Customer Reviews

Death Sentence

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(23)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

DEATH SENTENCE is a tough movie to watch, not because it is a poorly made film, but because of the degree of violence that, once started, is mayhem on a roller coaster ride. Though based on a novel by Brian Garfield, the script by Ian Jeffers is a patchwork quilt - the holes show whenever the police arrive on the scene. James Wan, of the 'Saw' movies fame, directs with a keen eye for breathless action sequences and almost intolerable suspense timing that makes the film fly through the 111 minutes of the Unrated version.

During the opening credits we are introduced to the perfect family via home movies and domestic scenes: Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon) is the devoted father, Helen (Kelly Preston) his bright and loving wife, Brendan (Stuart Lafferty) is the golden boy son with all the hockey laurels, and Lucas (Jordan Garrett) the younger 'also ran' son. The glitch in this family's happiness happens one night when, out of gas while driving home from a hockey game, Nick stops at a gas station and while Brendan is in the convenience store a gang comes in and murders the store owner and Brendan: the reason for the killing is not robbery but an initiation rite into a gang accomplished by young Joe Darley (Matt O'Leary) and the demand of his older brother Billy (Garrett Hedlund, in a very out of character role from his usual 'Troy', 'Friday Night Lights', 'Eragon', 'Georgia Rule' persona). Nick witnesses the killing and when the lawyers and police work with him in the aftermath to 'arrange a deal' instead of a murder trial, Nick decides to take matters in hi s own hands.

The Darley brothers are part of a ruthless gang sponsored by their own father Bones Darley (John Goodman, in a very dark and well-realized role). Nick stalks Joe Darley and murders him, and once the deed (that happens to begin a gang war against Nick) is done the terror begins. The gang is out to kill not only Nick but Nick's family also. How this pursued and pursuers game works out furnishes the remainder of the film. It is the old eye for an eye story that ends in tragedy for everyone concerned.

When the film is dealing with the 'family' and the 'gang' the dialog sparkles, but when the police, headed by Detective Wallis (Aisha Tyler), become involved the aid from the police becomes as ludicrous as the dialog placed in their mouths. Kevin Bacon gives a bravura performance as the gentle father driven to murderous madness and Garrett Hedlund matches him as the ruthless and terrifying gang leader Billy. There are enough sidebars about father/son relationships on both sides of the plot line to make the movie have a message. But in the end it is the wildly frantic camera action and directorial decisions by Wan that make this a horrifying and arresting film. Not for the queasy viewer. Grady Harp, January 08

Revenge is best served....period
This movie is a wicked ride. For all you Death Wish, Straw Dogs, and The Crow fans out there, this film is dark and gritty. Fast paced action and some good raw emotion. I won't ruin the story but if revenge is your kind of dish i recomend you pick this up, grab a snack and sit back and watch Kevin Bacon kick so much @$$ you'll probably go blind.

I usually agree with the mainstream critics about movies, for the most part. However, this movie, like the 1st Saw film, is a major exception. If you are looking for a best picture candidate, you will not find it here. However, it is a very entertaining, engrossing movie that will probably not appeal to the squeamish. The movie fits right into the Parent Revenge mold quite well. The oldest son is killed by gang. Dad avenges death. Gang fights back. Dad goes crazy and kills gang members, before the whole thing culminates in a final shootout full of graphic carnage. If you are looking for an insane action movie, this isn't quite it. In particular, the first half is very deliberate in trying to convey Bacon as a real guy, trying to avoid violence, but ultimately succumbing to it. I found this journey that he takes to be quite believe, up until a scene near the end in a hospital in which he turns into Rambo. Rather than being moving, it is slightly laughable. Then the movie turns into a straightforward, albeit very well shot, action flick full of gore and carnage. Many critics bashed the film for it's hypocrisy in having the movie condemn violence while later depicting it in stylish, perversely entertaining detail. However, I think this was justified by a gang leaders quote at near the end of the film. "Look at you," he says to Bacon. "You've turned into one of us." The man is right. The gang leaders have slit throats and shot heads. But so has Bacon. He is a lesser of two evils to be sure, but an evil none the less. While this may be a cheap attempt by the director the make the film more serious, it does work. It is true that Bacon has transformed into a kind of monster. I give great credit to Bacon's performance, along with almost ever other actor. If a dark, violent, disturbing movie is what you are in the mood for this weekend, skip Halloween, and go see this.

