Some men are harder to kill than others. Fortunately, I'm one of the harder ones.
It's been a largely successful few weeks for the direct-to-video marketplace; the release of the
surprisingly excellent Universal Soldier:
Regeneration renewed a modicum of faith in lower-budgeted Action fare, and the
same can be said of Give 'em Hell, Malone, a fun little inter-genre picture that
hearkens back to the days of classic Detective/Noir pictures but here infused with an over-the-top
cartoonish sensationalism and flavored with deliciously excessive violence, all with a modern
twist. Give 'em Hell, Malone isn't exactly a genre parody, nor is it a film that's meant to
be taken all that seriously; it recalls something like Black Dynamite in
its
ability to play straight but at the same time pay tribute to a genre of old, but Malone also
strays from straight genre convention throughout, certainly tipping its hat to and playing as a
throwback Noir picture, but the movie's excellent integration of slick action pieces and bloody
special effects gives it a unique and altogether entertaining tone that's quite unlike
anything else out there. The result is a movie that, like Universal Soldier: Regeneration,
is a
much better film than the dreaded "DTV" label saddles it with. Director Russell Mulcahy's (Resident Evil:
Extinction) film is a
must-see for Action aficionados and a veritable classic-in-the-making when considered strictly
against its
DTV brethren.
'Shoot to kill,' know what I mean?
A former private eye turned gun for hire, Malone (Thomas Jane, The Punisher) is one of
the most feared men on the streets thanks in large part to a reputation for tearing hearts from
chests and
consuming them. Malone finds himself in the middle of a running gun battle as he vies for
possession of a valuable case that he ultimately secures and soon thereafter learns that its
contents are nothing less than "the meaning of
love." Malone, whose family was murdered years ago, is forced to team up with Evelyn (Elsa
Pataky) who must trade the case for her brother's life, but the duo instead finds itself face-to-face
with a
seductive but deadly Japanese schoolgirl known as "The Mauler" (Chris Yen). When Malone
realizes he's been set-up, he sets out on a bloody quest for answers while pitted against two of
the city's most notorious criminals, "Boulder" (Ving Rhames, Dawn of the Dead)
and the disfigured "Matchstick" (Doug Hutchison).
Give 'em Hell, Malone makes for one of those rare movies where style wins out over
substance, but that's not to say the picture is devoid of a clever script, good performances, slick
direction, and even a well-executed twist ending. Russell Mulcahy, a helmsman with a fairly
bland
resumé and perhaps best known as the director of a couple of Highlander films,
nevertheless
shows
that he's capable of delivering the goods in Malone, keeping the picture in-check and
grounded in a semblance of believability but still allowing the film's cartoonish feel, excessive
violence, clichéd dialogue, and fairly routine but nevertheless spicy story to work in the intended
context where comedy,
hardcore action, and a throwback style converge to make for one of the more unique and
appealing Action films of a recent vintage. Still, it's Mulcahy's vision for the picture that allows it
to work not in a compelling or meaningful way but rather as an all-out, unforgiving, violent romp
through a dark and bloody world of mayhem and oddball characters. The director maintains a
lighthearted tone throughout but not at the expense of the film's more serious side, but it's
evident that the picture is intended to be enjoyed at a very base level and not constructed to
withstand a barrage of critical nitty-gritty observations.
Indeed, Give 'em Hell, Malone is an almost critic-proof movie if soaked up in the context
of its intended style. It sets out to be nothing
but a fun and unique Action flick, and considering every element from the top-down is aimed at
supporting this most basic of goals, there's little room for finger-pointing. Give 'em Hell,
Malone looks great and every set, prop, and costume seems meticulously chosen to maintain
the film's throwback feel but also to lend to the movie a more modern flair, and Mulchay pulls off
the oddball combination to popcorn-munching perfection. The picture feels gritty but is
nevertheless slick and fast with plenty of blood and guts but is also stylish and classy at every
turn.
