Gutshot
Straight (2014/Lionsgate DVD)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: C Film: C
Director
Justin Steele's Gutshot Straight is your typical one man
versus the mob- style thriller with some decent B-actors (and
dialogue) and production value. The whole thing feels lacks in
originality and feels strikingly similar to last year's Runner
Runner (20th Century Fox, the same year of
release) starring Ben Affleck in more ways than one.
Gutshot
Straight stars George Eads, Annalynne McCord, Steven Seagal,
Vinnie Jones, and Steven Lang (Avatar). All in all not a bad
cast ensemble for a film of this caliber. When a gambler is down on
his luck (played by George Eads), he makes a deal with a
slick-talking, wealthy man (Steven Lang) in Las Vegas to make some
quick money in order to repay his debts. Of course, Steven Lang has
a super hot wife (Annalynne McCord) named May that entices Eads and
results in a fight where Lang is killed. Jack must learn to play
smarter than the mob in order to get ahead of the game.
Steven
Segal plays a Godfather-esque role in the film and is its
enticing center piece and is full of witty one liners. I am always a
fan of Vinnie Jones as well - though most of the time he pops up in a
film it's usually not a good one. The action scenes aren't terrible
but it all just feels pretty bland.
The
presentation of the film looks fine in standard definition with a
widescreen anamorphically enhanced aspect ratio of 2.40:1 and a lossy
Dolby Digital 5.1 track that is about as good as DVD can look and
sound. There's also optional subtitles in English and French.
Extras
include Commentaries with the director Justin Steele and Composer
Keith Waggoner, Deleted Scenes, Behind The Scenes with
Interviews, and a Trailer Gallery.
If
you are looking for a film to shut your brain off and watch then you
may want to give Gutshot Straight a shot, otherwise you're
better off watching Runner Runner again.
-
James Harland Lockhart V
www.facebook.com/jhl5films
