Genre: Action, thriller
Jason Statham’s reputation as a high-energy action star has become well established throughout the years, but his latest film, A Working Man, has him showcasing a more emotional performance that is different to his previous films.
While the action sequences are exactly what Statham is known for, his role as a hardworking father fighting for his daughter shows that his range does go beyond merely fighting the bad guys.
The plot follows Levon (Statham), a former marine who now works as a construction worker, as he struggles through his days fighting his father-in-law over custody of his daughter. He finds himself having to use his tough skills when his boss’s daughter is kidnapped by the mafia. His fighting abilities are tested as he comes up against the various mafia individuals.
Statham showcases his usual expertise in fighting multiple people, and defeating them, without breaking a sweat.
Watching him fight is such a thrilling experience, one doesn’t even question the logic and realism of how he is actually able to win the fight. There are impossible moments, such as a main character who somehow avoids getting shot when the bad guys fire a machine gun right at him. Suspending disbelief is necessary to enjoy this film.
The decision to give Statham’s character personal conflict to deal with was clearly made to show some of his acting abilities away from the fighting. The conversation he has with the social workers and his father-in-law results in extended dialogue that interrupts the flow of the high intensity fight scenes.
The storyline leaves a lot to be desired. None of the character deaths along the way mean anything as there is no character development. Details around why the daughter is kidnapped are not clear, and the relationship Levon has with the father, the reason that he feels the need to even get involved, is never really explained clearly.
Perhaps those details can be found in the books, written by Chuck Dixon, that the movie is based on.
Technically speaking, the music was well paired with what was happening on screen, and the camera work, while shaky during some of the action scenes, was generally good.
Overall, A Working Man may not be one of Statham’s best films, but it’s still a pretty enjoyable film. That’s something only true fans of Statham or action movies will appreciate.
A Working Man is now showing at Hemingways Movies.
