Haywire

Introduction

Gina Cerano joins a growing list of ex-martial arts and wrestling stars moving into action films but with two differences: one, she’s a woman and two, she’s been cast by acclaimed director Stephen Soderburgh.  Carano started out in Muay Thai and amassed a quite impressive bout record before she first came to attention as part of the first female-sanctioned MMA bout under the World Extreme Fighting banner.  Soderburgh apparently saw her on TV and decided that she would make the good basis of a film, and here it is...

Mallory Kane (Cerano) is a special ops operative working for a private contractor company headed by ex-boyfriend Kenneth (Ewan McGregor).  She is tasked to lead a rescue operation in Barcelona for foreign journalist Jiang (Anthony Brandon Wong), requested specifically by government agent Coblenz (Michael Douglas) and Kenneth’s Spanish contact Rodrigo (Antonio Banderas).  Brought in to supplement Mallory’s small team is a sceptical Aaron (Channing Tatum), with whom Mallory relieves after-mission tension.

All seems to have gone well, until the follow-up mission in Dublin.  Billed as a simple babysitting mission with new partner, MI6 officer Paul (Michael Fassbender), Mallory quickly finds that she is marked for termination and doesn’t know who to trust.

Cue lots of intrigue, visceral fights, car chases and gunplay...

Picture

As you would expect with Soderburgh, this film doesn’t follow the more usual linear plotline with various strands disctating the pace of the film and the director uses the colour filters I first saw in Traffic to help audiences keep track of where we are.

Sound

Not much to say here, but I wanted to mention David Holmes minimalist score.  There are the usual subtle Holmes motifs and melodies but it’s very restrained during the film, with Soderburgh relying on a quiet brooding atmosphere to carry his film.  There are, however, retro elements to the soundtrack that come to the fore on occasion with brass and almost funk elements that remind me heavily of the old TV series The Professionals without it quite bursting into the familiar CI:5 theme tune.

Extras

Gina Carano in Training – the longest of the featurettes, focussing on Cerano’s history and the training she undertook for the film.  Also include some background and pre-film footage of the rather impressive fight sequences.

The Men of Haywire – brief interviews with the main male characters, although disappointingly nothing with Michael Douglas.

Characters of Haywire – series of personalised trailers that essentially explain the role of each of the blokes, don’t watch prior to viewing the film itself.

Trailer

Overall

Wasn’t quite sure what to make of this film originally.  The thought of another martial arts star in a film didn’t really inspire me with confidence that this would be much more than a disposable action flick, even with Soderburgh at the helm.  Also, being quite a natural beauty (think Noomi Rapace), it just brought Cynthia Rothrock to mind.

Luckily it’s nothing like that.

Haywire is quite a good and intriguing film that is light on the dialogue but heavy on realistic and visceral action.  Carano is clearly limited in her acting capabilities, but then she’s not a trained actor and not that experienced.  That said, she doesn’t look or feel out of place alongside Michael Douglas, Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum, Antonio Banderas or Michael Fassbender – all brought together for another star studded Soderburgh flick.

Haywire is not an original film by any means but it’s not bargain bin fodder either.  It’s quite an intelligent film where you have to try and work out alongside Carano just what is going on.  Carano’s fighting skills are superb and there’s no doubt she can quite easily kick the arse out of just about any man she comes across.  The fight sequences are close and brutal and look real and vicious.  Whilst they are clearly choreographed, as are all such sequences, you are left in no doubt that she knows exactly what she’s doing.  In fact, her co-stars leave no doubt in their interviews that they were seriously outmatched by her.

The obvious comparison to this film is undoubtedly Angelina Jolie’s Salt, but this is different kind of film, certainly doesn’t have the feel of that film.  This is more of a spy thriller with action rather than an action film with spy elements.  There’s none of the huge stunts, but plenty to keep you hooked.

Hopefully this is the start of a promising career for Gina Carano...