The film by S. Craig Zahler, shot in 2017, belongs to the category conventionally designated “past the box office”; it will not appear in the national box office, but it definitely deserves attention. The premiere of the project took place at the Venice Film Festival, without earning a wide rental, was released in digital video on demand. At the same time, “Fight in Block 99” (Brawl in Cell Block 99) has an IMDb rating of 7.20 for a criminal action movie and a lot of extremely laudatory reviews.
A brief description of the plot of history
Reviews of the film “The Fight in Block 99 ', filmed according to the plot of the scriptwriter and director S. Craig Zahler, characterize it as simple, and in the development of events - obvious. Reviewers claim that it seems that the director dug up the story of the "Beshka" of the mid-70s on one of the dusty shelves in the Hollywood archive. The central character of the tape is an ex-boxer with unwavering principles, forced to engage in criminal affairs in order to earn money for his wife and future baby. But he, as usual, is substituted, and the hero finds himself in places of imprisonment. In prison, the man is expected by severe guards, bad neighbors and a mafia structure, with the members of which he will be forced to deal with his bare hands.
Some authors in the reviews on “Fight in block 99 & raquo; point to the similarity of the script with "Tyuryaga" (1989) and "Escape from the Shawshank", but do not forget that S. Craig is the director of the Bone Tomahawk, which means that there will be plenty of blood in the movie.
Proud Prisoner
Sometimes talented actors appear in extraordinary projects in uncharacteristic roles. Vince Vaughn, who traditionally reincarnated as brutal dorks in funny comedies like American Divorce, Young Father and Uninvited Guests, breaks down stereotypes in Zaler’s movie. However, one should recall the artist in the image of Norman Bates from Psycho by Gus Van Sant, although his acting transformation was not appreciated, because the picture was remembered as a meaningless remake of the classics. But now the reviews on “Fight in block 99 & raquo; They call the embodiment of the image of the once legendary boxer, forced to transport drugs with the guise of a cancer victim, brilliant. Vince's hero is cruel and stubborn. Some experts have stated that the lead actor draws the entire film. The actor cannot find the best praise.
By the way, in one episode, Vince Vaughn, immersed in the image with his head, suggested breaking the car without the help of stuntmen, with his bare hands. The technicians had to urgently prepare fake glass and loosen the fasteners of the parts so that the actor did not hurt himself.
70s grindhouse prison action movie
True, outbreaks of violence should not be expected from the first minutes of timing. It’s no coincidence that film critics compare the film “Fight in Block 99” with “Tomahawk”, the author unfolds the story slowly, the protagonist goes to prison only at the end of the first hour of the picture, and the climax, practically genocide, organized by Thomas guards and cellmates, will take place in the final . But we are not talking about wasted time and cannot go. A viscous, viscous story, saturated with long long plans and, at first glance, unimportant episodes, prepares the beholder for a climax, filling the atmosphere with an explosive mixture. It is as if the director locks the viewer in a chamber with a central character, reducing the screen space, dimming the colors, the light seems to be exhausted, the pain does not relax, and fatigue accumulates.
Although it is not difficult to predict the result (at a high price, but the foe will be punished and defeated), according to men's beliefs and the laws of the criminal world, there will be broken limbs, a huge amount of blood, twisted skulls and broken jaws. As noted by viewers who posted reviews on “Fight in Block 99,” all the battle scenes were set exemplary, correctly balancing between realism and spectacularity.
Also in the film there is a dramatic final conversation with his wife, a few sarcastic remarks and the last frame, which does not leave a chance for a sequel.
Brutal movie
But a real tough male action movie should end like that - without melodramatism and touching speeches. S. Craig Zahler made a film that is not only interesting while watching, but also able to be remembered as a standard of “dirty pleasure”, pleasure from bloody scenes, which in every ordinary movie they try to avoid in every possible way. Everything here is impeccable dialogue, a grand background (in the “Fight in Block 99” actors Don Johnson and Udo Kir among others), a harmonious rhythm that cuts into the memory of sound design. But as the author’s ethics requires adding, the sight is not for the faint of heart.