It's rare that Kevin Bacon disappoints - and on this occasion he did not disappoint - great acting , casting , storyline (one or two holes), action . Not for the squeamish !!

There is a moral tucked in here too as well as the in built desire for revenge we all have - i think we will all be able to relate to this movie in one way or another - RECOMMENDED !!

This film is another 'Death Wish/Taxi Driver' clone but, it does have some style and some good performances. There is an audience for these types of films because it's fun to watch dirt-bags get what they deserve! Bacon is believable as a father stricken with grief after his son is randomly murdered as part of a gang initiation. This is not just a "shoot`em up" movie but a good story with decent character development. There are some plot holes for sure but, overall this is a good movie with much more going for it than not. John Goodman also give a very disturbing and good performance.

After watching this you may feel a little distant and on edge. It isn't a simple 'revenge' theme. The message may be that the cost of 'justice' can be higher than the cost of the injustice, and in the end you can't make it all come out equal. But the message seems secondary to what I liked about this film.

Cliche's become fresh again if they are done well. The scenes of violence taken independently are well composed. The acting is all well done, but you must also really give credit to good music scores and the cinematography for making it work.

A brief list of movie points (without giving anything away):

Casting is very well done, especially with Goodman and the bad guys. Bacon is a great choice as he can play the family man, victim, and psycho all very well.
The beginning tries to establish the characters to build empathy for their later duress. This is standard, necessary, but a little sappy - so don't get too critical.
The buildup for the first violent scene is excellent as you scream at Bacon to open his eyes to where he is and what is going down (classic horror).
The 'bad guys' hang out is introduced to the sound of Jimi Hendrix, and they are very well casted as dudes you do not want to ### with.
John Goodman is simply outstanding in his role and acting.
The first revenge scene is very believable in how it happens.
The 'bad guys' are shown as having emotions and intellect, not just as dehumanized thugs, + the balls to whack you at your favorite Starbucks at noon (there's no Starbucks in the movie, just making a point).
The 'Rambo' part of the film fullfills it's brutal purpose with a neat change in filming.
The end scene gives a tribute to Robert De Niro's early work in Taxi Driver.

You will probably be left with a dark alienated mood not a clear simple message. So watch it for the mood, not a message.
"2 thumbs up"

This is the type of movie where I believe that the average person can tell at a glance if he or she will like it or not. It's a violent action-oriented revenge story. If you like such movies, as I do, then you'll overlook its shortcomings. If you don't, you'll inevitably magnify them.There seem to be reviews here from both camps. However, I think both sides have missed what is truly profound about 'Death Sentence.' I love it much more for what the father DOESN'T do than for what he does.Consider the omissions:1.He doesn't hold a press conference. 2.He doesn't make the talk show circuit.3.He doesn't seek a book or movie deal.4.He doesn't start a 'crusade'or movement of any kind to make himself look like a great statesman.
It almost comes across as if the father perceives his child's death as more than a means to maximize his upward mobility. What a quaint notion.(If that sounds cynical to you, you don't own a tv.)

Death Sentence is a film brought to us by the genius who brought us the first Saw film. But don't be fooled, this is a crime drama not a horror flick. And probably one of the best crime dramas I've seen in a long time. The story follows a man (Kevin Bacon) who's son is murdered in a gang initiation and the guilty parties are let go. So he seeks revenge. Bloody, vicious revenge. The cast is rounded out by John Goodman and everybody does a spectacular job with their roles. You know how every film has at least one actor that sucks? This one didn't. It was solid all the way through. The cinematography on this film was just as amazing as Saw but actually seemed darker because of the story line. This was a great film and I can't wait to see what he will bring us next.

This is about an upper class executive family and family of gang members. It shows the interaction of the upper class family and their two sons and the gang leader father and his two sons.

When the upper class son is murdered in front of his father's eyes, the younger upper class son has issues of never measuring up.

The justice department wants to make a deal that will never bring the murderer to trial. Law enforcement is unable to control the activities of the gang and is useless to this family.

This was an initiation killing into the gang. The upper class father refuses to identify the murderer in court and thus a war of families to the last member begins for which law enforcement blames the upper class father.

What was just business as usual for the gang, becomes personal and was on a personal level with the upper class dad from its conception.

Has a lot of action scenes and brutality. If you like making your own ending. You will like this movie. You won't leave uplifted. John Goodman is the gangland father and Kevin Bacon the executive father.

This was a great blood and guts flick with some great acting and a superb not predictable ending! No more, no less!