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Scott Kane (Drew Fuller), a man with a checkered past is trying to live a clean life. When his son Owen falls ill, Kane finds his only option is to turn to Daniel Morgan (William Atherton), the local kingpin of the criminal underworld. Morgan offers to help Kane's family, but double-crosses him. When Morgan tries killing Kane by employing a dirty cop, Jace Olsen (Ethan Embry), Kane escapes from prison to seek his revenge and save his son. With the FBI (William Devane) and Police (Embry) on his tail, Kane must utilize all his deadly skills to save his family and himself
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Edward Lee
Format:DVD
For the record, there's an awful lot of THE KANE FILES that audiences have already seen before. Indeed, the central thread of the story is practically lifted from the script of the Denzel Washington thriller, JOHN Q, and the "former hitman trying to live an honest life" has been done to countless variations, even with whole seasons of television series. So the real question here is: what's NEW to the story?
The answer is, sadly, very little.
Scott Kane (played by Drew Fuller) is the former contract killer who's trying to make ends meet with his comely young wife, Anna (the increasingly lovely Whitney Able). When their son, Owen, develops a previously undiagnosed heart ailment, Kane goes where he knows he can make the money he needs - to the local mob kingpin Daniel Morgan (William Atherton). Morgan promises Kane over a quarter million dollars in exchange for a single hit ... that's only if the dirty cop Jace Olsen (Ethan Embry) doesn't get to the money first.
Too much of the plot revolves around circumstantial plotting - Kane happened to be in the right place at the right time in order to get at the dirty cop's family; Kane spends too much of his time committed to getting back at others and too little time actually trying to get to the money promised him, even if it really existed; FBI agent Thompson (the always appreciated William Devane) has too little substance and no legitimate backstory here but always shows up in the nick of time - and, thus, the picture never really developed any momentum for me. The action sequences play out nicely, if not a bit predictably. There's a clever plot device that frames the motion picture, tweaking the audience to question who really is the bad guy and who really is the good guy; yet, in the end, it all turns out pretty much the way you guessed it if you're watching close.
Atherton is so horribly miscast here - he spouts his anger with way too much control for any of it to be believable - and so is Embry; his fresh-face (he was the goofy kid-in-the-band from Tom Hanks' THAT THING YOU DO!) betrays any sense of genuine menace his character is meant to summon, much less achieve. Even when his camera-friendly face is beaten, bruised, and blood-covered it's hard to take any of it seriously. Part of that wholesome quality is built into the script; it's done with measured cleverness, but, in the end, I wasn't convinced. That could be because some dunderhead had the bright idea to cover Embry's body with so many tattoos in the early scenes that I just didn't buy the "I'm the good guy" image right out of the gate.
To his credit, Fuller does a good job, as does Able. He brings a respectable toughness - an affable grace - to the role, as Ms. Able blends equal parts charm and desperation. The two of them - along with Devane - deserved a better script; they're the trinity upon which so much of the plot revolves. To their benefit, the film concludes with a bit of a hanging thread - there's a chance, albeit slim, that we could see all of these characters again - and one can only hope that the next go-round (if it's to be) gets more substance and more teeth to the action.
There's some virtue on display - the former hitman is trying to live a clean life - and there's a fair amount of running and gunplay; however, so much of it is bracketed in a world that makes little sense. How could Kane so easily have broken into a house under surveillance by the police? Why were the police watching Kane's target in the first place? If it was in an attempt to corner the local `bookie' and his heavies, then why was it so poorly conceived and run? Had they sent the target in with a wire in the earlier scene, they'd already have all the evidence they needed. To the writer's benefit, it's all told at a breakneck speed so that the audience doesn't have the time to ask questions ... but I guess it's just my job. I could go on, but I think you get the gist of it: a script with too many holes only encourages an audience to fill `em on their own, and that's NEVER a good idea. Writer/director Benjamin Gourley has no one to blame but himself for the mess.
The picture comes from the Highland Film Group and Redline Entertainment, with contributing partners of Revel Entertainment and Wolf Gourley Productions. It looks pretty solid, but I thought the sound mix was as close to horrible as it could get for the DVD. I'm not sure how well these folks were miked for the production, but I hope somebody lost their job over it. The disc comes from Inception Media Group with no special features, not a huge surprise as that's usually the case with smaller releases like this.
NOT REALLY RECOMMENDED. There's absolutely wrong or ignoble about many direct-to-DVD ventures; it's just that, when they essentially bring nothing new to the game, it's hard to embrace it as anything more than a feature passed off to make a buck. Minimally, KANE tweaks the former-hitman-now-turned-good-guy formula with some clever plot devices, but the rest of it is mired in so much mediocrity it's hard to get excited about it.
In the interests of fairness, I'm pleased to disclose that the fine folks at Inception Media Group, LLC provided me with a DVD screener of THE KANE FILES for the expressed purposes of completing this review.
