Eraser
3/4
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vanessa Williams, James Caan, Robert Pastorelli, James Coburn, James Cromwell, Roma Maffia
Rated R for Violent Action Throughout and Some Language
"Eraser" is one of those good old fashioned action movies. The kind that in days of endless superheroes and cheesy fantasy, we remember when most action movies were filled with bullets, brawn and stunts. There are no witches, wizards or elves to be found here, and the lead character doesn't have a skin tight outfit (although he is like the Energizer bunny...he'll keep going til the cows come home. That's Ah-nuld for you).
Witnesses who testify in high powered criminal trials are sometimes sent into Witness Protection. Some, like Johnny Casteleone (Pastorelli), have trouble staying in hiding. When you're found out by the people who want you dead, they send in guys like John Kruger (Schwarzenegger), who clean up the mess ("This only happens one. Next time, you're dead."). When Lee Cullen (Williams), an executive at Cyrez, a weapons manufacturing company, gathers evidence against her bosses, she's put into Witness Protection under Kruger's watchful eye. But the conspiracy runs deep, and soon they're both on the run.
The plot isn't anything special, and actually, the villain's moves don't always make a lot of sense. The script could have gone through another rewrite. But no one goes to an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie for the plot. They go to see him kick major ass while delivering his signature deadpan one-liners.
Neither is the acting, although the same exception applies. Arnold Schwarzenegger is more of an action star than an actor like Sean Penn or Michael Fassbender, although he is not nearly as bad as his reputation suggests (see "True Lies" for an example. Hell, anything he does for James Cameron is good.). Although he does solid work overall, his range is stretched at times. Vanessa Williams is adequate as the damsel in distress, but I don't think she has the right kind of presence to succeed as an action actress. Compare her to Jamie Lee Curtis in the aforementioned "True Lies," or Linda Hamilton in the "Terminator" movies. James Caan has a lot of fun being the bad guy for once, and he relishes the opportunity to chew the scenery. The late great Robert Pastorelli adds some good comic relief as the wiseguy that Kruger saves at the beginning of the movie.
Chuck Russell has always been an adequate filmmaker. He doesn't have an actual style, but he's good enough that calling him a "director-for-hire" is a little too harsh. He's good at making set pieces, which is essentially what "Eraser" is. There's nothing deep or complex about the film, nor should there be. All that's required is that the film includes lots and lots of action and excitement. The film succeeds on both counts.
Russell is at home with movies that require a lot of special effects (he also directed "The Mask" with Jim Carrey). "Eraser" has a lot of them, and some of them are really cool. The weapons in this movie, rail guns, are super cool. They can shoot through walls and blow people back 50 feet. That's awesome.
For anyone who craves good old-fashioned action without superheroes or overdone CGI, this is a good pick.
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vanessa Williams, James Caan, Robert Pastorelli, James Coburn, James Cromwell, Roma Maffia
Rated R for Violent Action Throughout and Some Language
"Eraser" is one of those good old fashioned action movies. The kind that in days of endless superheroes and cheesy fantasy, we remember when most action movies were filled with bullets, brawn and stunts. There are no witches, wizards or elves to be found here, and the lead character doesn't have a skin tight outfit (although he is like the Energizer bunny...he'll keep going til the cows come home. That's Ah-nuld for you).
Witnesses who testify in high powered criminal trials are sometimes sent into Witness Protection. Some, like Johnny Casteleone (Pastorelli), have trouble staying in hiding. When you're found out by the people who want you dead, they send in guys like John Kruger (Schwarzenegger), who clean up the mess ("This only happens one. Next time, you're dead."). When Lee Cullen (Williams), an executive at Cyrez, a weapons manufacturing company, gathers evidence against her bosses, she's put into Witness Protection under Kruger's watchful eye. But the conspiracy runs deep, and soon they're both on the run.
The plot isn't anything special, and actually, the villain's moves don't always make a lot of sense. The script could have gone through another rewrite. But no one goes to an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie for the plot. They go to see him kick major ass while delivering his signature deadpan one-liners.
Neither is the acting, although the same exception applies. Arnold Schwarzenegger is more of an action star than an actor like Sean Penn or Michael Fassbender, although he is not nearly as bad as his reputation suggests (see "True Lies" for an example. Hell, anything he does for James Cameron is good.). Although he does solid work overall, his range is stretched at times. Vanessa Williams is adequate as the damsel in distress, but I don't think she has the right kind of presence to succeed as an action actress. Compare her to Jamie Lee Curtis in the aforementioned "True Lies," or Linda Hamilton in the "Terminator" movies. James Caan has a lot of fun being the bad guy for once, and he relishes the opportunity to chew the scenery. The late great Robert Pastorelli adds some good comic relief as the wiseguy that Kruger saves at the beginning of the movie.
Chuck Russell has always been an adequate filmmaker. He doesn't have an actual style, but he's good enough that calling him a "director-for-hire" is a little too harsh. He's good at making set pieces, which is essentially what "Eraser" is. There's nothing deep or complex about the film, nor should there be. All that's required is that the film includes lots and lots of action and excitement. The film succeeds on both counts.
Russell is at home with movies that require a lot of special effects (he also directed "The Mask" with Jim Carrey). "Eraser" has a lot of them, and some of them are really cool. The weapons in this movie, rail guns, are super cool. They can shoot through walls and blow people back 50 feet. That's awesome.
For anyone who craves good old-fashioned action without superheroes or overdone CGI, this is a good pick.
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