Haywire (2012)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Phil H

  
  Dear Mr Soderbergh, if you want to make a thrilling spy film then at least cast someone who can act in the lead! don't cast a so called mixed martial artist (this term is being banded around way too much these days), use them for stunt work. Yes Carano is fit firm and able to… More
  Dear Mr Soderbergh, if you want to make a thrilling spy film then at least cast someone who can act in the lead! don't cast a so called mixed martial artist (this term is being banded around way too much these days), use them for stunt work. Yes Carano is fit firm and able to kick ass but her acting is wooden and stale which lets the whole thing down badly. This espionage thriller is slick and lean with no Hollywood nonsense, this ain't no Bay machine, this is more intone with 'Ronin' but even more watered down to a cut throat hands on take down. The action is sparse but fast with no special effects to get in the way, no explosions, no music and no cgi what so ever, this baby has been stripped for maximum performance just like the Evo that gets driven. That's not to say its without faults, the film starts slow after an initial bit of fisticuffs, Carano glares her way through the story as you start to feel...zzzzzzz!. Things do perk up quickly as the plot thickens...well somewhat, the plot is actually highly basic but the fights are nicely done, realistic without silly 'whallop!' sound effects (well almost). It amused me how Carano is able to take down heavy armoured police with leg kicks to body armour, she may be a good Muay Thai fighter but I doubt she would be able to do what she does but hey! I'm getting too picky aren't I. Overall casting was big but unrequired, I think the inclusion of Carano lowers the tone really, she comes across way too much like an action figure, almost like a 'Black Widow' type character. The inclusion of Fassbender in a pretty cliched role didn't help either, almost an audition for the next 'Bond'. Wasn't impressed with Ewan McGregor and his dodgy US accent, he really didn't seem to fit the bill for me whilst Banderas just seemed to be there to add more big names to the list as he does nothing, absolutely zero. I think this film tries a bit too hard to be something more serious, maybe more of a 'Bourne' vehicle perhaps, but under the bonnet its just a simple double cross thriller with some excellent direction, fights and editing...soooo yes it is good then, it just thinks a bit too highly of itself. Still not so sure why its called 'Haywire' though, makes you think its some kind of guns n explosion filled hyper action beast...but it isn't. I must add I hated the rather lame way Carano easily gets her man at the end on the beach, the rock bit, how on earth did he manage that!? lol! It is pretty good by the way, just incase your not sure what I think at the end here, just not THAT good.

• Mark H

  
  Haywire is Steven Soderbergh Lite. I suspect he never intended this to be some grand statement about the life of a secret agent. There's little in the way of innovation here. Female led action films can't call themselves cutting edge anymore simply by virtue of the… More
  Haywire is Steven Soderbergh Lite. I suspect he never intended this to be some grand statement about the life of a secret agent. There's little in the way of innovation here. Female led action films can't call themselves cutting edge anymore simply by virtue of the protagonist's sex. Resident Evil, Underworld, Wanted, Salt and Hanna are just a few recent titles that fit this description. Take your pick, the trend is quite common (and profitable) these days. In the hands of a lesser director, this might have been less successful, but Soderbergh's artistic touches (cast, cinematography and music) manage to push this adventure into a satisfactory time filler.

• Albert K

  
  "Salt", move aside; "Haywire"'s a much better fit for me. Unlike "Salt", this movie's aggressive with strong performances throughout coupled with Steven Soderbergh's steady hands and none of the cheesy dialogue or story-arc. If… More
  "Salt", move aside; "Haywire"'s a much better fit for me. Unlike "Salt", this movie's aggressive with strong performances throughout coupled with Steven Soderbergh's steady hands and none of the cheesy dialogue or story-arc. If you're gonna come into this to be blow away by the story, think again. "Haywire" follows cliche after cliche, there's little to no character development, and there's hardly a narrative to build off from to be invested in, but it somehow takes the little substance it has and its brilliantly executed with a clever emphasis on slow burning, methodically tense build-ups to the raw, realistic, and intense action. And surprisingly, unlike the Bourne series, it drops the shaky cam and still manages to deliver the same type of in-your-face, hand-to-hand fight scenes. "Haywire" carries a very unique feel within the action-thriller genre that seeps into these intense fight scenes, which give it an enough original identity to stand out from the rest of the Michael-Bay-explosion-fest movies. WOOOOOO-WEEEEE! What a breath of fresh air to see some quality, knuckle-to-skull action; they're ferocious! The film, as a whole, may be lackluster to some or too "slow-burning" for most, but it delivers the fight scenes and style at such a veracity that I can't help but to be mesmerized and entertained. Of course the style is reminiscent to previous "Ocean's" films but it's still enough to stand up on its own two feet, instead of leaning on another previous film's successes.

