Customer Reviews

Chaos

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

According to one reference source, 'The name "chaos theory" comes from the fact that the systems that the theory describes are apparently disordered, but chaos theory is really about finding the underlying order in apparently random data.', and to enjoy the ride in this action film, understanding the chaos theory is helpful if not essential. In writing and directing CHAOS, Tony Giglio (as he explains in one of the featurettes on the DVD) worked to make an action movie that was more than just pyrotechnics and killing (though those are in abundance in this film!), and instead return to the atmosphere of older 'French Connection' type crime dramas. To accomplish this he uses the chaos theory to create just enough twists to keep the audience surprised. If the film doesn't open new doors for the genre, it certainly supplies enough entertainment to make it worth watching.

The film opens on a bridge in Seattle where an incident involving detective Quentin Connors (Jason Statham) and another unidentified detective results in Connors being dismissed from the police force. A sophisticated bank heist ensues and the head of the heist is one Lorenz (Wesley Snipes) who, when surrounded by the police after an explosion jolts the neighborhood, demands to negotiate the hostages situation with Connors: Captain Jenkins (Henry Czerny) and a new police recruit Detective Shane Dekker (Ryan Phillippe) recruit the reluctant, fired Connors to return to Seattle to take charge - with Dekker as his partner. From this point on the story is a mélange of mind-bending assaults on the back using the chaos theory to trace the elements of discovery. Just when the audience is comfortable with knowing the good guys from the bad guys, the chessboard turns and surprises occur that leave the story with a sense of incomplete thought on the part of the script, but also an appreciation for the degree of suspense the story has presented.

The strong character in the film is Ryan Phillippe who is able to hold his own with the practiced action hero antics of Statham and Snipes. There are some standout cameos, such as Keegan Connor Tracy who has one of the more sensually seductive roles on film, Henry Czerny as the forceful super chief, and Justine Waddell and Nicholas Lea as the detectives who shoulder the only truth in the tale. Not a great action movie but one with a modicum of intelligence that makes is rise above the many others in this category. Grady Harp, February 08

There was much not right with this film. I kept thinking while watching it that it wasn't smooth - that the actors were uncomfortable with the screenplay. The dialog came across as clipped too, almost like hearing a joke, and waiting for someone to laugh. And the editing was 2nd rate as well as I noticed a couple flubs. Anyway, I wouldn't recommend spending money to purchase. And it truly doesn't deserve 3 stars (2 1/2 at most). Just run of the mill.

This crime drama / action movie is surprisingly good. The main and supporting characters do a very good job, Wesley over acts a little but other than that first rate. I liked the ending although some people didnt, I thought it was good.

There are twists, some that arent super surprising, but it does keep you guessing throughout the movie was to who the evil mastermind is. The car chase in the middle of the movie with Ryan Phillipe was garbage though, it detracts from an otherwise smart movie with a very 1980's CHIPs style impossible fake car chase.

Overall well acted , well written with a couple small exceptions, and well done. Sort of like Inside Man meets The Transporter. I would recommend it.

Ok, wesley snipes has done some pretty bad movies lately including this one, but what on earth was Jason Statham doing in this terrible film? even he couldn't save this disaster. This movie is very slow paced and lacks action, It is more of a crime drama than an action movie but even the drama lacked suspense and mystery and i literaly had to force myself to keep watching the movie because i felt bored and uninterested.

This movie has an average star rating of almost 4 starts, don't fall for the hype!, if you want to see a good recent crime drama movie go watch jean-claude van-damme's "until death", Its a much better movie.

When will Jason Statham and Ryan Phillippe learn to use their natural attributes in film (that would not be their acting ability). Neither takes off their shirt during entire 106-minute film.

Plot was predictable.

If you love Jason, its another flick to have in your library. He is great. . .but overall it was a predictable disappointment.

The trailer for the movie was somewhat misleading in that the thought would be that this is a "shootem up, bang-bang" movie. The plot is far deeper and the ending was somewhat a surprise. Not a movie I would have ran out to see in the theater, but a very entertaining movie sitting in the comfort of your home.

This is definitely one of the best action movies I have seen recently. I am generally disillusioned with the action genre because plots are generally banal and unbelieveable pyrotechnics prevail. This movie definitely offers a satisfyingly rich plot with a twist at the end that is unexpected (though there is a hint at one point in the movie). I would highly suggest that this movie be purchased, but I will be waiting for it to come out on Blu-ray. I hope I don't have to wait too long...

I'm a Jason Statham fan, and have enjoyed most of his movies, but this cinematic abortion is so horrible I'm in shock that not only was Jason Statham invovled in it, but Wesley Snipes, and Ryan Phillippe as well. I'll start it off with the good stuff. The story was good and it had a lot of twists. Some of the ones that needed to be good were but, most were predictable... That's it. The acting was dead pan through out the cast except for the news reporter at the start of the movie who seemed to be the only person who was trying. It probably had a lot to do with the abismal script.

The writers don't seem to have ever learned the word subtle because all they do is beat you over the head with "hints" and things that will be important later. It's like a crappy magician saying look over there to do their magic verses one who uses subtle misdirection to pull it off. In addition to that the writers don't know how to write women at all. There's a scene where a female character trhows herslef at Ryan Phillippe after having just met him in a way that would have gotten her fired from any job except phone sex operator, and as my wife pointed out, he's not hot enough for most girls to do that. Sorry Ryan. Also any writer that is so dumb they use the phrase "it's not rocket surgery." as a serious statement and not a joke needs to be beaten with a lead pipe. While being the most hillarious moment in the moviethe dead pan acting makes it seem as though it was a serious statement.

