cast of lesser or little-known names. And, that title indicates a revenge film, of course.

But, writer and the director, Shawn Ku, seem to have given much more attention than might have been expected. There is much more in the screenplay concerning characters and situations but also an ultimate challenge to our sense of realism as we watch the shift to imaginative fantasy, our re-examining the truth of what we have seen.

The brutality of the opening is rather challenging. A gang boss is being coached as to how to swing a baseball pitch – and then our seeing that he is aiming at a victim, tied up, bleeding. The central character, Frank, coaching the boss who, ultimately, bloodily bludgeons his victim with the baseball bat. And then a shift, 19 years later, Frank in his prison cell, getting ready to leave. At this stage, there is little explanation, leaving it to us, to wonder about him, especially since there is no one to meet him. He then walks along the highway, seeing someone coming towards him, finding that it is his son, Joey, and they walk along the road together, looking for their old home, Frank digging up a suitcase full of cash, and their checking into a lavish hotel. Reconciliation? A new life? Reform?

This is one of Nicolas Cage’s much more restrained performances (though he does let loose with the touch of his expected maniacal outbursts later on), told by the doctor that his constant insomnia will lead to a physical collapse and his death. Has he decided to live without the revenge?

In retrospect, one of the best aspects of the screenplay is the relationship between father and son, the son who was abandoned, his mother dying, the gang bosses pledging that he will be looked after, his decline into addiction. He is initially tentative in his relationship with his father, but, pleasingly, there is a gradual growth in amicable bonding between father and son. However, Frank is intent on settling his score, the fact that he resented having been abandoned in prison for so long.

As he goes to meet his former friends, we realise that, especially as he buys a gun, he still is intent on being an executioner. This is jolting, watching the steps to revenge which we can understand but not approve of. But the film continues interesting in showing Frank’s continued physical collapsing, his encounter with the escort who contributes to humanising him, the disappearance of his son and his search for him, the discovery that he was deceived about the death of the boss, discovering in a scene with a compassionate nurse, that the target of his main revenge has been in coma for 15 years and did not betray his promise to look after Joey, a finale, in a church setting for a wedding, his realisation of the betrayal of his friend: and the moral of the story: what does it profit anyone to gain the whole revenge and risk the loss of their soul?

1. The title, revenge? Expectations? A Nicolas Cage action film?

2. The setting, the prologue and the bashing at night? Prison? The highway, the forest and digging up the trunk, the lavish hotel, interiors, bars, the hospital, the church and the wedding? The musical score?

3. The impact of the prologue, baseball, Frank coaching Max, the victim, searching for the ball outside, friendship with Q, other members of the gang, the brutal bludgeoning?

4. Transition to Frank, 19 years, getting out of prison, the doctor and the warning about insomnia and his physical condition?

5. Getting out, no one to meet him, walking along the road, encountering Joey, walking together, tentative, getting to know each other, Joe’s sense of abandonment, his drug addiction, Frank expecting him to be cared for by Max, going to prison for Max?

6. The suitcase of money, digging it up, going to the lavish hotel, the suite, the restaurant, meals? Joey and his hesitations?

7. The film’s treatment of the relationship between father and son, Joey slow, explanations, his addiction, the death of his mother, no contact with Frank? His becoming more friendly, supporting his father, eating together, talking, urging Frank to go with Simone? His disappearance, Frank finding him addicted, carrying him to safety?

8. The audience discovering that Joey was a fantasy, Frank’s subconscious, Joey offering some possibilities for Frank’s redemption?

9. Frank, tentative meeting with Simone, the night together, his awkwardness, the money, her becoming more compassionate, going for the drive, the scarf floating in the air, the next day, the wrong Simone, the pimp, Frank’s violence towards him? In front of the young man on the staff, his finding the addresses of the care institutions, witnessing its, frightened?

10. Frank going to see Q, the memories, Q and his prosperity, the prospect of his daughter’s wedding? Frank and the gun?

11. Frank not sleeping, going out, tracking down Tank, Tank’s acceptance of his death? The execution? Frank tracking down Dragon, with the girls, the fight, his running, Frank shooting his legs, the collapse, execution, the shot to the groin?

12. Frank, to the hospital, discovering that Max was in coma, 15 years, that he had not betrayed him? That Q had taken over? The kindliness? His leaving the two baseball bats, one bloodied, one clean?

13. The growing physical collapse? His going to Simone/Jennifer’s house, friendly with her little boy? Leaving the bag of money?

14. Going to the church, the guests, confronting Q, his daughter present, Q admitting the truth, Frank shooting his leg, the daughter shooting Frank? Going through the church, the police waiting, his acceptance of his death?

15. Joey, coming to meet him, an afterlife?