I think I am predisposed not to like Van Damme movies...but, since I can not remember ever watching one in the last 20-years I am willing to give "Until Death" a try based on the overall positive reviews here.
Did I watch the same movie? Well, perhaps...But, I'm wondering. Good-guy, bad-guy, bad-cop movies are in the cliché' category so this type starts out with plenty of "been there, seen that" apathy. I think what makes a movie like this work is if you are rooting for the central character and if his situation rings true. That said I could never "root" for Van Damme's character, even in his redemption phase and the bad guys, though bad, had no reality to them. They seemed like video game bad guys who just are there for no reason other than it's a game. Call it plot holes or whatever. While the larger story of a bad cop turning into a redeemed cop should have had merit, the movie never fulfilled that.
On a positive note I enjoyed the scenic back drop of New Orleans. I admit that Van Damme can play a tortured soul as well as say...Nick Nolte or Mel Gibson, which I believe shows some chops, but unlike those two you never "get-behind" Van Damme to really hope he succeeds in his travails. Perhaps with a better storyline and better supporting actors this could have been the non-action Van Damme career turn? I think he's ready, but this movie wasn't. 4.5 out of 10.
Did I watch the same movie? Well, perhaps...But, I'm wondering. Good-guy, bad-guy, bad-cop movies are in the cliché' category so this type starts out with plenty of "been there, seen that" apathy. I think what makes a movie like this work is if you are rooting for the central character and if his situation rings true. That said I could never "root" for Van Damme's character, even in his redemption phase and the bad guys, though bad, had no reality to them. They seemed like video game bad guys who just are there for no reason other than it's a game. Call it plot holes or whatever. While the larger story of a bad cop turning into a redeemed cop should have had merit, the movie never fulfilled that.
On a positive note I enjoyed the scenic back drop of New Orleans. I admit that Van Damme can play a tortured soul as well as say...Nick Nolte or Mel Gibson, which I believe shows some chops, but unlike those two you never "get-behind" Van Damme to really hope he succeeds in his travails. Perhaps with a better storyline and better supporting actors this could have been the non-action Van Damme career turn? I think he's ready, but this movie wasn't. 4.5 out of 10.