WRATH OF MAN

UK, 2021, 118 minutes, Colour.

Jason Statham, Holt McCallany, Josh Hartnett, Jeffrey Donovan, Scott Eastwood, Andy Garcia, Eddie Marsan, Niamh Algar.

Directed by Guy Ritchie.

We might fear the wrath of God but, looking at headlines, watching TV news, we realise that we might fear even more the wrath of man.

As might be expected from this title, this is a revenge action thriller with vigilante overtones. And it has been cowritten and directed by Guy Ritchie, something of the specialist in gangster films over the decades, so we can expect some high quality within the conventions of this kind of thriller. And, he delivers.

The star is Jason Statham. His first film was Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, 1998, one of Guy Ritchie’s earliest films. For more than two decades, Jason Statham has become an iconic screen figure, tough, unsmiling, laconic, sometimes hero, sometimes antihero (and the opportunity to both as he exercises his wrath here).

This is a film for the big screen, panoramic views of Los Angeles, especially the industrial area. And, there is a lot of close-up action, special effects, gun battles, machine guns.

But, the screenplay is quite complex (adapted from 2004 French film, Le Convoyeur/Cash Truck), not told in straightforward linear narrative, but rather a succession of chapters, moving forward to the events, going back into the past, a jigsaw effect, showing the audience the pieces, ultimately bringing them together. And each section has an evocative title, from A Dark Spirit to the final ominous, Live, Lungs, Spleen, Heart. Which means that it is hard to put a finger on Jason Statham’s character, H, interviewed for a job with a security firm, collecting cash from businesses around the city, wondering whether he is an undercover cop, a criminal, but certainly an enigma.

The film opens with a robbery, the audience seeing it from a very limited angle. Later, the sequence will be revisited – and the revelation of some dire consequences.

One key question is the puzzle as to who committed the initial robbery – and, this is revealed, powerful Afghan veteran motivation, rebellion against American society, questions about post-traumatic stress disorder.

However, the plot is much more complex, much more puzzling as it unfolds. And, in this rather macho world of security drivers and war veterans, there is a very strong supporting cast, notably Holt Mc Callany as Bullet, genial guide to H as he begins his security work, Jeffrey Donovan as the leader of the veterans, Josh Hartnett as a co-driver, Andy Garcia as a mysterious authority, Eddie Marsan as the manager of the depot and, looking rather the image of his father, Scott Eastwood as a malcontent and ambitious veteran.

1. Revenge thriller? The title and tone? The ominous design during the credits?
2. The Los Angeles settings, the industrial area of the city, the skyscraper background, the mountain background? The streets, the depot and interiors? Homes? The musical score?
3. The structure of the film: the range of titles for chapters, the tone and the emphases? The time structure, indication of months, going forward, going back? The jigsaw effect? The final resolution and completion?
4. Jason Statham, screen presence, tough, laconic? Going for the interview, his background credentials (and the later discovery of beng manufactured)? Training, tough, the shooting range, the moderate results? His being hired? The reaction of the other men, for and against, Bullet, friendly welcome, the training, driving with him? Dave, apprehensive, driving?
5. The background of the robbery of the van, the angle at which it was shot, the audience not seeing the wider repercussions? The two drivers, banter, the blocking of the road, the attack, smoke, shooting? And the later revelation of the son and his presence, death, H and his being shot?
6. Terry, manager of the depot, small, somewhat timid, the arrival of the investigators, not watching again the video of the robbery, suspicious, calling the SWAT team?
7. Audience puzzle about H, his presence, the hold-up, the dangers, H getting out, his gun, shooting all the assailants, the pursuit into the factory; the next attempted robbery, his removing his mask, everybody escaping? Acclaim back at the depot?
8. H, the interview, the agents, the interrogation, later meeting with Agent King? H and his watching of the initial robbery, unable to identify anyone?
9. Dana with the boys, playing pool, the night with H, his confronting her with the stolen money?
10. The background story of H, his work, boss, his team, going out with his son, the bond between them, his having to watch the truck and give indications, his son in the car, the replay of the initial robbery, the shooting of the son, the shooting of H? Audiences seeing Jan and H seeing his face?
11. H, his henchmen, the attack on the various gangs in Los Angeles, interrogations, torture, wanting information, H and his being coldhearted? Their not getting any information? Mike and his trying to restrain H?
12. The revelation about the Afghan veterans, their service in Vietnam, the soldier against Arabs, their day jobs, Jackson in the mall? Jan and his surliness? The robberies, the planning of the initial robbery, training, meticulous, success? Further ambitions? To attack the depot? The plan, the training, the intercutting of the planning sequences with the actual execution? Bullet as the contact inside?
13. H, continuing at the depot, the interaction with his wife after the death of her son, her condemning him as killing their son? The background of H and his identity, his contact getting all the documents, inserting information on the Internet? His asking to get the autopsy report on the death of his son?
14. The final action, Bullet and his talking with H, wanting him to participate, not to hinder the robbery, Bullet and his explanation of himself, motivations? Callous?
15. The drama of the attack, the veterans in their uniforms and helmets, masks? Machine guns? Getting into the depot, the control of the gate? The reaction of the workers, the mass shootings, Dana and her associate, Dave, their being shot? Terry and Dave, phoning, the SWAT team and coming, minute by minute? The tactics, the getting of the money, the deaths?
16. The escape, bullet and his truck, Jan, Jackson, memories of his birthday party and his family? Jan killing him? The pursuit, the tunnel, the underground network, the escape, bullet intending to kill Jan, vice versa?
17. H, being wounded? Jan, his apartment, the money, luxury? H present, the confrontation, the reading of the autopsy, the focus on liver, lungs, spleen, heart, H shooting him?
18. H, agent King, the closure, driving away with Mike?