• Dan S

  
  A stylish, beautifully photographed thriller from the always efficient Steven Soderbergh concerning an agent (Gina Carano) on the run after she realizes she had been set-up by her government, led by her former lover (Ewan McGregor) for reasons unknown. There's a lot of… More
  A stylish, beautifully photographed thriller from the always efficient Steven Soderbergh concerning an agent (Gina Carano) on the run after she realizes she had been set-up by her government, led by her former lover (Ewan McGregor) for reasons unknown. There's a lot of 'Bourne' in here, which is never a bad thing, as Carano accomplishes some eye-popping stunts that never case to amaze. The story is well constructed, if just a tad familiar, but it still remains a blast from start to finish. Soderbergh continues to be one of the most skilled, under-rated directors out there.

• Mario L M

  
  Before Haywire, I wouldâ(TM)ve never pegged Steven Soderbergh as an action director. He certainly demonstrated an aptitude for staging intricately plotted, thrilling sequences in Traffic, The Limey and the Oceanâ(TM)s 11 films but for all of his best-in-his-field strengths,… More
  Before Haywire, I wouldâ(TM)ve never pegged Steven Soderbergh as an action director. He certainly demonstrated an aptitude for staging intricately plotted, thrilling sequences in Traffic, The Limey and the Oceanâ(TM)s 11 films but for all of his best-in-his-field strengths, masterfully choreography and balletic action rhythms werenâ(TM)t among them. After Haywire, itâ(TM)s clear that Soderbergh is limited only by the human inevitabilities of eating, sleeping and death. With Haywire, Soderbergh has thrown down a gauntlet at the feet of the best action directors working. Haywire is a film that shouldnâ(TM)t work. Instead of an actress, Soderbergh cast former MMA fighter Gina Carano in the role of ex-Marine, now mercenary Mallory Kane who finds her life of wine drinking and casual murder for hire disrupted when her former lover and boss (Ewan McGregor) sets her up as the pasty for a political assassination. While given only the thinnest of character sketches to work with by screenwriter Lem Dobbs, Carano embodies the role of professional killer with the raw physicality and economy of presence that canâ(TM)t be taught in eight months with a Hollywood physical trainer. When you watch in hushed awe as Carano chokes out a man with her legs or dismantles two fully armed SWAT men with just her fists, you understand that sheâ(TM)s kind of woman Clint Eastwood would never call girly tough. The rest of the filmâ(TM)s cast shares in Caranoâ(TM)s quiet excellent, filling in the spaces lift by Caranoâ(TM)s lack of innate acting ability with the focused work of skilled professionals. McGregor, lean and unimposing, underplays his characterâ(TM)s anxiety and cruel intelligence giving his role a coiled menace. Bill Paxton is good as an old man without a hint of frenzy that marked his early performances. And Channing Tatum, usually a hunk of all American boring, is refreshingly relaxed as an idiotic henchman. Soderbergh was finally able to find the actor underneath all of Tatumâ(TM)s muscle. He was also able to make a female led action film work where so many of his contemporaries failed. Haywireâ(TM)s protagonist isnâ(TM)t motivated by sexual abuse like Lisbeth Salander nor is the lifelong machinations of an overprotective father like Hanna Heller. She has agency. Agency to leave McGregorâ(TM)s employ when she figures out what kind of man he, agency to initiate a sexual relationship with Tatumâ(TM)s dope and the agency and resourcefulness to slaughter all of her betrayers. Thatâ(TM)s not to say the Soderberghâ(TM)s camera never lingers on Caranoâ(TM)s curves a bit too long or doesnâ(TM)t acknowledge the fact that Carano is woman who can, gasp, kick ass but its sexual politics arenâ(TM)t something you have to apologize for before showing it to mixed company. Itâ(TM)s violent for the sake of being violent, not as critique on gender relations or the War on Terror but because itâ(TM)s incredibly satisfying to watch a professional go to work. The plot of is almost video game-ish in its utilitarianism. We learn that Carano is being hunted for something, through flashbacks we learn for what and finally we watch her redress her hunters. Thereâ(TM)s very little narrative depth to Haywire but a meticulous and thrilling efficiency. Haywire is as much a genre pastiche as Kill Bill but Soderbergh blends his influences more finely than Tarantino. David Holmesâ(TM) horn filled and wildly anachronistic score is a pointed retort to the pounding electronica of the Bourne series. Soderbergh understands that all of the convoluted spy stuff is fun set dressing but ultimately rather silly. He also eschews the crunchier impacts that make Paul Greengrass films so effective, choosing instead to give his violence a naturalistic halo that simultaneously grounds and distances the action. The fights are too graceful and choreographed to feel real but theyâ(TM)re also too meaty and syncopated to be fanciful. Like its fellow minimalist genre eight ball Drive, Haywireâ(TM)s aesthetic; feather light on plot, subtle character work and violence that explodes like a Pixies song, isnâ(TM)t a new one but utilized at this level of craftsmanship itâ(TM)s a notice to everyone that the days of gratuitous slow motion and interminable action set pieces are over. At one point in his career Soderbergh was the hot indie guy. Then he was the guy who made the really cool crime movies. Then he was the guy who was so good he got nominated for two directing Oscars in the same year. The he was the guy who made an old Rat Pack movie into a billion dollar franchise. Then he was the guy who made the four hour Che Guevara bio pic. Then he was the guy who legitimized a porn actress. Next he made a medical disaster film. Later this year heâ(TM)s making a movie with Channing Tatum about his days as a stripper. Next year heâ(TM)s doing a drug addiction drama with Rooney Mara and Jude Law. Soderbergh isnâ(TM)t a cool indie guy, prestige picture man or the next big thing in action cinema, heâ(TM)s the next Kubrick and heâ(TM)s upping the level of play with every film he makes.

