The next to last film that Wesley Snipes made before being brought up on tax charges turns out to be not too bad. If they Internal Revenue Service want their money then they need to get Wes back into the studios to make money to give them though, maybe they’ll get a producer’s credit.
What the back of the box says:
What would be a routine mission for the sniper turns into a nightmare as Dial is forced into hiding and relentlessly pursued by the British police and their lead investigator, Windsor (Charles Dance, Gosford Park). [Back of box spoiler] But when Dial is framed for Windsor’s murder, he begins to realize that he has been seriously double-crossed. [/spoiler] His only hope is a 12-year-old girl, whom Dial reluctantly befriends, as he desperately searches to find the killer and the truth behind his betrayal.”
Wesley Snipes slips into the shoes of what I would have envisioned as a Charles Bronson vehicle if it came out in the ‘70s. He plays the stoic man of action who’s called in from retirement to do one last job with a target that he has a personal history with. When the job is done, the wounded marksman finds himself on the run from both the authorities and his turncoat masters.
Along the way he finds himself framed for murder and under the protection of a wayward youth (who seemingly trusts him from the first even though he’s a stranger). Sounds familiar right? I’ve read some bad reviews about Snipes’ output as he was cranking out these foreign made direct to video action epics. I believe that Prague stands in for London, but the substitution was not as egregious as other such films (Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes was particularly obvious).
I was expecting the worst and it turned out to be not half bad. Sure, there’s not too much original in the storyline, but it was well made and Snipes was pretty good (although again channeling the late Charles Bronson in my humble opinion).
The Contractor is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions. Special features include the 21-minute “A Look Inside the Contractor” which interviews director Josef Rusnak, Wesley Snipes, producer Rudy Cohen, Ralph Brown (“Collins”), Lena Headey (“Ballard”), Eliza Bennett (“Emily”), and Charles Dance. There are also previews for other Sony DVDs.
I went in expecting the worst and it turned out to be not too bad, although the plot seems to be recycled from other action films. Wesley Snipes fits well into the role and is supported by some good actors (Headey, Dance, Brown). It’s definitely worth a rental and don’t let some of Snipes’ other direct to video output be your guide.
The Contractor is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information. Click Here to watch a clip from The Contractor!
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