SABOTAGE is an erstwhile reimagining of the classic Agatha Christie novel AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, featuring a simple but electrifying plot: a corrupt DEA team steal $10 million from their latest haul, only to have the money stolen in turn before a killer starts cutting a swathe through their members one by one. I saw the red-band trailer for this and was blown away; it looked like a true return to form for Arnie, and I couldn't wait to watch it. Then I found out it was directed by David Ayer, and I was in two minds; I either love his work (such as the equally underrated STREET KINGS) or despise it (such as the much-lauded END OF WATCH, in which barely anything happens). Things could go either way.
Well, despite the plentiful negative reviews, SABOTAGE turns out to be a great deal of fun and I'm not quite sure what the other reviewers were either expecting or watching. It's an action-packed movie, well directed and chock-full of on-screen mayhem and gory death, and there's very little to dislike about it. Apparently the movie originally had a running time of three hours and was later cut down by executives, revealing the odd plot hole here and there, but these aren't enough to detract from the entertainment value as a whole.
Inevitably, Arnie towers head and shoulders above the rest of the cast in this film (even though some of his team, like Joe Manganiello, are more physically imposing) and he delivers a fine performance as a haunted family man. His one-liners are kept to a minimum, but it's great to hear them when they do arise. The rest of his team are more interchangeable, but there's a surprisingly touching turn from Sam Worthington. The downside is Mireille Enos, who overdoes things as a drug addict.
The good news is that the film has plentiful action and it all plays out very well, from assaults on apartment buildings to car chases. The gore quotient is also strong, which I'm not complaining about, lending this film a distinctly adult edge. I know the ending was altered after initial audience dissatisfaction but I think it works very well. In all I had a ball with SABOTAGE and look forward to revisiting it in the future.
Well, despite the plentiful negative reviews, SABOTAGE turns out to be a great deal of fun and I'm not quite sure what the other reviewers were either expecting or watching. It's an action-packed movie, well directed and chock-full of on-screen mayhem and gory death, and there's very little to dislike about it. Apparently the movie originally had a running time of three hours and was later cut down by executives, revealing the odd plot hole here and there, but these aren't enough to detract from the entertainment value as a whole.
Inevitably, Arnie towers head and shoulders above the rest of the cast in this film (even though some of his team, like Joe Manganiello, are more physically imposing) and he delivers a fine performance as a haunted family man. His one-liners are kept to a minimum, but it's great to hear them when they do arise. The rest of his team are more interchangeable, but there's a surprisingly touching turn from Sam Worthington. The downside is Mireille Enos, who overdoes things as a drug addict.
The good news is that the film has plentiful action and it all plays out very well, from assaults on apartment buildings to car chases. The gore quotient is also strong, which I'm not complaining about, lending this film a distinctly adult edge. I know the ending was altered after initial audience dissatisfaction but I think it works very well. In all I had a ball with SABOTAGE and look forward to revisiting it in the future.