The answer is, sadly, very little.
Scott Kane (played by Drew Fuller) is the former contract killer who's trying to make ends meet with his comely young wife, Anna (the increasingly lovely Whitney Able). When their son, Owen, develops a previously undiagnosed heart ailment, Kane goes where he knows he can make the money he needs - to the local mob kingpin Daniel Morgan (William Atherton). Morgan promises Kane over a quarter million dollars in exchange for a single hit ... that's only if the dirty cop Jace Olsen (Ethan Embry) doesn't get to the money first.
Too much of the plot revolves around circumstantial plotting - Kane happened to be in the right place at the right time in order to get at the dirty cop's family; Kane spends too much of his time committed to getting back at others and too little time actually trying to get to the money promised him, even if it really existed; FBI agent Thompson (the always appreciated William Devane) has too little substance and no legitimate backstory here but always shows up in the nick of time - and, thus, the picture never really developed any momentum for me. The action sequences play out nicely, if not a bit predictably. There's a clever plot device that frames the motion picture, tweaking the audience to question who really is the bad guy and who really is the good guy; yet, in the end, it all turns out pretty much the way you guessed it if you're watching close.
Atherton is so horribly miscast here - he spouts his anger with way too much control for any of it to be believable - and so is Embry; his fresh-face (he was the goofy kid-in-the-band from Tom Hanks' THAT THING YOU DO!) betrays any sense of genuine menace his character is meant to summon, much less achieve. Even when his camera-friendly face is beaten, bruised, and blood-covered it's hard to take any of it seriously. Part of that wholesome quality is built into the script; it's done with measured cleverness, but, in the end, I wasn't convinced. That could be because some dunderhead had the bright idea to cover Embry's body with so many tattoos in the early scenes that I just didn't buy the "I'm the good guy" image right out of the gate.
To his credit, Fuller does a good job, as does Able. He brings a respectable toughness - an affable grace - to the role, as Ms. Able blends equal parts charm and desperation. The two of them - along with Devane - deserved a better script; they're the trinity upon which so much of the plot revolves. To their benefit, the film concludes with a bit of a hanging thread - there's a chance, albeit slim, that we could see all of these characters again - and one can only hope that the next go-round (if it's to be) gets more substance and more teeth to the action.
There's some virtue on display - the former hitman is trying to live a clean life - and there's a fair amount of running and gunplay; however, so much of it is bracketed in a world that makes little sense. How could Kane so easily have broken into a house under surveillance by the police? Why were the police watching Kane's target in the first place? If it was in an attempt to corner the local `bookie' and his heavies, then why was it so poorly conceived and run? Had they sent the target in with a wire in the earlier scene, they'd already have all the evidence they needed. To the writer's benefit, it's all told at a breakneck speed so that the audience doesn't have the time to ask questions ... but I guess it's just my job. I could go on, but I think you get the gist of it: a script with too many holes only encourages an audience to fill `em on their own, and that's NEVER a good idea. Writer/director Benjamin Gourley has no one to blame but himself for the mess.
The picture comes from the Highland Film Group and Redline Entertainment, with contributing partners of Revel Entertainment and Wolf Gourley Productions. It looks pretty solid, but I thought the sound mix was as close to horrible as it could get for the DVD. I'm not sure how well these folks were miked for the production, but I hope somebody lost their job over it. The disc comes from Inception Media Group with no special features, not a huge surprise as that's usually the case with smaller releases like this.
NOT REALLY RECOMMENDED. There's absolutely wrong or ignoble about many direct-to-DVD ventures; it's just that, when they essentially bring nothing new to the game, it's hard to embrace it as anything more than a feature passed off to make a buck. Minimally, KANE tweaks the former-hitman-now-turned-good-guy formula with some clever plot devices, but the rest of it is mired in so much mediocrity it's hard to get excited about it.
In the interests of fairness, I'm pleased to disclose that the fine folks at Inception Media Group, LLC provided me with a DVD screener of THE KANE FILES for the expressed purposes of completing this review.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Jim Clark
Format:DVD
By Jim Clark, publisher, Lee County Courier, Tupelo, MS
Remember John Q? You know a desperate father (Denzel Washington) takes hospital staff hostage when his HMO'refuses to pay for his son's life changing surgery.
Well, this is that type of story, except the father is a reformed hit man.
Scott Kane (Drew Fuller) made a promise to his fiancee Anna (Whitney Able) that if she would marry him he would leave his checkered past behind. She said yes. He left everything behind. The two had a son, who is now seven, and been diagnosed, after a heart attack, with having to have a transplant. They are barely getting by and have no insurance.
Out of options Scott goes to his old boss, Daniel Morgan (William Atherton), who says he'll take care of all the boy's expenses if Scott will kill an adversary. Scott agrees. Anna says she'll leave him if he goes through with it, but eventually caves in.
