Director: Boaz Yakin
Starring: Jason Statham, Catherine Chan, Reggie Lee, James Hong, Robert John Burke
Running time: 90 minutes
Certificate: 15
Extras: Director’s Commentary, Making Of Safe, Cracking Safe, Criminal Battleground, The Art Of The Gunfight, Trailer
The 1980s gave cinema some of its greatest solo action: COMMANDO, DIE HARD, and FIRST BLOOD are amazing examples of how to pit one man against many. Director and writer Boaz Yakin (REMEMBER THE TITANS) must have bit of a penchant for that scenario as he’s tried to resuscitate it with Jason Statham vehicle SAFE.
Luke Wright (Statham), MMA fighter and former NYPD cop, is down and out. He’s just cost the Russian mob money and they aren’t happy – they’ve killed his wife and warned they’ll follow him his whole life, murdering anyone he befriends. But the Russians’ enemies, the Chinese, have the girl Mei (Chan) with a photographic memory, and they use her to track their business and store the combination to a safe that holds $30 million of Chinese Triad money. When the Russians try to nab the girl for the money, the suicidal Wright finds a reason to live, and helps Mei escape.
Boaz Yakin has done a great job with SAFE, and the film gives exactly what is has to: a sturdy lead, a tougher-than-she-looks little girl, and some right nasty bastards. It succeeds on pretty much every level it hopes to, and though, yes, there is an issue with Statham’s accent, but no one’s here for the dialogue. The action is pretty brutal in parts – there’s a nod to TOTAL RECALL (the good one) when Statham uses a bad guy as a human shield during a shoot-out – and it is just all hugely enjoyable. However, there is a mild lull around the 45 minute mark, when the action temporarily ceases, but don’t worry, it kicks in again shortly after. Whilst not to the level of COMMANDO or FIRST BLOOD, SAFE is definitely worth any action fans time so grab your favourite drink, some man food and enjoy the ride.
Extras: Each of the featurettes is 10 minutes max and as such offer little insight. However, Boaz Yakin’s enthusiasm is infectious so there is enjoyment to be found. The Directors Commentary is very formal and a bit of a disappointment. A longer making of would have been a welcome addition and negated the need for the commentary.
SAFE is released on Blu-ray and DVD September 10th and can be ordered here