• Al S

  
  A dynamic, stylish and hard-boiled action-thriller. It`s a sexed-up Bourne. A slick cocktail of action, suspense, craft and cool. Director, Steven Soderbergh crafts an interesting, neat, heavey and taunt film with great craft and characters. One hell of an wickedly entertaining and… More
  A dynamic, stylish and hard-boiled action-thriller. It`s a sexed-up Bourne. A slick cocktail of action, suspense, craft and cool. Director, Steven Soderbergh crafts an interesting, neat, heavey and taunt film with great craft and characters. One hell of an wickedly entertaining and explosive thrill-ride. It`s gritty, realistic and well-crafted. A soild and thrilling action movie with lots of charisma and a great all-star cast. It`s bursting with riveting fight sequences, thrilling chases and explosive gun-fights. It packs some intense puch as well as brains. Gina Carano is strong, fast, sexy and relentless. She is a capable and compelling action hero and perhaps promising actress. Ewan McGregor is excellent. I was thow slightly disapointed with the appearences of Tatum, Douglas and Banderas, it was great seeing them in this film even thow they had nothing dynamic to bring to the table. Michael Fassbender is terrific and does have a mysterious and cool role and not to mention a great fight scene with Carano. Michael Douglas and Antonio Banderas are exceptional. A relentlessly fun and pulse-pounding film.

• Mark W

  
  With a first-rate cast at his disposal director Steven Soderbergh, decides to have them play second-fiddle to his unknown lead, Gina Carano - a real, mixed martial arts fighter - who has never acted before. Soderbergh himself is also on new ground with his first foray in the action… More
  With a first-rate cast at his disposal director Steven Soderbergh, decides to have them play second-fiddle to his unknown lead, Gina Carano - a real, mixed martial arts fighter - who has never acted before. Soderbergh himself is also on new ground with his first foray in the action genre. And the results, I hear you say? The results, happen to be rather impressive. Soderbergh's gamble pays off. Mallory Kane (Gina Carano) is a no-nonsense, highly trained, black ops soldier who gets double-crossed during a government security mission. Assassins from across the globe target her every move and are out for the kill but Mallory turns the tables in her bid for the truth and her survival. Double-dealing's, back-stabbing and espionage across international locations have been done many times before - most recently in the Bourne series. This may leave you feeling that your time is being wasted but it's to Soderbergh's credit that he still finds some mileage in it. That's thanks in large, to his independent approach. The film is well shot throughout, with a minimal music score and excellently choreographed action set-pieces. The fisticuffs themselves are even delivered with the sound toned down, making them all the more realistic and Carano's fighting abilities are very apparent and impressive. Her acting chops may leave a little to be desired but at the end of the day, she's there to throw her weight around and that's exactly what she does. The very fine supporting cast also pitch in and Soderbergh manages to get them sharing scenes with one another. It's always a pet-hate of mine to see an excellently assembled cast that don't share any screen time. This fulfils on that front also. He's also knows not to overstay his welcome and with a running time of approx 90mins, this doesn't waste any time in getting down to the nitty-gritty. The story is old-hat and the film has come into some mixed reviews but with an eclectic supporting cast of first-rate actors and a heroine (without the use of CGI) that can genuinely bust a few heads, what more do you want from an action film that pretends to be nothing other than just that. Good quick fun. (MARKED MOVIES) mrmarakai.wordpress.com

• Michael S

  
  "Haywire" is an interesting film from Soderbergh, who once again is at his more experimental. It's a dialogue heavy affair with bursts of action and surprising stylistic choices (from it's restrained cinematography and editing, too it's super cool score in the… More
  "Haywire" is an interesting film from Soderbergh, who once again is at his more experimental. It's a dialogue heavy affair with bursts of action and surprising stylistic choices (from it's restrained cinematography and editing, too it's super cool score in the vein of 60s thrillers), but there's definitely some hiccups along the way. For a film that almost succeeds as a completely satisfying and straightforward exercise in style, "Haywire" is overwritten; even frustrating at times. The script is muddled and feels unnecessarily convoluted, which takes away some of the fun attributed to a film like this. I wanted to focus on the genre thrills, not disjointed plotting. Though the customary explanations do occur, a tighter narrative would more suitably match the length and spirit of the film. Ultimately, what really makes "Haywire" work isn't it's generic plot or been there done that premise; it's Gina Carano. She has a great charisma and screen presence! Carano, in nearly every scene, is quite striking in that she has such a unique, hard edged beauty and is so utterly convincing in both the brawls and dramatic scenes. She's simply intriguing to watch and keeps us invested. The film's greatest asset without question. It's also great watching the big names show up (McGregor, Douglas, banderas, Fassbender, Paxton)... Even if they don't have anything really dynamic to do (other than fight Carano). The combative scene between Carano and Fassbender in particular is really impressive, and the brutal highlight of the film. There's something so enjoyable about watching this human wrecking ball who just so happens to be a woman lay such a beat-down; especially when it's done with such conviction! No, "Haywire" isn't Soderbergh's next great film, and because of certain decisions in both the writing and directorial process it isn't that accessible or audience-friendly either. But I appreciated Soderbergh's unique, layed-back, and classy approach to what is after all a pretty routine story. Through art house flourishes, Soderbergh sells it, and the potentially star making debut of Gina Carano leaves an impression.

• Adriel L

  
  A rather vague smorgasbord of a film. The direction would make great for a film subject that is familiar and glad, as is the case with Soderbergh's other ventures, but it loses appeal, and merely incites confusion and disinterest, although the action was something to behold, but… More
  A rather vague smorgasbord of a film. The direction would make great for a film subject that is familiar and glad, as is the case with Soderbergh's other ventures, but it loses appeal, and merely incites confusion and disinterest, although the action was something to behold, but what is the point without a good story that backs things up, at least to serve my taste.

• Tired of P

  
  Question: Okay, ladies, do you want a movie that you could take your father to the movie theatre and both of you would enjoy the film? Well, I may have just found the perfect one. It's called Haywire. Another question: How many girls took those self-defense courses where one… More
  Question: Okay, ladies, do you want a movie that you could take your father to the movie theatre and both of you would enjoy the film? Well, I may have just found the perfect one. It's called Haywire. Another question: How many girls took those self-defense courses where one guy dressed up in a huge outfit of protective gear where you learned to knee him where it counts, scream and yell NO! and 911? Well, I did and most of the time I felt ridiculous; however, if there were courses where I could be like Mallory Kane in Haywire I would sign up in a heartbeat. That woman can kick some serious butt. She was awesome!! Back to the father/daughter part: I took my father or maybe he took me, but I drove, to see Haywire. I was going because Ewan McGregor was in it and I will see anything he is in! My father said he'll tag along because he liked EM in Angels and Demons. Yes, he didn't know anything about Haywire but I knew he would like it. (Did I ever mention I got my love of movies from my father? Also, he has the same ability as me - we can recall actor's names and scenes better than real life memories or people's names.) The movie starts in the middle of the story and you have no idea what's going on. Mallory ends up in a diner drinking tea looking a little worse for wear. A man shows up and starts talking with her. She knows him but you don't know how. Then the coolest scene happens and my father and I turn to each other and smile. I won't say what happens but the movie hooked me right there! My father whispers, "Oh, I like her." As the story continues the audience is slowly exposed to the story. It goes in and out of the present and several flashbacks set to music that totally reminded me of the music in Ocean's Eleven. Well, it's the same director and the music worked so it didn't bother me it at all. Actually, I might point out that during some of the "fight" scenes there was no score - nothing. It was unnerving at first but then I realized it made it that more real. Mallory Kane is a black ops agent and is sent on missions that not many can perform. There are several scenes where she does use self-defense techniques but full on hand-to-hand combat moves are really her forte. And in fact, those scenes had me grinning ear-to-ear, and there are plenty of them. My father whispers, "I love this woman. You don't mess with her." I would love to go into more detail...wait, what I am saying? No, I don't. Haywire is a thriller - a simple one but a thriller nonetheless, but the storytelling made it worthwhile and exciting. Also, Mallory Kane is one bad-ass character that any female can look up to and inspire more girls to sign-up for boxing, karate and any other type of hand-to-hand combat classes. I am searching right now where I can take a class... I must mention that I loved the way this movie ended. So, I will say it again, call your father up, ladies, and have a lovely time at Haywire. My father states, "That was great. Those guys made a huge mistake. She's the type of woman you say, 'Yes, dear and comply or you'll regret it.'" My thoughts exactly! Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Relativity Media, 2012 Starring: Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum Michael Fassbender Antonio Banderas and Michael Douglas. Genre: Action, thriller. My favorite thing: A great female character to look up to. My least favorite thing: That Ewan McGregor broke my heart in this tale but I will always love him. Rating: R Length: 93 minutes Review: 8 out of 10

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"They left her no choice."</i> A black ops super soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed and set up during a mission. <center><font size=+2 face="Century… More
  <i>"They left her no choice."</i> A black ops super soldier seeks payback after she is betrayed and set up during a mission. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> Physically imposing Channing Tatum as Aaron politely asks Gina Carano as rogue agent Mallory to give herself up. She replies, "I don't think so..." Tatum throws hot coffee in Carano's face, and then viciously slams her head into the counter. She weathers the beating, and then picks her moment to unleash quick hooks. She manipulates Tatum to the ground and snaps his arm in a jujitsu lock. Carano is a fierce presence and a genuine force on screen. She is gorgeous-long black hair and ultra fit body. The former MMA champion is imposing herself standing at 5'8". But she is fighting ripped 6'1" Tatum and Michael Fassbender. Carano is the real deal. Director Steven Soderbergh does justice to her fighting acumen. In "Haywire" you see full body fight choreography with speed, power, and precision-no quick cut edits with torso shots. Carano delivers a vicious front kick to Fassbender that sends him crashing through a door that you can almost feel. "Haywire" is at its best in accelerated mayhem and destruction. Lem Dobbs story seems almost an afterthought or excuse for Carano to just kick some ass-mostly a means to an end. Carano is a powerful physical presence as she is charismatic, however, is she really a compelling actor? Hard to discern-in "Haywire" she plays sullen and singular in focus. Soderbergh wisely orchestrates and leverages Carano's strengths. I think it would be interesting to see her in a more multi-dimensional role-she kind of hints at vulnerability here. She is solid in her part. Although Carano's physicality also has a downside, particularly in this vengeance tale. She may be too overpowering for the logical narrative showdown. Still watching Carano springing off the wall and crashing with devastating hooks and kicks is awesome. Too bad Soderbergh doesn't give Carano much more to do than that. At least they both leave us wanting to see more.

