‘Mutiny’ Brings Blood, Boats and Plenty of Statham
As a lover of all things cinema, I will watch pretty much anything. Romantic comedy? Right up my alley. A drama or period piece? Load it up; let’s watch. However, regardless of how much media I consume (which, believe me, it’s a lot), films or shows in the action genre are some of my least favorites. Don’t get me wrong, I love action sequences, and films that have high-intensity stunts are fun, but plenty of times there’s a lack of substance in favor of those style points that look good on a screen or in a trailer. And yet, over the past couple of years since I’ve become a critic, there have been quite a few action films that have arrived in theaters that have pleasantly surprised me. It seems the creatives behind these films have finally understood that you don’t have to sacrifice a quality story for flashy acrobatics; you can have both. Which brings us to Lionsgate’s latest release, Mutiny.
Written by Lindsay Michel and J. P. Davis (The Contractor, Plane), this Jean-François Richet (The Emperor of Paris, Plane) film asks more of both the action and the audience. What begins as a mission to clear his name and uncover the truth turns into a full-fledged conspiracy that must be exposed. Mutiny delivers a layered story that shines a light on a bigger problem society needs to talk about, while also bringing the kick-ass action we’ve come to know and love from a Jason Statham film. But Statham’s performance is more than throwing punches and shooting guns; it could easily define his career.
[Warning: spoilers from Mutiny are below!]
An action film that begins like any other
Cole Reed (Statham) isn’t just a bodyguard for Tibu Campallo (Ramon Tikaram), a billionaire CEO of a cargo shipping company, but he’s also become family. Tibu sees Cole as a son in so many ways, pushing him to be the best person he can be and to shake off his past as a former police officer and commando. Cole doesn’t just respect Tibu; he loves him with every ounce of his being. Something that seems to be quite a sore spot for Tibu’s actual son, Kameron (Chaneil Kular). Although he would never admit it.
But there’s peace in the kingdom between the three of them, that is, until Tibu is killed in an ambush attack. To make matters worse, someone is pinning the assassination on Cole, making him a wanted man by almost every agency in the world. However, Cole’s not about to turn himself in; he’s going to find the true culprit of Tibu’s death and seek his own personal revenge. This mission for information and vengeance brings him onto one of the company-owned ships, where things take an unexpected turn.
The ship harbors secrets no one could have prepared for, pushing Cole into a scheme he never could have predicted. As he continues to uncover just how far those secrets go, with the help of Angie Ellis (Annabelle Wallis), who is also stuck on board the cargo ship as danger inches ever closer. Can these two expose the secrets and protect innocent lives? Only seeing Mutiny can answer that question.
A deeper story makes Mutiny that much better
Those who are looking for some stellar action won’t be disappointed with Mutiny, as it seriously has some of the best action I’ve seen recently. Almost the entire film is packed with one action sequence after another, as the story bounces between Statham and Wallis as they attempt to survive while trapped on a ship. Each star has moments to shine as they navigate the trouble on board, defending themselves and others from the crew actively mutinying. And for those who happen to be a bit squeamish, just know there is a lot of blood and a bit of gore that definitely made me have to close my eyes.
But while the action is top-notch, the deeper message is what truly makes this movie special. Don’t get me wrong, it was awesome to see Statham kick so much ass, but the exploration of human exploitation elevated Mutiny beyond a basic action film. It’s not often that you see a generic action film tackle the topic of human trafficking and the impact it has on all fronts, although you would think that more would do that. Watching Mutiny felt like both an exercise in political justice and social growth as much as it was about seeing some impressive fighting choreography. Jean-François Richet has struck a balance that feels almost unique to this particular film and gives me hope about what can and should come in this genre as it continues to grow.
Final thoughts on Mutiny
Is Mutiny a perfect film? Not at all. I’m sure someone will find plot holes big enough to drive a cargo ship through. However, Mutiny does what it does well: it delivers a fantastic action film with more than a subpar plot to carry it. Now, I’m not saying this film will win awards for its message, but I do think it’s the perfect example of how the genre should evolve. Mutiny gives people so much to think about and will undoubtedly spark conversation, which is exactly how I want my action films to be.
Mutiny is currently in theaters! Are you excited to see this film? Plan on checking it out while it’s in cinemas? Share your thoughts on social media and tag @bsb.insider to continue the conversation!
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