Where has
Gina Carano been hiding? Finally,
finally, women have a truly powerful, kick-ass, take-no-prisoners, authentic female action star. Thank you
Steven Soderbergh for taking a chance on this feature film newcomer, and thank you Gina Carano for making that huge leap from the Mixed Martial Arts arena to try your hand at acting with
Haywire. Untested prior to
Haywire, one screening of this action-heavy film and it's easy to see why a campaign has emerged for her to take on the role of
Wonder Woman or, as her
Haywire co-star
Channing Tatum suggests, Red Sonja. She's not only completely capable of handling any action set-up but, surprisingly, can act - and the camera just loves her face.
Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Lem Dobbs (they worked together on
The Limey and
Kafka) tailored the film to Carano's strengths, with the actual plot nothing more than a thinly developed connection between fight scenes. Soderbergh built
Haywire around Carano, surrounding the first-time actor with a talented cast of male stars (Channing Tatum,
Michael Fassbender,
Ewan McGregor,
Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton, Mathieu Kassovitz) that are there primarily for her to kick the crap out of (with the exception of Douglas, Paxton, and Kassovitz who, fortunately, don't have to take her on physically). Anyone could have handled the male roles, but Soderbergh actually took care with the casting, even though the most important scenes these men play basically involve being on the receiving end of Carano's leg sweeps and brutal punches.
Basically, Carano stars as a mercenary named Mallory who finds herself set up for a murder. Powerful people with a wealth of resources at their disposal are after her, but never does Mallory show she's anything less than in command of the situation. Fear? She laughs in its face before delivering upon it a beat down it'll never forget.
Haywire is a flat-out, balls to the wall action film, and that's simply all it is. Story? Who cares about story when Carano's got Michael Fassbender in a triangle chokehold or is making Channing Tatum look like a 90 pound weakling? Let's face it, for most action movie junkies the story isn't nearly as important as the stunts, and Soderbergh has most definitely made Haywire for hardcore action fans. Haywire, which is basically a Bourne film minus the shaky cam and with a less developed plot, is just barely over an hour and a half, and Soderbergh doesn't waste time with unnecessary dialogue. He never loses sight of what made him build a film around Carano, and for that action fans should be grateful.
You won't find the choppy editing or gimmicky shots meant to disguise the fact an actor isn't handling their own stunts in Haywire. Haywire's fight scenes are quite simply a thing of violent beauty. Soderbergh doesn't cheat the audience by cutting to close-ups when we really want to see Carano giving and receiving each and every blow. And as for Carano, she's an unstoppable force of nature and I can't wait to see her show off her impressive fight skills in many more action films.
GRADE: B
Haywire was directed by Steven Soderbergh and is rated R for some violence.
Theatrical Release: January 20, 2012
This review is based on a screening provided by the studio. For more information, please see our
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