This is a really odd one. The cast is incredible – Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas and Channing Tatum. It’s also got am Oscar-winning director in the shape of Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Ocean’s Eleven). What’s really strange that the star of the movie is women’s MMA figher Gina Carano.
Usually when a sports star moves from the ring/track/field to the big screen they’re either hired for their muscles or for some straight to DVD trash – especially if they’ve got had a career in the ring. Think Randy Couture in Redbelt (also in The Expendables come to think of it) or John Cena in anything.
That’s not to say there haven’t been any successes. The Rock is a particularly good example even if his range only really extends to “look sweaty, hit stuff”. Oddly Eric Cantona is probably the best of the bunch (delivering a frankly hilarious and suprising role in Looking For Eric in 2009).
Soderbergh managed to coax a good performance out of porn star Sasha Grey for The Girlfriend Experience, so maybe he’ll be able to do the same with Carano.
Either way, the film features the expected “secret agent doubled crossed by her organisation” gumph and sees Carano kicking people through doors and snapping arms. It’s actually refreshing to see woman who can kick some genuine arse for once (as opposed to say Zoe “breadstick legs” Saldana in the woeful Colombiana).
Haywire is out January 10th 2012.
Bring it on:
