Cash Truck

Ein düsterer Heist-Film mit einem sehr, aber wirklich SEHR zornigen Kerl, der sich rächen möchte. Tolle Gauner (der beste war Darrell D'Silva!), raw Schießereien und eine superdüstere, schwere Musik, die dem Film eine harte Ernsthaftigkeit verleiht. Die Actionszenen haben natürlich eine großartige Regie. Der Kameramann hat sich um fesselnde Tricks gekümmert, auch wenn die Action erst bevorsteht. In den ersten beiden Dritteln gibt es schön erzählte Ursachen der Ereignisse (in Flashbacks und mit einem originellen Schnitt) und die allmähliche Enthüllung der Identität der Hauptfigur. Wenn der Höhepunkt (es ist eigentlich "nur" eine richtige Action-Prügelei) und das Ende des Hauptschufts (man hätte sich für einen anderen Darsteller als den Nicht-Schauspieler Eastwood Jr. entscheiden sollen) noch ausgefeilter gewesen wären, wäre Cash Truck zu einem Genre-Referenzfilm geworden. (08.06.2021)

Guy Ritchie ist in seine heimatlichen Gewässer zurückgekehrt und hat ein wenig von seiner alten Magie eingefangen und gezeigt, dass er immer noch die Filmhits draufhat. Mit Cash Truck beweist er, dass er darin weitermachen will. Es ist ein stilvolles Krimispektakel, das sich die Prämisse aus einem 17 Jahre alten (und nicht genügend gewürdigten) französischen Film Cash Truck ausborgt und ihm mehr Blickwinkel, viel mehr Action und eine direkte Dosis Testosteron gibt, begleitet von einer melodischen und düsteren musikalischen Untermalung. Lange hat mich kein Filmmotiv so begeistert wie hier. Wäre es etwas weniger vorhersehbar, wäre ich noch zufriedener, dennoch Daumen hoch. (08.06.2021)

It's as if, after the more or less upbeat and cheerful The Gentlemen, Guy Ritchie decided he had to set things straight somehow, and he made the darkest, meanest film of his career. In Wrath of Man, he cuts back on his trademarks of frantic editing and narration, the film doesn't rush anywhere and has time to crawl under people's skin – and make you feel quite uncomfortable. Atmospherically, it reminds us of something between S. Craig Zahler's films and 70s thrillers, and thanks to the non-chronological narrative, it manages to be a fairly B-movie story into something you can't take your eyes off. And then we have Jason Statham, who has never had a better role in his life. His uncompromising expression and Ritchie's unexpected approach to directing (that music!) actually make the film quite uncomfortable to watch in the end. You can feel the anger, rage and aggression bubbling to the surface, with both men doing their best to delay the moment when the carnage breaks out. It's almost torturous, but it works brilliantly. Ritche has made a very different film than his fans would expect him to make. This vigorous sidestep shows that he's far from showing everything he can do as a filmmaker. I'm happy for him and his new release. Very happy. (30.05.2021)

In the first act I had a problem with the characters, they seemed strangely out of touch with reality in terms of their behaviour, but once the narrative switches to other points of view it somehow falls into place. Wrath of Man is a masculine film, cold and without any hint of humour. If I didn't know who made it, I'd be much more likely to guess I was watching S. Craig Zahler's new movie than Guy Ritchie's. I don't usually look forward to new Jason Statham films, and I wasn't expecting anything from this one either, but it ended up being surprisingly the best action flick of the year so far. The ending at the depo reminded me of Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13, which is the best possible calling card. (26.05.2021)

Feel my Wrath! I'm shocked what a gem Wrath of Man turned out to be. I was expecting a classic Statham action movie, but instead I got a well thought-out revenge-heist and gangster film with an atmosphere so dense, raw, and unpleasant at times that I was genuinely scared. There is less action than I expected, but considering the overall result, I forgive everything. The trailer showed maybe 10%, and I was shocked at how the movie turned out. I had no idea where it was heading. Jason Statham definitely has the best role of his career playing an angry, pissed-off boss with a cold expression craving revenge, but at the same time, he has character and doesn't kill people who are not against him. This is the dreamed badass protagonist I love, and I finally got to see him. The young Scott Eastwood impresses as well. He shows for the first time that he can act, playing a slimy, cold, and evil character flawlessly. The story is told retrospectively from multiple angles and perspectives, just the way I like it. There are a lot of tough guys who command respect, blood is not spared, neither are corpses. The final heist plan is as well-thought-out as in Money Heist, and the action-packed half-hour at the end is more than satisfying. The sound effects of the guns are stunning! (no muffled gun barrels). The whole movie is accompanied by a gripping and dark soundtrack that elevates it even higher. I must praise the realism and authenticity of the entire story. (the scene with the SWAT team, those guys commanded so much respect that I started to wish they would never come out of that car, otherwise they would take me away!). The final reckoning is among the sweetest revenge endings I've ever seen, and of course, there was one unexpected twist. A truly amazing manly feat loaded in all directions, and I'm looking forward to watching it again! I enjoyed it immensely. A contender for movie of the year! 9/10. (26.05.2021)