Mallory Kane (MMA fighter Gina Carano) is an ex blackops gun for hire. Like most guns for hire Mallory works for a company that finds jobs, usually from governments that don't want to legally be involved. Mallory is the best at her company, and the people who hire her know that. Her employer, Kenneth (Ewn McGregor), is not a very good boss and is also not a very good person. For some reasons that still confuse me he hatches a plan to betray her. The man who tries to kill her underestimates just how badass Mallory really is. Now on the run Mallory has to find out why she was betrayed and figure out how to kill as many people as violently as possible.
When you cast a MMA cage fighter as your lead actress, you certainly aren't putting the story first and the action second. Some might say this would result in a bad film, marred by bad acting and poorly delivered dialogue. But director Steven Soderbergh has walked this tightrope perfectly, off balancing the amateur Carano with Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum, Michael Douglas and Antonia Banderas.
Acting is secondary. Dialogue is terse and to the point. And the action is intense. Remember the Bourne series of movies? There was always one fight scene that was so visceral and brutal it got on the line of almost uncomfortable for the audience. But they were a thrill to watch. There are at least 5 of these scenes in Haywire. Carano and her aforementioned co-actors engage in brutal martial arts, showcasing impressive choreography and an extreme penchant for pain. They destroy tables, trash hotel rooms, and kill each other savagely. The mood setting music turns off during these scenes so the audience can hear every punch, groan and breaking bone in perfect audio clarity. I was on the edge of my seat wincing with the rest of the crowd, unable to turn away.
Most movies make the mistake of letting their action hero lead talk to much. Thankfully Carano spends most of her time killing people. Haywire is a ton of fun loaded with great actors and even greater set pieces. This is a film you won't be mad you spent money on.
3 out of 4 stars
-Christopher O'Connell
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