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Photo © Rogue Pictures
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Assault on Precinct 13
Action/drama
1hr.49 min.
Jan.19th, everywhere
MPAA: R for strong violence and language, some drug content
Rogue Pictures
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Starring: Ethan Hawke, Maria Bello, Laurence Fishburne,Brian Dennehy, John Leguizamo
Directed By: Jean Francois-Richet
Produced By: Jeffrey Silver,Stephanie Sperry,Pascal Caucheteux
Screenplay By: James deMonaco:based on John Carpenter's 1974 original
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Reviewed
By: Wellington Lee
Rated 2.84/5
A remake of a classic drama/thriller, is always a risk. John Carpenter's 30 yr.
ago('74)original is three decades old in classic cinema brains and not likely to appear on
cable reruns. Rogue pictures took a chance on this, and with unkown French dir.
Jean-Francois Richet. The result is capable drama with underwritten parts for at least two of
the supurb, supporting cast. Carpenter based his work on the late 50's Rio Bravo(John Wayne). Carpenter's bad guys were a sociopathic gang(part of that 70's era) with revenge on their minds. In screenwriter's James deMonaco's version, Rogue cops decide to fake a police station take
over on a blizzardy New Year's eve, so they can kill the organized crime head "Bishop"(Lawrence C. Fishbourne) that can put
them all away. Sgt. Jake Romick(Ethan Hawke) is hiding out from hitting the streets after a shooting
gone bad, according to leggy police psychologist Sebring(Mario Bello). Multi year veteran
Jasper(a superb Brian Denneh.)and unit clerk Iris(hot, yet irreverent Drea de Mateo)defend the
assault when Jake arms some bad guy lock ups(including Bishop). The rest is action as
S.W.A.T. hooded cops try one attack after another, interspersed with what has to carry this
movie: friction and drama between the disparate, besieged crew.
The intial repartee and latent attraction between assertive police shrink Alex Sabian (Bello)and Sgt.Jake is interesting. She has her short party dress on, and hammers away at his avoidance of hitting the streets again. Jake plays along a little, to keep her interested and have her attention. When the action starts, the French dir. goes to a leg show, and then sends her off to martyrdom, in an out of her character, move. Jake rises to the occasion, shares power and early decisions with the tie for best supporting actor: Brian Denn. as Jasper. Hawke does a convincing job of this transformation, though he underplays the drama scenes so that the Bad guy, supporting roles and Dennehy, dominate many scenes. No problem with the action shots as he runs out a couple of times to do the obvious hero thing. Jake has a negotiating style of personality, arming four bad a_ _ miscreants to fend off heavily armed and skilled attackers, parked at the station because of the blizzard. In a strong, new millenium/authentic scene, tired and depressed Jake, after yet another SWAT attack, admits, refreshingly, that he doesn't have a plan(yes, I know. It is unAmerican Action genre to dwell on that).
The other tie for supporting portrayal goes to prisoner Beck, a mesmerizing John Lequizamo. I have followed his multi leveled career for a few years now. He just finished directing/starring in the limited but accomplished, boxing feature:"Undefeated".Beck is swarthy and a sufficient malefactor, but with a needy side. That vulnerability was perfectly read by Leguizano, and fosters a mildly empathetic and superior attitude from audiences.One to watch is eclectic styled Drea de Mateo(Sopranos; B flicks), as station admn. asst. Iris. Killing Bello's character off might have been her blessing. Iris sports a super hiked up dress, gets turned on by the viloence in a too short scene with Bishop, and generally stays with her style as Indie/ rock, party lover; part "one of the guys" without the American woman, power thing.
Assault is not a great movie. But it has enough drama, despite obvious flaws and underused characters(Gabriel Byrne), and action, to give you value for your price of a ticket.
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