• Lewis C

  
  A lean, mean action movie that's almost too focused and bare-bones. The fight scenes hit VERY hard, though, and are some of the most impressive, brutal, and authentic that I've seen in quite a while. On the other hand the plot is barely there and poorly explained, which… More
  A lean, mean action movie that's almost too focused and bare-bones. The fight scenes hit VERY hard, though, and are some of the most impressive, brutal, and authentic that I've seen in quite a while. On the other hand the plot is barely there and poorly explained, which dulls some of Haywire's potential. This is undoubtedly a flawed action-thriller, but what it does well, it does VERY well.

• Kase V

  
  Everyone seemed to have high expectations for Steven Soderbergh's action-thriller 'Haywire'. The director is usually worthy of my trust to create such a satisfying film, and he does not entirely disappoint here. The acting from the ensemble cast was all brilliant, all… More
  Everyone seemed to have high expectations for Steven Soderbergh's action-thriller 'Haywire'. The director is usually worthy of my trust to create such a satisfying film, and he does not entirely disappoint here. The acting from the ensemble cast was all brilliant, all the way around. The cinematography and camera work was original and enticing. But the story is very poorly constructed and loses its viewer easily. The fight scenes do not seems to be choreographed well and are very underwhelming. We don't necessarily feel the punches landing or any kind of enticement as the protagonist wreaks havoc on each foe. Soderbergh stylistic choices don't always work, but the film's great cast and camera work are reason alone to enjoy this film.

• Liam G

  
  Stylish, full of energy and well-paced, Steven Soderbergh's ''Haywire'' is a very entertaining action film. The fight scenes are filmed superbly, Gina Carano makes for a great heroine and, though it may not have the character of last year's… More
  Stylish, full of energy and well-paced, Steven Soderbergh's ''Haywire'' is a very entertaining action film. The fight scenes are filmed superbly, Gina Carano makes for a great heroine and, though it may not have the character of last year's ''Hanna'', it brings a new style to the action genre.

• Greg S

  
  A female freelance operative hunts down the men who double crossed her. A confusing and contrived thriller plot held together entirely by former MMA fighter Gina Carano's charisma.

• Matt G

  
  Kenneth: You shouldn't think of her as being a woman. That would be your first mistake. A fantastic way to approach a film by Steven Soderbergh is to have a good sense of what you are getting into. His newest film, Haywire, is a throwback to '70's revenge thrillers… More
  Kenneth: You shouldn't think of her as being a woman. That would be your first mistake. A fantastic way to approach a film by Steven Soderbergh is to have a good sense of what you are getting into. His newest film, Haywire, is a throwback to '70's revenge thrillers that takes us on a globe-trotting journey. What elevates the film has nothing to do with the director, it has to do with the brutal action-sequences done by our female lead, played by MMA fighter Gina Carano, who manages to kick some serious ass throughout, but does not have much talent acting-wise. My main beef with Haywire is that it does not feature an engaging story, nor does it have a satisfying conclusion, but the well-handled action sequences are able to keep your attention in this uneven flick. Read the whole review at creedsdelight.com

