Nick Hume (KEVIN BACON) is an Everyman
with a stable, comfortable life. He goes to work every day
at his middle-management job at an insurance company. He
goes home every night to his beautiful wife, Helen (KELLY
PRESTON), and his two teenage sons, Brendan (STUART
LAFFERTY) and Lucas (JORDAN GARRETT).
The Humes are a middle-class family who are the epitome of
suburban bliss. And Nick is content. He pitches in with
chores around the house. He relishes the intimacy he shares
with Helen. She is his confidant and equal. And he is very
involved in his boys’ lives. Brendan, the eldest son, is
confident and headstrong. He is popular, he is an athlete
and he is on his way to college to begin a promising life of
his own. Lucas looks up to his brother, but is cognizant of
the shadow Brendan casts. Lucas still hasn’t found himself,
and he feels a little left out because of the adoration
given to Brendan. All in all, the Humes are a typical
all-American family – morally upright and humble.
And then one day, their perfect life comes to a screeching
halt. One night when Nick is driving Brendan home from a
hockey game, he stops for gas. While he is filling up the
tank on the family car, Brendan goes inside to get a drink.
Moments later, a gang of thugs enter the store in ski masks,
armed with various weapons. But it is not your typical
convenience store robbery: this is a rite of passage for Joe
Darley (MATTHEW O’LEARY), the younger brother of Billy
Darley (GARRETT HEDLUND), the ruthless street leader of the
gang. After terrorizing and killing the store clerk, they
turn their attention to Brendan.
It is at that moment when Nick turns from the pump and looks
inside the store, only to witness Joe deliver the fateful
blow that ends all of the promise of Brendan’s future, and
leaves him lying in a pool of blood as the gang begins to
flee. But when Nick runs to help his son, he clashes with
Joe and they fall to the ground. Joe is unmasked, and his
own future marked.
Joe is arrested, but despite assurances from the lead
investigator, Detective Wallis (AISHA TYLER), the system
ultimately fails the Humes and Joe is put back on the
street. Driven by a heightened sense of justice and keen
grief, Nick takes matters into his own hands by seeking out
his son’s killer. In his confrontation with Joe, Nick finds
himself at the mercy of his emotions and ultimately kills
him. Unsure what to do, Nick runs back to the life that has
always been his shelter: his wife, his surviving son and his
job.
Nick thinks that all is at an end – an imperfect resolution
to a horrible tragedy, but fitting. Except there is blood,
now, on Nick’s hands and it will not come off … Billy Darley
is on the prowl, and the stage is set for a violent exchange
that only escalates with each pounding beat of their hearts.
How far will Nick go to protect his family? How far will
Billy go to protect his own?
©2007
20th Century Fox. All rights reserved.
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People Movie Review
Death Sentence
|
Jme |
0 |
|
Kevin Bacon was at his best!! From and
acting perspective, he really had the
greiving father, make-even man down. He
was convincing. The guy that played
Billy was pretty good as well. The thing
I didn't like about the movie was the
unnecessary gore. I think it actually
cheapened it. The same attacks,
etc.would have come across without
someone's leg being blown off. This was
a diservice to Kevin Bacon that really
worked hard coming into character of
Nick Hume. My guess is that we have the
Saw director to blame. Maybe he is not
into the emotional understanding that it
takes to accept the responses of the
other characters. I also would have
preferred another ending. |
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