DEATH SENTENCE

[Moviefan02000]

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/twentieth_century_fox/death_sentence/deathsentence_posterbig.jpg

Synopsis: "Nick Hume is a mild-mannered executive with a perfect life, until one grisly night he witnesses a crime which changes him forever. Transformed by grief, Hume eventually comes to the disturbing conclusion no length is too great when protecting his family."

Directed by: James Wan (SAW).

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Kelly Preston, John Goodman, Aisha Tyler, Stuart Lafferty, Garrett Hedlund, Matt O'Leary, and Leigh Whannell.

Screenplay by: Ian Mackenzie Jeffers (Screenwriting Debut).

MPAA Rating: "R," for strong bloody brutal violence and pervasive language.

Feature Running Time: 110 minutes.

Release Date: August 31st, 2007.

Distributed by: 20th Century Fox.

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/twentieth_century_fox/death_sentence/kevin_bacon/death3.jpg

[Cronos]

really looking forward to this, looks like Bacon will give a great performance. while i was disappointed with Dead Silence i'll definitely check this out, could be great

[bigred760]

I'm curious about this as well; I don't think we've ever seen Bacon take on a role like this. The trailer looked great; might actually check it out.

[Bourne101]

This looks so fucking good, that I am seeing this and Halloween on August 31st.

[Addi88]

Looks solid. I just really hope there's not a crazy twist ending in this one.
:rolleyes:

I'm getting pretty tired of those.

[navarr0]

Im looking forward to this alot. Bacon is a solid actor,with Tremors and Hollow Man...yes, Hollow man. Im not really looking forward to this, cause the director from 'Saw' is doing it, and the last one didnt really do much for me, but im expecting something much better. This movie is reminding me a little of 'Falling Down'.

[Strider]

I haven't heard or seen much of Death Sentence, but I am intrigued and did like what I saw in a television spot. I just hope Death Sentence turns out better than James Wan's last film, Dead Silence, which was a total misfire.

Strider

[MadsenOMC]

This looks and smells like an August dump. Doesn't appear to add anything new or interesting to the revenge genre, and James Wan is a fucking hack.

[Frank the Tank]

Bacon will probably make this good, but I'm kind of getting tired of revenge flicks.

[Scarfather]

Yeah.

I can't take a vigilante justice film seriously if the commercials all growl "From the director of Saw"!!

Talk about a movie being fucked from the get-go.

[echo_bravo]

This movie is gonna OWN big time. Bacon is gonna be kicking all kinds of ass and takin names. I am so there!

Hopefully the soundtrack has some good Kenny Loggins tunes on it but I am not gonna hold my breath.:D

[MadsenOMC]

Originally posted by echo_bravo
This movie is gonna OWN big time. Bacon is gonna be kicking all kinds of ass and takin names. I am so there!

It seems highly unlikely that a late August dump will "own," but I suppose anything is possible. I like Bacon, so with a better writer and director I might feel differently about it, but I'd be shocked if this doesn't completely suck.

[Mr.HyDe807]

Im seeing this and Halloween as soon as i can!:D

[jbar1026]

great movie! i went to the first showing and there were 3 people! i hope it does ok. it really is a good revenge flick 8/10

[someguy]

Haha, last night when I read the review on Ebert's site they must have made a typo because it was three and a half stars.

[Bourne101]

Originally posted by someguy
Haha, last night when I read the review on Ebert's site they must have made a typo because it was three and a half stars.

It was a typo. He actually have it two and a half stars.

[franky4fingerz]

Everyone go see this movie.I left the theater rattled. This is by far the best action movie of the year.The violence is fucking insane.James wan finally hit the mark and kevin bacon rocks the shit.Fuck seeing halloween (it sucked), see death sentence. Its now in my top 5 of the year.
10/10

[cletus66]

Death Sentence is a pretty cool revenge movie. The acion scenes are pretty intense and graphic. Kevin Bacon gives a pretty good performance but I was a bit dissapointed John Goodman didn't have more to do. The final scene could have definitely been done better. But overall I would any fan of the revenge genre will enjoy Death Sentence


7.5/10

[SpikeDurden]

I usually enjoy revenge flicks, and I like Bacon and Goodman, so I plan on checking this out sometime early next week.

[Frank the Tank]

Based on the reviews, I'm getting kind of a Running Scared vibe from this flick and I really enjoyed that so I might see this instead of Halloween since it's actually playing in my theater.

[anakinsrise]

I love revenge flicks and this is one of the best to come along in awhile.
Bacon was amazing.John Goodman was funny as hell. DS is not for the faint of heart.This film takes a turn in which i didnt see coming,which is always cool.Nice homage to Taxi Driver and other hard edged films.
Scale of 1-10 an 8

[daddiefatsacks]

it was ok, Wan has a good visiual eye (loved the work at the parking lot scene) but the script is pretty weak, and this film is very dark.

