A remake poorly executed, despite being the more recent, 2000's Get Carter is the one to have aged to its detriment.
A Las Vegas mob enforcer returns to his hometown following the death of his brother. Suspicious of the story fed to him, he delves into the criminal underworld, as well as his estranged extended family, to investigate the true nature of the lost life.
The build up is a fairly vague narration that requires concentration, but doesn't hold focus as it isn't overly interesting. Some character's involvement in the plot remains unclear until the very end, with the best read you can get of someone being whether they are a 'good guy' or a 'bad guy'.
In general, the direction and it's aesthetic is of its time, and an approach that has never offered a brilliant film. Scenes are poorly cut together and in an artsy fashion that isn't easy on the eye. The opening hour can be very slow paced at times, yet still jarring as it jumps irrationally between scenes. All the while, a dodgy soundtrack constantly plays in the background, even adding Christmas songs into the mix for absolutely no reason, there is no hint of it being set in the festive season.
The last half hour does really pick up. It is still far from a great film, but it at least gives Stallone the opportunity to ease into action. His abilities are never utilised and despite some decent acting and a semi-decent hard-hitting twist (mostly due to the plot not giving any clues as to what is happening prior), overall Get Carter is far from engaging.
A Las Vegas mob enforcer returns to his hometown following the death of his brother. Suspicious of the story fed to him, he delves into the criminal underworld, as well as his estranged extended family, to investigate the true nature of the lost life.
The build up is a fairly vague narration that requires concentration, but doesn't hold focus as it isn't overly interesting. Some character's involvement in the plot remains unclear until the very end, with the best read you can get of someone being whether they are a 'good guy' or a 'bad guy'.
In general, the direction and it's aesthetic is of its time, and an approach that has never offered a brilliant film. Scenes are poorly cut together and in an artsy fashion that isn't easy on the eye. The opening hour can be very slow paced at times, yet still jarring as it jumps irrationally between scenes. All the while, a dodgy soundtrack constantly plays in the background, even adding Christmas songs into the mix for absolutely no reason, there is no hint of it being set in the festive season.
The last half hour does really pick up. It is still far from a great film, but it at least gives Stallone the opportunity to ease into action. His abilities are never utilised and despite some decent acting and a semi-decent hard-hitting twist (mostly due to the plot not giving any clues as to what is happening prior), overall Get Carter is far from engaging.