Movie Review: Sabotage
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
Sabotage won’t be loved by many, except die-hard Arnold Schwarzenegger fans. Fair warning, it’s not Shakespeare. You probably knew that already, but in case you didn’t, I have done my job by warning you. Sabotage is a cops gone bad flick, directed by David Ayer, who helped write the penultimate bad cop flick, Training Day (2001). This movie definitely has gritty street cop in its DNA. Ayer co-wrote the film with Skip Woods whose credits include: A Good Day to Die Hard (2013), The A-Team (2010), Hitman (2007), and Swordfish (2001). Woods is an action movie writer who gets to play with an action movie icon so let the bullets fly where they may.
The plot revolves around a DEA Special Operations Group that infiltrates and arrests/eliminates the drug cartels that proliferate around the globe. These specialists are great at what they do, just ask them, but their fortunes fade when they opt to rip off a cartel during a mission gone wrong. The government is convinced they are thieves and hounds them with a lengthy investigation. Rightfully so. Then, just when Washington decides to reinstate them, based on lack of evidence and not due to any confidence that they are actually innocent, things get even worse for the team. One by one they are being murdered.
The team is lead by John “Breacher” Wharton (Schwarzenegger), and he is accompanied by quite a team. The team includes, among others, James ” Monster” Murray (Sam Worthington), Joe “Grinder” Phillips (Joe Manganiello), Eddie “Neck” Jordan (Josh Holloway), Julius “Sugar Edmonds (Terrence Howard), and Lizzy Murray (Mireille Enos).
This elite DEA team has had months of being investigated by the FBI and Department of Justice. Now they are being hunted and the local cops want to know why. Detective Caroline Brentwood (Olivia Williams) and her partner, Detective Jackson (Harold Perrineau), dig into the case but are quickly out of their depth. The team is in trouble. Is it an old grudge? Is it because of the money? Is it happening for another reason altogether? The answer is surprisingly not obvious. I mean it is an action movie so you would think it would be an easy thing to guess. Not the case here. The suspense is played out for the first two acts of the film. Then there is hell to pay in the third act just as you might expect.
The backbone of the film is the character of Breacher. He is the leader and father figure of the team. He is the boss. We learn a great deal about what motivates Breacher over the course of the film. Even though he is the head of a crew of bad apples there is no denying that you have to feel some sympathy for him once you hear his personal story. Breacher is not a happy guy. He is a broken man. He does however adhere to a code that is clear and understandable. Revenge at all costs. Schwarzeneggers’ Breacher is rather similar to Eastwood’s Bill Munny character in Unforgiven (1992). Both are heroic villains that are only relatable, and somewhat admirable, due to their adherence to a code of conduct which is integral to each of their characters.
Now that does not mean Sabotage is on equal footing with Unforgiven. Don’t get me wrong. Just that there are some interesting parallels. Age of the actors. Both are legends within their genres. Eastwood actually directed Unforgiven so his accomplishment is clearly greater. Also, Sabotage is just not a great movie but merely a decent one.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Joe Manganiello in “Sabotage.” © 2012 – QED International.
Schwarzenegger does appear to try actual acting in this film with mixed success. That is the crux of the film’s flaw basically. There are couple of plot holes and writing issues too, but it is the disbelief that you have as a viewer that hurts the film the most. Breacher has one liaison in the film and you do not believe for a moment that there is any genuine heat to it. Just not believable. Additionally, Breacher has some moments where we are to believe he is a bit of a mastermind. That is a stretch to put it mildly.
The filmmakers must know Schwarzenegger’s limits fairly well because the character moments are deftly sliced into the story so they don’t take up much screen time and do not detract from the sense of suspense and building action. The supporting cast are all excellent, particularly the two detectives. The darkness of this cop story is much deeper than the usual action-hero fare you would expect from Schwarzenegger. Kudos to him for for picking it. He cannot “out thespian” Eastwood, but it is a decent ride.
The action and suspense throughout most of Sabotage are good. The ending is appropriate to the character of Breacher and is also very Schwarzenegger as well. If you are a fan, I suggest checking it out. If not, save your money.
Steven Gahm
Latest posts by Steven Gahm (see all)
- Top Ten Horror Movies To Watch On Halloween - October 30, 2013