5/10

[psycheoutsteve]

This is one dark, mean, brutal, uncompromising, and gripping film. The performances were spot on. Bacon was terrific in his role and he convinced me despite the fact that I haven't enjoyed a majority of his past performances. The action was filmed in a gritty sort of way that placed you right in the middle of all the chaos. I loved the camera techniques used in this film.

Anybody who thinks Wan is a hack needs to at least give this film a chance because it could possibly alter their opinion of him as a director. 8/10

[Bourne101]

Death Sentence - 8/10

What a great way to end the summer season. The summer has had many ups, and a down here and there, but it was great to finish the summer on a high note with a movie of sheer badassery, Death Sentence. Kevin Bacon is a muthafuckin' badass in this movie. The story is pretty regular, except instead of the usual revenge flick when just one side is seeking revenge on another, now both sides are seeking revenge on each other. The ending is my only complaint about it. I would really have liked another 10 or so minutes to clear some things up that weren't explained. But other than that a fun, gritty, brutally violent film that will definitely get a few re-watches from myself when it hits DVD... and oh yeah... JOHN GOODMAN IS THE FUCKING MAN IN THIS MOVIE!

"These right here will definitely make you feel better." - John Goodman

[movieme07]

This movie is so amazingly badass, I was just floored. It was so much more than I was expecting. Much like another user noted on this thread, it is now in my top five.

10/10

[CreeperBEATNGU]

Wow, that blew away my expectations. This is a far more intense film than Halloween. It's emotionally gripping, great performanes, some of Clouser's best music yet, and as good of a look at the price of vengeance without glorifying it as any movie has ever had.

"Everybody thinks they're right in a war...everybody still dies in the end" is one of the best lines in any movie all year.

[Superplasmatron]

I don't understand every revue I have seen of this film is saying its awfull, yet on here people are making out like its the best payback film since death wish, ummm I've not seen It and I just got the opinion its shit, I do want to see it though as I'm a huge fan of Keven 'werepig' Bacon

[navarr0]

Despite the cheesy Kevin Bacon slow motion scene i really enjoyed it. The acting was good and the scenes were graphic.

9/10

**SPOLIER***
The scene were Bacon is putting together the guns is hillarious, he looked like 'Agent 47', he didnt need the little rat tail in the back though.

Did anyone catch the graffiti art of 'Jigsaw'? It was during the part Billy Something and his dad John Goodman were talking under that bridge. Clever.
****END SPOILERS****

[navarr0]

Originally posted by Roy L Dennis
I don't understand every revue I have seen of this film is saying its awfull, yet on here people are making out like its the best payback film since death wish, ummm I've not seen It and I just got the opinion its shit, I do want to see it though as I'm a huge fan of Keven 'werepig' Bacon

i liked 'Falling Down' better.

[dreamcurls]

cool, i'm looking forward to this film
i love Kevin Bacon. . . Stir of Echos was fantastic

[Quigles]

The positive response this is getting on these boards floors me. Maybe I need to give it another chance on DVD.

Here's my quick review:

Disappointing revenge thriller with some gruesomely awesome moments and a quality performance by Bacon, but way too much awkward melodrama. Had the film not been played so damn serious, it might've worked wonders as a mindless action flick. Instead, it's a laughable mess, and not even the small handful of kickass scenes are enough to save it.

5/10

[Danger^Cart]

7/10

Really dug it.

[visual_tension]

This wasn't the absolute kickass experience I was expecting, but it was still pretty good. The second half isn't as gripping as the first, but the great camerawork (love the parking garage scene), Charlie Clouser's haunting score and a solid performance from Kevin Bacon really enhance the film overall.

Despite all the crap James Wan gets from Saw (which I like) and Dead Silence (which I didn't like), I think he has shown with this film that he is no hack. I look forward to his next effort.

7.5/10

[Superplasmatron]

Originally posted by Quigles
The positive response this is getting on these boards floors me. Maybe I need to give it another chance on DVD.

Here's my quick review:

Disappointing revenge thriller with some gruesomely awesome moments and a quality performance by Bacon, but way too much awkward melodrama. Had the film not been played so damn serious, it might've worked wonders as a mindless action flick. Instead, it's a laughable mess, and not even the small handful of kickass scenes are enough to save it.

5/10


this is more the revue I've been reading in the press

[CreeperBEATNGU]

It wasn't played as a mindless action flick...because it wasn't mindless; and the press is extremely biased in favor of certain types of films and filmmakers.

[Scarfather]

Originally posted by CreeperBEATNGU
It wasn't played as a mindless action flick...because it wasn't mindless; and the press is extremely biased in favor of certain types of films and filmmakers.

Keep telling yourself that.

[Quigles]

Originally posted by CreeperBEATNGU
It wasn't played as a mindless action flick...because it wasn't mindless; and the press is extremely biased in favor of certain types of films and filmmakers.
I prefer mindless action over pretentious bullshit that pretends to have meaning. Seriously, DEATH SENTENCE was utterly ridiculous and melodramatic. It should've played to the former strength while casting aside the latter.