• Kristijonas F

  
  The first few months of the year function as sort of cinema graveyard, a time period reserved for direct-to-video releases and other cheap Hollywood rubbish that deserves to be buried quickly and quietly. But Haywire is something different - a stylish, artsy and old-school take on a… More
  The first few months of the year function as sort of cinema graveyard, a time period reserved for direct-to-video releases and other cheap Hollywood rubbish that deserves to be buried quickly and quietly. But Haywire is something different - a stylish, artsy and old-school take on a spy thriller. Action-packed and minimalistic, this movie kills because of the gorgeous MMA fighter Gina Carano, a glorious ensemble of A-list actors (including my personal favorite Mr. Fassbender), and smooth, fluid direction from Steven Soderbergh. The movie has it's obvious limitations (the lead's acting talent, paper-thin plot, etc), and it's minor Soderbergh, but I just found it simply refreshing to watch a classic beat-'em-up without all that seizure-inducing editing that has been so popular for the last decade. And the fight sequences are amazing. Just watch the film for them. And Michael Fassbender.

• Justin Y

  
  Steven Soderbergh has some positives and some not-so positives with <i>Haywire</i>.<p>With a plot that requires attention to follow, <i>Haywire</i> still ultimately ends up as a 90+ minute dry thriller. The layers of story detail moderately keep things… More
  Steven Soderbergh has some positives and some not-so positives with <i>Haywire</i>.<p>With a plot that requires attention to follow, <i>Haywire</i> still ultimately ends up as a 90+ minute dry thriller. The layers of story detail moderately keep things interesting, but the lack of surprises and major plot twists end up as a disappointment.</p><p>There is a decent amount of action; however, an intense action movie this is not, as there is more emphasis on story. The stunt work and fight choreography are solid. Gina Carano delivers some brutal hits and can hang with the big guns during any encounter.</p><p>While Carano definitely has the persona to be a leading lady, she needs to step up in the acting department because her performance here is one dimensional. The rest of the cast consist of some easily recognizable names, but all are a waste in a film that is all Carano.</p><p>Good camerawork, plot concept, and a lovely Gina Carano makes <i>Haywire</i> a watchable movie, but it lacks that extra spark to make it anything more than that.</p>

• Josh M

  
  Haywire is a very dry action film, put together with skill and taste (you'd expect that from Soderberg), and featuring balletic, thrilling hand to hand combat scenes. However, due to a vague, paint by numbers intrigue plot (Bourne identity-ish) and a wooden performance from… More
  Haywire is a very dry action film, put together with skill and taste (you'd expect that from Soderberg), and featuring balletic, thrilling hand to hand combat scenes. However, due to a vague, paint by numbers intrigue plot (Bourne identity-ish) and a wooden performance from rookie actress and MMA fighter Gina Carano, it's hard to care. Some of the best Hollywood A list actors (Ewan McGregor, Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender, Bill Paxton) are wasted here with a script that gives them little to do. On the plus side of the ledger, there are nice location scenes in Ireland, Spain and Paris, and a few witty lines here and there. I also enjoyed Soderberg's sparing use of music, mostly witheld during the combat scenes in favour of natural sound, which was very effective. Gina Carano has screen presence and is a great fighter. With a few acting lessons, she may actually emerge as a strong leading lady, but not yet. Talented screenwriter Lem Dobbs does far better with a similar film, The Limey as well as the science fiction flick Dark City. This one is all plot and no character, never a good balance. Wait for the rental, and just fast forward to the action, and you won't be let down.

• KJ P

  
  "Haywire" serves as one of the best January releases in recent history, with stunning choreography, great performances from many faces of the supporting cast, including Channing Tatum, who really stood out for once, in my opinion, and a fun story, that may be a little too… More
  "Haywire" serves as one of the best January releases in recent history, with stunning choreography, great performances from many faces of the supporting cast, including Channing Tatum, who really stood out for once, in my opinion, and a fun story, that may be a little too smart for it's own good. The editing is perfect, the style is definitely Soderbergh, as the colouring and specific lighting is present. As a trained government professional, Mallory must fight to stay alive after a mission that left her caught. They know every move she is going to make, and she will do whatever it takes to get away. With a few surprising cameos, an adrenaline fuelled plot, and a cast that will have anyone smiling, "Haywire" is awesome! Gina Carano is not the best actress in the world, as it kind of shows through this film, but the supporting cast deifnitely makes her seem better than she really is. All I know is that she can kick ass, and that is what makes her character so enjoyable. I definitely recommend checking this one out, even though it has quite a few problems in it's execution!

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