Safe
Jason Statham stars in this crime-thriller about a washed-up cage fighter tangled in a lockout between the Russian Mafia, the Triads and the NYPD after saving an ophaned girl whose memory holds a priceless numerical code.
After Luke (Statham) screws up a rigged fight, the Russian Mafia want to make an example of him and murder his entire family. Haunted by guilt, he wanders New York destitute. But when he witnesses a 12-year-old girl, Mei, being pursued by the same gangsters, Luke jumps to action and straight into the heart of a deadly high-stakes war. Mei, he discovers, is an orphaned math prodigy forced to work for the Triads as a "counter." She holds in her memory a priceless numerical code that warring factions will kill for.
- Director:
- Boaz Yakin ('Remember the Titans', 'Uptown Girls', 'Death in Love')
- Writer:
- Boaz Yakin
- Cast:
- Jason StathamCatherine ChanChris SarandonAnson MountReggie LeeJames HongRobert John BurkeDanielle McKee
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Aaron Yap
flicksUnfortunately Yakin never builds on the Luke/Mei chemistry, separating them for a good deal of the film, thus diminishing our emotional engagement. The frantic energy also dissipates in the final third when the plot (initially a serviceable MacGuffin) thickens into a pretty boring and convoluted ‘revelation’ involving New York City’s powers that be. Still – great to see James Hong alive and kicking.
Safe as cipher houses
Double entendre if ever there was. Well, not that I liked it that much (great pop-corn action) but I got exactly what I thought I was going to get, a splash of 'Death Race' with 'Crank', 'Mechanic' and 'Transporter2'. With the lines Jason delivers, he does it better with his shirt off (right ladies), otherwise shame Ryan Gosling couldnt manage this role...
Stathe plays it safe in, er, 'Safe'...
If you like the rapidly expanding action-flick subgenre that is the Jason Statham movie, then you're safe with, er, 'Safe.' Writer / Director Boaz Yakin is less of a safe bet. His writing credits include such overblown yawnfests as 'Prince of Persia,' and 'Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights,' and his directing credits include 'Fresh' and 'Remember the Titans' -...
Variety
pressWhat starts out crisp and promising gives way to a conventional shoot-'em-up.
Total Film
pressWith Yakin's all-action plot operating like clockwork, an on-song Statham proves anything but expendable in a genre he dominates. Predictable, sure, but equally pleasurable.
Time Out
pressYou can’t help feeling that an initially adventurous movie has had its rough edges sanded away.
The New York Times
pressIf only someone would offer this actor a project worthy of the full range of his talent.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThough Safe initially seems a little darker and more thoughtful than the British star's previous comic-book escapades in 'Death Race,' 'The Expendables' or the 'Transporter' trilogy, it ultimately reverts to testosterone-heavy formula.
Entertainment Weekly
pressSafe has more action than intrigue (or logic), and it's boilerplate vicious. It may satisfy Statham's fans, but they - like he - would do well to enlarge their expectations.
Empire Magazine
pressA rough, exhausting, exhilarating action picture with a payoff which would have delighted Sam Fuller or Howard Hawks. The Stath — an actual Olympian, remember — is on top form.
A.V. Club
pressThe character-building is proffered in bad faith, like every scene in Safe that doesn't involve bloodshed. Statham can sell a punch, but not his own vulnerability.
Flicks, Aaron Yap
flicksUnfortunately Yakin never builds on the Luke/Mei chemistry, separating them for a good deal of the film, thus diminishing our emotional engagement. The frantic energy also dissipates in the final third when the plot (initially a serviceable MacGuffin) thickens into a pretty boring and convoluted ‘revelation’ involving New York City’s powers that be. Still – great to see James Hong alive and kicking.
Variety
pressWhat starts out crisp and promising gives way to a conventional shoot-'em-up.
Total Film
pressWith Yakin's all-action plot operating like clockwork, an on-song Statham proves anything but expendable in a genre he dominates. Predictable, sure, but equally pleasurable.
Time Out
pressYou can’t help feeling that an initially adventurous movie has had its rough edges sanded away.
The New York Times
pressIf only someone would offer this actor a project worthy of the full range of his talent.
Hollywood Reporter
pressThough Safe initially seems a little darker and more thoughtful than the British star's previous comic-book escapades in 'Death Race,' 'The Expendables' or the 'Transporter' trilogy, it ultimately reverts to testosterone-heavy formula.
Entertainment Weekly
pressSafe has more action than intrigue (or logic), and it's boilerplate vicious. It may satisfy Statham's fans, but they - like he - would do well to enlarge their expectations.
Empire Magazine
pressA rough, exhausting, exhilarating action picture with a payoff which would have delighted Sam Fuller or Howard Hawks. The Stath — an actual Olympian, remember — is on top form.
A.V. Club
pressThe character-building is proffered in bad faith, like every scene in Safe that doesn't involve bloodshed. Statham can sell a punch, but not his own vulnerability.
Safe as cipher houses
Double entendre if ever there was. Well, not that I liked it that much (great pop-corn action) but I got exactly what I thought I was going to get, a splash of 'Death Race' with 'Crank', 'Mechanic' and 'Transporter2'. With the lines Jason delivers, he does it better with his shirt off (right ladies), otherwise shame Ryan Gosling couldnt manage this role...
Stathe plays it safe in, er, 'Safe'...
If you like the rapidly expanding action-flick subgenre that is the Jason Statham movie, then you're safe with, er, 'Safe.' Writer / Director Boaz Yakin is less of a safe bet. His writing credits include such overblown yawnfests as 'Prince of Persia,' and 'Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights,' and his directing credits include 'Fresh' and 'Remember the Titans' -...
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