Blood Out (2011)

Very disappointing...

Good concept, poorly executed.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

After reading through the reviews I was in 2 minds about whether to even bother with this film. However, although I wasn't blown away by this film I wasn't completely bored either. Luke Goss didn't do an awful job at playing a bereaved brother who wanted revenge and his fight scenes were pretty good despite the fact he wasn't particularly muscular. Vinnie Jones is as you would expect, a foul mouthed heartless crook which fitted nicely with the storyline. I was very surprised to see AnnaLynne McCord and again she played her part fairly well. Although 50 Cent seemed to get a lot of trailer screen time you only see him twice in this film.There is nothing new about this film but all in all it isn't an awful action movie.

The film is adventurous, some of the scenes are splendidly colourful in a pantomime, burlesque peep show kind of way. The streets look mean, the cops look bad and the baddies look badder, apart from Kilmer who just looks like a camp, fat has-been.Goss plays a cop forced to throw in his badge and infiltrate the underworld to seek revenge for his brother's death. Goss has come along way since his band days, and looks the Jason Streatham'esque mean moody guy who's not to be messed with, but his accent is terrible. At times, English, at times a bit Aussie I think he just manages to get away with it, but it is distracting. His slight frame also has you questioning at times whether really, really he is capable of ploughing into guys twice his size and pummelling them to bits. When he turns sideways he most disappears.That aside, the rest of the cast are great, specifically with regard to Tamer Hassan, who delivers a rock solid performance as the egomaniac Elias. Around him, he is surrounded with a very believable army of thugs and this alone saves the film.I think this was a bit too big for Goss, at this juncture, especially with a non-native accent, but the action, and slow underlying story is believable and keeps you watching.

What do you do when the law doesn't help? After his brother is brutally murdered Sheriff Spencer (Luke Goss) is let down by the people he hoped would help. Taking matters into his own hands he goes undercover in the gang that did it in order to get revenge. Looking at the cover it seems like another 50-cent/Val Kilmer movie, which makes you think twice about getting it. Vinnie Jones, Fiddy and Kilmer have a total screen time of about 2 minutes. Luke Goss is the main star of the movie. I was not expecting a lot being that I thought it as a 50 cent/Kilmer movie, although "Gun" was not as bad as I expected so I had a little more expectations for this one. This was a movie that started off flat and never improved. The acting wasn't as bad as I expected though. It was not terrible, but had all the drama and excitement of watching a dog play fetch, fun for a while then just sitting waiting for it to end. This is a movie that a lot of people will like, I just can't get into this kind of thing. I give it a C-.Would I watch again? - No I wouldn't

I would rate this film a 6.5 out of 10. I went in definitely with very sub par expectations especially considering the opening 5 minutes of the film seemed like a blatant rip off from the opening 5 minutes of the Assault on Precinct 13 remake. Once the film moved on passed that and I adjusted to the passé (and much recently overused) style of shaky camera syndrome I was able to absorb that the film had much more to offer. Filmed in Louisiana it had a much grittier look than Los Angeles and definitely helped sell the film a lot more than a typical gang-banger flick shot in Compton. Also the film featured 50 cent but another refreshing aspect was typically in a film of that nature (a film that features a prominent rapper) more than half the soundtrack would be wishy wash songs by that artist; but this film instead had many underground and fresh artists collaborating to create a very enjoyable mix. Even the credits outro song was very good (albeit stealing the riff from 'Slow-Motion for me' rap song). Val Kilmer. Well what can you say about his appearance in this film? Is it me or has he resorted to these very bit small parts in all sorts of independent movies. He is much bigger than his days of Chris Knight in Real Genius but his presence does its job and doesn't distract the viewer all too much. More distractions fall all the sexy eye candy that is spread all over the film via slave girls in S&M outfits and Victoria Secret angel garb. A minute into the film a sexy breast is presented to us but don't let that fool you, the movie is far from a late night Skinemax T&A film... in fact after that opening gratuity shot not many more nipples make there appearance. Luke Goss is a very well fit for this film and his acting hits the X. Very believable in a role in which I don't think many men could pull off. The director, Jason Hewitt (I believe his first film directing), does a very good job in telling a way too common vigilante (cop goes undercover) story in a unique way so that the viewer doesn't feel like they are watching recycled Hollywood garbage that has been done so many times before. All in all the film is recommended (specially if you are in a macho guy action flick mood) and the soundtrack would be worth hunting down.