A sign of a great director is the ability to cross into any genre and be successful. Many directors find their niche and stay there, but the greats love to challenge themselves. Steven Soderbergh is already an Oscar winning director who can make both big studio pictures and small independent ones. One genre he had not ventured into until now is action/adventure. He scores with his new movie, “Haywire”.
Mixed Martial Artist star Gina Carano stars as a special black ops agent, Mallory. After successfully completing a mission in which we get to see her kick ass and take names, as Gina used to do in “the octagon”, she is asked by her boss, Kenneth (Ewan McGregor), to go on a new assignment. This mission, however, was a set up to take Mallory out and now she is seeking payback for Kenneth and anyone else who played a part in her betrayal.
If you are familiar with Soderbergh’s work, you will definitely recognize his fingerprints all over this movie. This is a good thing. You would not expect to get the generic action movie from him and you don’t. He does things his way and it works. A chase scene is composed of nothing expect for music; no witty dialogue accompanies it. The fight scenes have no music with them at all. These staples of action scenes presented in this distinctive style help make “Haywire” unique.
“Haywire” is not going to turn Gina Carano into an international superstar, but it’s going to get her started. Steven Soderbergh had her in mind for the role of Mallory. Gina’s performance showcases her to be a tough as nails type of woman, but she also allows her vulnerable and sympathetic side to be seen. She is a natural in this genre and should find success in it for years to come. Look out Angelina Jolie, you got yourself some competition!
It’s not unlike Steven Soderbergh to switch between scenes that take place in the past or present without informing the audience with a caption. Lem Dobb’s (“The Limey”) screenplay often switches between Mallory’s past story and her present day crises; consequently, some audience members could find themselves a little lost, but most people should be able to catch up. Soderbergh doesn’t really allow audience members to switch off their brains during his movies. He keeps the viewer thoroughly engaged. Regardless, in a month notorious for releasing some pretty bad movies, “Haywire” is worth catching in theaters. The movie is rated R for its violent content.
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