Movie Review: 13 (Thirteen) (2010)(** out of 5) - Desperate situations send people into a state beyond their control, which is the case of Vince, a young electrician in Ohio, whose father is gravely ill in the hospital for an ailment never revealed. The family, has to mortgage the house and who knows how they will be able to survive because of the medical bills they must pay. While rewiring a house, Vince overhears a man talking on the phone about how he will get a lot of money from an unknown source. Vince realizes he has stumbled in a possible solution for his worries. So when the man in the house overdoses and dies, he steals the paper that has the information the dead man was looking into. Vince has no idea what he is getting into. After picking up the instruction the dead man was to get, he decides to assume the dead mans identity. He must travel to a remote area where he will be met. In the envelope he found a card bearing the number 13. Not having a clue as to what he is about to do, Vince is drawn into an unpleasant situation that might even cost him his life for he enters uncharted territory where different people will enter a game of Russian roulette, something he never imagined to ever been involved. Gela Babluani remade his own 13 Tzameti into a Hollywood film which pales in comparison with the original. Mr. Babluani got help with the screenplay in collaboration with Greg Pruss transposing the action to America. The film, although not horrible, pales in comparison with the grittier first take. The main flaw was the casting of Sam Riley, a wonderful actor, who in here does not project enough fear as the man who might lose his own life in the game. The direction leaves a lot to be desired and the screenplay does not clarify things either. The rich people betting millions of dollars are in for the thrill of it all as well as the profits they can realize. Jasper turns out to biggest loser of all. Not only does he lose the money he borrowed but he suffers a personal loss as well. The cast includes big stars like Jason Statham, playing a variation of his tough guy he is always seen in. The wonderful Ray Winstone has nothing to do in the film, nor is he effective as in other parts where he has appeared. Michael Shannon is a sort of an MC giving the instructions to all the players. Mickey Rourke is Jefferson playing a bandit who might, or might not have a lot of money stashed away. Ben Gazzara is seen as a gambling man with a nose for picking out winners. This remake didnt deserve to go to DVD. The only positive outcome from watching 13 would be that it might inspire someone to watch 13 Tzameti - as I plan to do!!!
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 21:08:13 +0000
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