Blu-ray Review - Force of Execution

Force of Execution
Director: Keoni Waxman
Starring: Steven Seagal, Ving Rhames, Bren Foster, Danny Trejo
Studio: Anchor Bay
Release Date: December 17, 2013
Retail: $29.99
ASIN: B00FEHCQNI
Running Time: 99 minutes
Rating: R

Review:

Coming out to DVD & Blu-ray tomorrow, December 17, 2013 is the direct-to-video Force Of Execution directed by Keoni Waxman and stars Steven Seagal (Maximum Conviction, Machete), Ving Rhames (Pulp Fiction, Mission: Impossible movies), world champion martial arts superstar Bren Foster (Maximum Conviction) and Danny Trejo (Machete, Machete Kills).

Steven Seagal stars as Mr. Alexander, a mob kingpin who runs a criminal empire. He sends his best enforcer, Roman Hurst (played by Ben Foster) to eliminate a man inside a prison, but the hit goes terrible wrong. Mr. Alexander can be a noble boss, but when mistakes happen, someone must be accountable for them. For Hurst's "failure" at the prison, he is forced to pay the ultimate price - his best assets, his hands, are brutality injured.

Mr. Alexander isn't the only kingpin the city, as the cold-blooded gangster known as "The Iceman" (played by Ving Rhames) and the Mexican cartel wants control of the city, no matter what the costs.

Thought to be retired, Hurst struggles to make a living with his deformed hands, but it doesn't stop Mr. Alexander to come calling, wanting his expertise once again. Not interested in returning to the hitman business, he thoughtfully rejects the offer. Life sometimes throws you into unexpected situations and that is exactly what happens when Hurst helps defends an ex-con restaurant owner Jimmy Peanuts (played by Danny Trejo) against a few thugs. He ends up befriending Jimmy and a waitress, Karen (played by Jenny Gabrielle), who happens to be Mr. Alexander's girl. Before long, Hurst is forcefully thrown back into his old enforcer routine by helping Mr. Alexander take down "The Iceman's" gang.

Let’s be honest, Steven Seagal's direct-to-video career years have been a mixed bag, some have been watchable while others should have never been made to begin with. Force Of Execution is actually one of his better movies, though it does have plenty plot-holes, bad dialogue and a silly magical scorpion healing trick scene! Unlike of Seagal's other recent films, the action scenes were perfectly shot, though Seagal only has a few fight scenes, the rest are done by Ben Foster. Seagal plays an anti-hero/villain this time around, but turns into the good guy by the end of the film. Once again Danny Trejo gives a great performance, but I thought Ving Rhames's performance was a bit wooden. Overall, Force Of Execution is a decent action flick with a very thin plot. It won't win any Oscars, but it is entertaining.

*Disclaimer - I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.