Death Race
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Starring: Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Ian McShane, Tyrese Gibson, Natalie Martinez
Verdict: Hmm…
The movie opens in 2012 dystopian society where the American economy has crumbled and crime rate has gone through the roof. Jenson Ames (Jason Statham), an ex- racer has just been laid off and on the same day he is charged with the murder of his wife and sent to prison. But in his day and age the prisons are taken over by big corporations. Prisons are a profit-making industry by the virtue of having the Death Race, which is televised live, where the inmates race each other to death with the aid of guns, armoury mounted on to their cars.
The death race is immensely popular and Jenson is brought in to replace a death race legend, Frankenstein, who was killed in the last race and not wanting to lose interest of the viewers, the warden Hennessey (Joan Allen) makes Jenson step into Frankenstein’s shoes. Frankenstein had won fours races and anyone who wins five races wins freedom.
Jenson soon makes enemies both on and off the track. What ensures is some thrilling action sequences, which look convincing enough on screen but one would have to numb their brains to believe them. Don’t even expect the film to have a plot or a story; the opening scenes have all the drama and character development. After that, it’s all about the race. It does feel like an extension of a video game.
Jason Statham after the Transporter films continues in his action mode. Joan Allen spewing icy venom as the brutal Hennessey does what’s asked of her. Ian Mcshane as the coach is another performance to look out for. Tyrese Gibson as machine gun Joe, a rival of Frankenstein does what is demanded of him. Natalie Martinez sizzles as the pretty babe who is Jenson’s navigator. She’s there because fast cars and pretty babes go together.
If you need your fix of action, then this is the movie for you. It doesn’t go beyond that and doesn’t make any pretentious attempts at character development or having a plot or storyline.