Another personal beef I have with this movie is that Jason Statham's character who is from the nort west hates the Pac 10 and thinks it's over rated. You don't EVER hear someone in the NW say that about the Pac 10. We're very loyal to our schools and the only place I've ever heard something like that is from other conferences that get butt hurt that the Pac 10 consistantly has teams in the top 25. While we're on the subject of the North West, lets talk about the amazing stock footage they used for the city too. So it's set in Seattle, but they don't use stock footage of Seattle. Not once. On top of that it's got that grainy VHS look like they taped it off a movie on HBO in the 80s and were saving it for a special occasion. Also for an action movie it didn't have very much action, and when it was present the fighting was poorly coreographed.
The fight scene where they break a mirror in a bathroom you can see the guy getting thrown into the mirror look over his shoulder to make sure he's lined up right, also you can see that the mirror is already broken from a previous attempt. I'm not one of those guys who freeze frames his way through movies, the mistakes were that glaring. This is hands down the worst movei I've ever seen. Go watch the transporter, or crank, or any of his other movies, but skip this attrocity.

Just look at the three starring lead actors in Wesley Snipes, Jason Statham, and Ryan Philippe. What could possibly go wrong with a movie featuring these three in a shifting triangle? You're expecting a "no" here, yes? Well, no, that's a no. For an action thriller/crime drama, it succeeds on all but one level.

Snipes has little to do and plays mostly a walk-through role. That's a bit disappointing as I find him an excellent actor, but it's all part of the Big Picture of the theme of the story. Who is he? The answer depends on the which part of the story we're in. Does Snipes play a good guy or a villain?

Ryan Philippe is such a pretty boy that I am always so surprised by the intensity and high level of consummate acting and moral center he brings to each role. That pouty bottom lip also serves him well. In this role he plays Jason Statham's young, new partner and son of a hero cop killed in action. He tells the Statham character, "I didn't understand why they thought a cop killed on the job was a hero."

Philippe has a way of dissecting each scene and piece of evidence, much like a half-Aghan, half-pit bull would--elegant but determined. This is the third film I've seen him in and really like him as an actor.

The story is a who done it, why, and how--much much typical EXCEPT for two things that simply astonished me and caused one more star than I would have given. Jason Statham, that English actor whose accent I barely comprehend at times, admonishes one character who uses a double negative. Wow! Then this actor who spends 97% of his time-on-screen in some wild action scene, has a book on Chaos theory in his book shelf (a book of intelligent gleanings). When Philippe pulls the book out of its slot, he reads some of the highlighted sections and discovers how these random scribblings were worked into the crime drama of the day. So how is this book with these actions found in Statham's character's house? This is another part of that Big Picture. By the way, Statham plays a cop on penalty leave for an "unnecessary" killing.

But where is Snipes? And who is he?

AT last the viewer discovers the truth (mais non, I will not reveal it!) and it leaves the viewer oddly dissatisfied. This turn-about ending impacts the reader, leaving him disappointed and truly surprised. But maybe, just maybe, a little pleased.

Written and directed by Tony Giglio, Chaos (2005), is a slickly executed, gritty, crime thriller, that is somewhat reminiscent of The Usual Suspects. Spinning several plates in the air, the film requires that you pay close attention.

A gang of criminals has taken hostages inside a bank. Their leader Lorenz (Wesley Snipes), requests that suspended cop Quentin Conners (Jason Statham), be brought in to oversee the situation. Conners agrees to take charge of the situation, and detective Shane Dekker (Ryan Phillippe), on his first day as a member of Seattle PD, is assigned as Conners' partner. Already on the scene at the bank, are detectives Teddy Galloway (Justine Waddell), and Vincent Durano (Nicholas Lea). Unfortunately things do not go as planned, and an explosion rocks the bank. When the smoke clears, Lorenz and his gang are gone, but mysteriously, no cash or valuables seem to be missing.

The investigative team gets a lead to one of the gang members, which turns up a load of cash. The money is traced to the police evidence room, but the cop who was responsible for the cash, is soon found murdered. Connors and Dekker, get a lead to another member of the gang, a computer specialist, but as they arrive on the scene, he is killed by Lorenz. It continues to be a busy night, as the cops get a tip, and stake out a house where Lorenz is supposed to meet some of his buddies. But things go very sour, as the house explodes with Connors inside.

It has indeed been a very long first day for Shane Dekker, but he refuses to give up. With the help of a police computer tech, he learns that over a billion dollars, has been stolen from the bank, via a computer virus. He continues to unravel the mystery, discovering a lead to Lorenz's identity, and a tell-tale clue, points him to the truth. As the new day breaks, Dekker has discovered the truth, and made sense from the chaos.

Ryan Phillippe, is excellent and very believable, in the movie's key role, as the earnest investigator, who proves himself much more capable than he may appear. Jason Statham might be best-known for his performances in comic book type action films, but he is a very capable actor, and demonstrates that here. Wesley Snipes has a complex role, which he executes with flash and style. The supporting cast is solid and capable, down to the minor roles, helping to add to the film's realism.

Chaos is a very well written, nicely paced, entertaining crime thriller. With a tight timeline, the twist and reveal, fall into place quite neatly. It is a film that stands up well to repeated viewings. Though not without flaws, the interesting characters, and smooth execution, makes its imperfections easy to overlook. Writer/director Tony Giglio, provides an informative and fun commentary, that adds to the understanding, and appreciation of the film.