Swelter (2014)

Powerful

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Although this movie is a modern crime saga, it often plays like a slow-paced old time Western. It's loaded with violence, as you'd expect from a film in this genre, and has some ridiculous plot coincidences and elements, but there was enough intrigue here for me that I wanted to see how it would all play out.Ten years before, as some of the movie is told in flashbacks, 5 cohorts in crime attempt a heist at a Las Vegas casino. Four were captured, but one escaped being wounded and apparently with $10 million. Now, two of the gang members have served their time, one has escaped, and the three are about to pull off a brazen daytime prison break for the fourth from the prison chapel, where 7 guards will be killed.Their plan is to find out where their former cohort is and get their share of the $10 million, and they don't care how many cops or civilians they have to kill to get what they want. Of these four gang members one is Stillman, ably portrayed by Jean-Claude Van Damme, but don't expect his role to be the charismatic leader like in the past, as his role is fairly low key here. The other three are solid in their roles with Grant Bowler, as Cole, standing out in my mind.They get a lead that the fifth member Pike, now named Bishop, and well played by Lennie James, is in the God forsaken desert town of Baker, Nevada. He's now the Sheriff in Baker, but they soon find out he has amnesia, and except for slices of dreams he has about the robbery, has no idea where the money is. Of course, as the gang terrorizes the town to get what they want, it will all end up in bloody violence.I might note here that the terrific actor Alfred Molina adds much needed comic relief in the film as Doc, the only physician in Baker.In summary, this movie, written and directed by Keith Parmer, offered just enough to keep my interest, but don't expect a fast paced crime thriller.

One of the worst movies i have seen in a while.Pretty decent story and directing. A couple of the actors were on Tommy Wiseau's level and others really delivered like Grant Bowler and Lennie James, they did a really good job. I did not expect Van Damme to actually be an okay actor. The thing i really disliked were the choice of music and sometimes the music were too high. I only managed to watch half this movie then I almost felt depressed and said to myself; Why am i looking at this when i can actually watch a decent movie.If they changed some of the actors to someone who actually can portray these roles and if they changed the music department it might have got maybe 4-5 stars from me, but as it stands now it will not get more than 2 if it even should have got that many.

*** This review may contain spoilers *** i am biggest fan of Jean Claude Van Damme the biggest lover back then he was good guy in Action movies but this Started van Damme into villain Since Expendables 2 that was better film then Sweater screw it he doesn't do much i am sorry he doesn't do jack crap in Expendables 2 he did a lot but not lot this he didn't do much no fighting yes i know it's not van Damme movie. this story follows about 10 years ago heist robbery in Las Vegas the lead role was (Lennie James) is the lame character that you don't care about ! he is not likable, just boring main role if they just get Van damme as main character you know like Desert heat (1999) WAS Better movie, then this crap that is better movie Desert Heat.Lennie James character was like lame but this doesn't make a sense but hes character Lennie James was like who doesn't remember about the past he doesn't know where is the money is after some hold up years ago. later on he become the town Sheriff that doesn't hold gun how the heck in earth that your Sheriff you catch bad guys with guns how do you catch them ? i mean it is just stupid these guys (Josh Henderson) (Grant Bowler) characters bad guys looking for the money what Sheriff toke but it was hidden in water tank at end of film you will find out i like Action Scenes but this film just sucked no martial arts in this movie how can be movie without martial arts.Film is slow,boring,no martial arts, Pointless film JCVD should have not take this role just why just why does he take this bull crap role for ? the action scenes little shootout in breakout prison that's it another scene shooting at cops that's it director killed off van Damme for no reason that is so lame that they killed him off for no reason dies stupid way who called this movie worth it well it's not i know it's not a action movie i can handle that but what i can handle that if they make it better JCVD was main character, better location of movie better actors in film, it would be better if JCVD didn't take this role it will be better or else nobody would care about this movie because there is no JCVD just crappy drama crime heist film plus it is B Class film but it looked realistic no fake scenes in movie but it's cheap believe me i am Real Fan of JCVD Fan the end pointless main character very stupid characters in movie just very stupid characters no likable characters any JCVD Fans who wants to check it out DON'T it is not van damme movie, he is not bad guy but he looks like one only person is JCVD just actor not his stupid character that i am very dissportant about he didn't talk as much, didn't do much he never did after half way of 2 hours of film Swelter (2014) SUCKED 1.10 movie sucked not a action or drama ,just stupid time waster believe me there is a lot of better JCVD Movies out there It's best to avoid this turkey bull crap movie.

This is not your typical western or action movie. There is a lot going on and a lot of layers to the plot. I liked Lenny James' performance a lot, and Alfred Molina is great as always. I also really enjoyed JCVD in this more understated role. It's definitely worth watching and seeing him in this character!I liked the cast of characters a lot and that there seems to be a diverse group of actors in the movie. I wished that JCVD and Alfred Molina were in more of the movie. They were the most interesting characters in my opinion.Additionally, the cinematography was very nice as well.