We all remember Butler from 300 and even Rock N Rolla, we know that he can pack the punches and that he can also take them. We also know that he is not a man to be messed with so when the films starts in the way that it did there was only going to be one outcome. Don't get me wrong, don't think rule out a surprise triumph from Foxx in the end but for most of the time Butler is always on top. Not that we don't love watching Jamie Foxx put on the suit and play the law man but you're never quite convinced that he is going to come out on top.
Butler is perfect. It's a performance not seen from him ever before. Compassion, aggression, tactician, calculation, everything is in this performance. Never, not once, does he look like a psychopath, does he look out of control in anything that he does. Not a lack of emotion but extreme controlled emotion. It's like the director shut him in a box for a week and told him that he couldn't display any emotion except for when he was fed a steak. Likewise, with Jamie Foxx we get the same kind of feel except when his family is mentioned. Normally I would moan about the lack of emotion and state that the performances were too controlled but they weren't, his was perfect, the things that mattered were clearly seen in his eyes. He can take a punch, he can take the beating but the look says 'Whatever you've got I'll return with interest' and it is a priceless look to be able to deliver. For every display and performance that we saw from Butler, we saw a worthy opponent in Foxx.
A really violent film and I would recommend that anyone who is epileptic, has a heart condition, or suffers from mental health issues should stay clear of this film because it could cause a lot of medical problems. It's a great film in so many ways but it is a really difficult film to watch and understand. Worthy of the nominations? Yes. Necessary for everything shown in the film to be shown? Debatable and personally I wish that some of the things had not been shown but that's just me and there are others who would disagree.
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