It's not everyday that a movie so expertly entwines vastly differing styles that are usually found
one without the other, but Malone proves that, in the right hands and with the right idea
and given the opportunity to intermingle several different cinematic formulas, movie magic can
and will work its wonders and present to audiences a film that demands to be seen and yearns to
be recognized as something far better than some throwaway DTV time killer. Give 'em Hell
Malone's best asset, though, is its collection of actors. Thomas Jane clearly has the part
down pat, the actor reveling in every cliché in the book while looking good doing it, playing not
only
to the script but also the costumes and style, the actor embracing and accentuating all the right
mannerisms and speech patterns that truly sell the movie as a modern take on a classic genre.
Opposite of Jane is the venerable Ving Rhames, himself portraying a larger-than-life figure that
basks in noir cliché and witty and harsh dialogue that makes his character both at once a
hard-nosed antagonist but at the same time a likable villain who is as easy to cheer for as Jane's
character.
Give 'Em Hell, Malone debuts on Blu-ray with a sloppy 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer
that nevertheless seems at least partially reflective of the film's director-intended appearance. The
image's opening shootout is particularly noisy with plenty of poorly-realized details, washed-out
colors, and blocking invading most every scene. Still, it's obviously meant to be a deliberately gritty
and harsh sequence, providing some leeway for a less-than-ideal presentation. Unfortunately, the
transfer doesn't get much better through the rest of the picture. The image looks terribly smooth
and artificial; faces appear particularly waxy and devoid of life, and the image is consistently flat and
visually uninspiring. Color gradation is poor and brighter shades seem to bleed out around the
edges, and the picture's whacky contrast doesn't help matters, either. Blacks are overpowering and
unnatural, and flesh tones take on a pale, dismal appearance.
Considering the film's highly-stylized look and throwback feel, it's difficult to find the line between
director intent and natural visual tone and whatever problems may have cropped up during the
transfer process. No matter, Give 'em Hell, Malone just isn't very attractive on Blu-ray.
Give 'Em Hell, Malone shoots up sound systems with a prodigious DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless
soundtrack. The film begins with an extensive shootout that's a sonic revelation and, more
importantly, plenty of fun as thunderous shots ring out from every corner of the soundstage, clank
off hard surfaces, burrow into flesh, and create a veritable symphony of action delight that's the
single-strongest segment of the track and worthy of demo purposes. Gunfire remains a paramount
aspect of the track through the duration of the film with subsequent shootouts enjoying just as
much clarity and oomph as the film's deadly opening segment. The DTS track makes extensive use
of surround channels, too, with both discrete effects and atmospherics appearing with regularity.
Imaging is excellent as sound precisely follows on-screen movement. Though loud, the track is
never obnoxious, nor does it come across as overcooked. The sonic mayhem fits right in with the
picture's
visual tone and themes, and this extensively aggressive mix seems right at home in Give 'em
Hell, Malone. Also delivering trouble-free dialogue reproduction, this small-studio and
direct-to-video release sounds just as good as plenty of bigger-budgeted fare.
Give 'Em Hell, Malone contains but a pittance of extra materials. The featured supplements
include
a
trio of 1080p interview pieces with stars Thomas Jane (6:56), Elsa Pataky (6:08), and Doug
Hutchinson (6:29). Also available is the Give 'Em Hell, Malone trailer (1080p, 2:36) and
additional 1080p trailers for Baby on Board, Night Train, Camille, and Staten Island.
Indeed, it's a pleasure to find two diamonds in the rough in such close proximity to one another in
the wasteland that is the direct-to-video marketplace. Give 'Em Hell, Malone and
Universal Soldier: Regeneration are both hardcore Action pictures with Malone
tossing in
a helping of subtle humor that places its excessive violence and noir appeal in context but never
drowns out the picture's harder and more demanding elements. Though a film of style first and
foremost, Give 'em Hell, Malone also delivers fantastic in-context acting, a witty but
involved script, superb direction, exceptional action pieces, and a solid twist ending with a "to be
continued" promise at film's conclusion that's, hopefully, realized sooner rather than later. This
Blu-ray
release from National Entertainment Media boasts an exceptional lossless
soundtrack but a paltry 1080p transfer and only a few scattered extras. Still, Action fans can do a
whole lot worse than this,
and considering the attractive selling price, Give 'em Hell, Malone earns a
recommendation.