Of course, Morgan doublecrosses Scott and he winds up in prison. Morgan has the local sheriff, Jace Olsen (Ethan Embry) on the payroll and has him put a hit out on Scott from the inside.
FBI agent James Thompson (William Devane) wants Scott to turn evidence so they can convict Morgan, but our anti-hero has other plans.
He manages to escape with plans to save his son and kill his foes. A tough order when the real police, FBI, crooked sheriff and mob all want you.
This is one of the best sleeper movies out there.
Remember John Q? You know a desperate father (Denzel Washington) takes hospital staff hostage when his HMO'refuses to pay for his son's life changing surgery.
Well, this is that type of story, except the father is a reformed hit man.
Scott Kane (Drew Fuller) made a promise to his fiancee Anna (Whitney Able) that if she would marry him he would leave his checkered past behind. She said yes. He left everything behind. The two had a son, who is now seven, and been diagnosed, after a heart attack, with having to have a transplant. They are barely getting by and have no insurance.
Out of options Scott goes to his old boss, Daniel Morgan (William Atherton), who says he'll take care of all the boy's expenses if Scott will kill an adversary. Scott agrees. Anna says she'll leave him if he goes through with it, but eventually caves in.
Of course, Morgan doublecrosses Scott and he winds up in prison. Morgan has the local sheriff, Jace Olsen (Ethan Embry) on the payroll and has him put a hit out on Scott from the inside.
FBI agent James Thompson (William Devane) wants Scott to turn evidence so they can convict Morgan, but our anti-hero has other plans.
He manages to escape with plans to save his son and kill his foes. A tough order when the real police, FBI, crooked sheriff and mob all want you.
This is one of the best sleeper movies out there.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A crisis causes a man with a shadowy past to return to a life of crime, in The Kane Files (2010) an overdramatic tale of crime written and directed by Benjamin Gourley (Moving McAllister). Mild spoilers follow.
Ex-soldier Scott Kane (Drew Fuller) discovers that his son needs a heart transplant. With no money and no insurance, Kane turns to loan shark Daniel Morgan (William Atherton), who promises to take care of the situation if Kane will murder someone for him. Kane's wife Anna (Whitney Able, Monsters, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane) is concerned about his return to the dark side, but there seems to be no other options. Kane is double crossed by Morgan, and ends up in prison, but manages to breakout in the most unlikely manner, with Sherriff Jace Olsen (Ethan Embry) and FBI man James Thompson (William Devane) both on his tail.
Loaded with clichés, and with some murky subplots, The Kane Files isn't at all believable, but it is mildly entertaining. Told in nonlinear fashion, it takes a while for the story to unfold and the gunfire erupts. Devane and Atherton are a good fit playing stock characters, and Whitney Able is also good in her limited screen time. The dialog isn't a strong point, but Drew Fuller (Army Wives) does a pretty decent job of acting, and handling the action scenes. Shot in Utah, The Kane Files plays out like the pilot for a series which apparently didn't happen. It's worth a watch if you see it on Lifetime's schedule, where it has just premiered.
Ex-soldier Scott Kane (Drew Fuller) discovers that his son needs a heart transplant. With no money and no insurance, Kane turns to loan shark Daniel Morgan (William Atherton), who promises to take care of the situation if Kane will murder someone for him. Kane's wife Anna (Whitney Able, Monsters, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane) is concerned about his return to the dark side, but there seems to be no other options. Kane is double crossed by Morgan, and ends up in prison, but manages to breakout in the most unlikely manner, with Sherriff Jace Olsen (Ethan Embry) and FBI man James Thompson (William Devane) both on his tail.
Loaded with clichés, and with some murky subplots, The Kane Files isn't at all believable, but it is mildly entertaining. Told in nonlinear fashion, it takes a while for the story to unfold and the gunfire erupts. Devane and Atherton are a good fit playing stock characters, and Whitney Able is also good in her limited screen time. The dialog isn't a strong point, but Drew Fuller (Army Wives) does a pretty decent job of acting, and handling the action scenes. Shot in Utah, The Kane Files plays out like the pilot for a series which apparently didn't happen. It's worth a watch if you see it on Lifetime's schedule, where it has just premiered.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Kane Files
This movie was pretty good, it kept me waiting to see what was going to happen to Drew Fuller next from a few bad cops.
Published 3 months ago by Richard Pokallus
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not all that much
The movie was a little more unecesarily gory than I was prepared for and there wasn't enough plot to sustain that. It just wasn't a holder.
Published 4 months ago by SHARON BONDI
4.0 out of 5 stars
Action filled "John Q" type movie thats almost as good. A must see...
"You got a choice to make. You can finish this job and go to jail and your kid will get the best care any kid could have, or you cannot finish this job, you still go to jail and... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Tony Heck
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