And I am so sick of people constantly defending negatively reviewed movies by saying the critics are biased. How about HAIRSPRAY? From the director of CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN 2 and THE PACIFIER, and yet it got a 93%.

If DEATH SENTENCE was a better movie, it would've gotten better reviews.

[Danger^Cart]

I don't think this film is near as bad as everyone is making out. Sure, the narrative takes a few puzzling, somewhat lazy turns, and the detective character was not only underutilized/useless but a little obnoxious as well, but those small faults don't completely negate the fantastic direction, wonderful performance by Bacon (he ate shit up in this film, moreso than I've ever seen him in fact) and suprisingly good art direction.

I don't know, maybe I was just in a good/forgiving mood when I saw this one, but I don't remember seeing the same drivel you did.

[Scarfather]

Oh no, a phony, one-dimensional gang member character murdered my completely undeveloped son character.

As a contrived father character who's hollow actions are essential to the hollow plot I'm *reverts to Don Lafontaine* left with no choice.

As I said before, a film about vigilante justice fails completely when the filmmakers are emotionally shallow and are just using it as a plot device so they can drop cars off of parking garages.

[teenkiller]

Here's my review, copied and pasted from the Horror forums.

SPOILERS FOR DEATH SENTENCE

I was so excited for this movie. I thought the first half started out great. We really get to feel for the family, the parking garage sequence was awesome, the fact that both sides are swearing revenge on each other was another good idea. Unfortunately some things really irked me in the second half of the film.

First there was that scene with Kevin Bacon's son acting like his father didn't love him and that it would have been better if he died instead. What the fuck? There was never any indication of Bacon being anything but a great father to both of his kids so this scene felt REALLY unnecessary. Like a desparate attempt to try to cram in some emotion... awkwardly.

Then there's the scene where Bacon goes to buy the guns from John Goodman. He buys the guns and as he walks away the big twist comes: turns out Goodman is the father of the bastard he's waging war on. Goodman has a gun pointed at him but does he kill him? No. He let's him walk off. This decision would have been fine if Goodman disapproved of his son and thought that Bacon getting revenge would be the right thing to do. Instead he goes to warn his son that Bacon is coming after him. His son then shoots him in the head. If he was concerned about his kid why didn't he kill Bacon when he had the chance? Because he was a "Fortune 500 faggot" who people would have actually come to look for? Then why did he sell him the guns any way?

Don't get me wrong though. The movie wasn't a complete waste. The action scenes were great. Loved the staircase scene when the gang comes to Bacon's house. But why would the gang kill the cops and let his head rest on the steering wheel? Were they actually TRYING to alert Bacon of their presence? Didn't make sense. Oh and it just seemed like Aisha Tyler's character was a total waste. Nothing interesting there.

The final battle in that abandones warehouse was cool though. Lot's of good violence BUT we really needed to SEE Bacon get his revenge on the gang leader. There they are sitting on a bench together looking all buddy buddy (corny) and then it cuts away to Bacon walking out the door. Ugh. We don't get that satisfaction.

The film had it's hits and misses. Overall I was disappointed because I actually believed this could have been so much better. As it stands it's just a mediocre film.

Death Sentence - 5.5/10

Well thats all for now GOoD JOURNEY my fellow schmoes.

[Danger^Cart]

Originally posted by Scarfather
Oh no, a phony, one-dimensional gang member character murdered my completely undeveloped son character.

As a contrived father character who's hollow actions are essential to the hollow plot I'm *reverts to Don Lafontaine* left with no choice.

As I said before, a film about vigilante justice fails completely when the filmmakers are emotionally shallow and are just using it as a plot device so they can drop cars off of parking garages.

It seems like you were completely misled when going into this film. What did you expect? It's an 80's style vigilante movie.

[travisvornoff]

i enjoyed this one but i was way excited about seeing it and i love kevin bacon so i may be bias but still i did enjoy it though. and i loved john goodman in it. sure his character didnt really make sense in his actions but still he himself was great.

[Superplasmatron]

Originally posted by Danger^Cart
It seems like you were completely misled when going into this film. What did you expect? It's an 80's style vigilante movie. #

I just want to see bacon dance again, please can someone cast him and swaz in a dance movie again

[Danger^Cart]

Originally posted by Roy L Dennis
I just want to see bacon dance again

Fair enough.

[CreeperBEATNGU]

Originally posted by Danger^Cart
It seems like you were completely misled when going into this film. What did you expect? It's an 80's style vigilante movie.

80's style vigilante movie with a unique twist where both sides are every bit as hell-bent on vengeance...and that chase sequence leading into the parking garage fight wasn't just to drop cars off ledges, it was to build tension and suspense culminating in a car dropping off of a ledge, which they did quite effectively.