Mojave Diamonds

Another poorly directed movie by this director. Akbar-directed or produced movies are some of the most cringe seen on the planet -- it is very comedic to anyone who's seen them by now! I'm pretty sure soon enough the director of these god-awful films will be considered dead to these actors or rather famous athletes from the UFC shall I say.

Mohave Diamond is no different as a movie if you can even call it one [?] All he did is pull some high-caliber names together as he does and turn them into seemingly parody actors on a cheap set w/ a highly cliché--filled storyline. I'm quite sure he pumps out these generics films to generate some quick income & that's it! Doing it in a rush..

.. Asif never cares to put out a quality film.. the last thing on his mind I'm sure.

I was feeling generous, so I'm giving a single star rating.

Buckle up, my fellow action movie fans, because I've just stumbled upon a film that left me in a state of speechlessness - and not in a good way, mind you. Now, I'm not one to write reviews, but this cinematic atrocity has pushed me to do so.

When MMA fighters or WWF wrestlers is involved in a movie it's doomed to be a disaster. The acting sucks, the filming sucks and the lines was definitely written by a 6th grader.

Let's talk plot, or should I say, the lack of it. This movie's storyline is so nonsensical that it doesn't deserve the dignified title of a plot. It's a baffling puzzle where every piece is missing, and trying to make sense of it will give you a headache.

To sum it up, "Do Not Waste Your Time" should have been the official tagline of this cinematic disaster.

Save yourself the agony and find something else to watch - anything else.

"Mojave Diamonds," directed by Asif Akbar, is a fast-paced action thriller that takes viewers on a gripping journey. The film centers around Roy Mason (Cerrone), a former MMA fighter who finds himself in trouble with the Vegas mob. After losing a high-stakes fight and costing mob boss Julian (Jackson) a significant amount of money, Roy's life takes a dangerous turn.

To repay his debt, Roy agrees to transport a $50 million shipment of diamonds to Mexico, accompanied by his G. I. brother Danny (Chris Maher). However, when a rival gang steals the diamonds and abducts their younger brother Joe's (Sonnen) family in retaliation, the three siblings must unite and infiltrate the mob compound to save their loved ones, regardless of the risks involved.

The film showcases Cerrone's portrayal of Roy, a down-and-out character who competes in illegal MMA fights and struggles with personal demons. His performance effectively captures the character's desperation and determination to set things right. The tension escalates as Julian's menacing presence looms over Roy's every move, further heightening the stakes.

The family dynamics between Roy, Danny, and Joe add an emotional layer to the storyline. The strained relationship between Roy and Joe, coupled with the threat to Joe's family, adds complexity and gives the audience a reason to invest in the characters' struggles.

Director Asif Akbar's vision shines through the well-executed action sequences and suspenseful moments. The cinematography by Jan-Michael Losada enhances the film's gritty atmosphere, immersing viewers in the dangerous world the characters inhabit. Richard John Baker's music effectively complements the film's pace, intensifying key moments.

"Mojave Diamonds" delivers an engaging storyline filled with high-stakes action and familial bonds. While the plot remains relatively straightforward, the film compensates with strong performances, impressive cinematography, and a captivating atmosphere. If you're a fan of adrenaline-pumping thrillers, this movie is worth checking out.

The film's poster attracted me to watching it. However, this misleading poster can be deemed false advertising. There's no truck being pursued by the cops. In fact, there's no truck being pursued by anyone and there are no chase sequences, as I had thought.

Martial arts superstar Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone stars as Roy Mason, who has a history of being in trouble. When he owes mafia mob Julian (Quinton Jackson) a favour after losing a substantial amount on a fight, Julian offers Roy a chance to redeem himself (and pay his debt) by transporting $50 million worth of rare diamonds from Vegas to Baja. Julian also trusts him for the job because he is a professional and skilled truck driver.

Roy then asks his brother Danny (Chris Maher) to join him on the trip. And this was the moment I had high hopes for the movie. I anticipated a trucking movie in the vein of 'Smokey and the Bandit' or 'Convoy'. However - and there might be spoilers here - the truck is simply stolen whilst parked at a gas station. When Roy and Danny finally get to the truck again - left at the side of the road - they find the diamonds gone. And this was the last of the truck...

The antagonists are mob boss Julian, and Paulie (Weston Cage), who works for him. The film becomes a bit confusing when Paulie disclose towards the end that the land where the diamonds were found belonged to his family. If this was indeed the case, then how did Julian become the boss and how does he actually fit in the picture? Both these antagonists are very weak characters, and both equally badly acted by the respective actors. The dialogue was also very standard and I never viewed them as true villains.

When Roy and Danny's older brother Joe's family is kidnapped by Julian, the film becomes a rescue mission. This final act is so clichéd and sensational, and the final confrontation with Paulie was so badly done. In general, the film was not a bad effort and is watchable, but could have been so much better.

I thought Cerrone did a great job as Roy (he looks and sounds so much like Tom Hardy!), but the rest of the actors were not that great. On another positive note, the cinematography was good. The film also features some really good photography, but also bad photography at times. The editing was also inconsistent; good at times, and very bad at times. For me, the film was saved only by Cerrone.

Just as he was the King in the UFC, undefeated and undisputed fighter Chael Sonnen makes his debut as a main character in Mojave Diamonds and shows the world what a perfect acting performance looks like. You would be hard pressed to find a better acting performance in 2023. Rampage Jackson brings his usual humor and charm even though he is playing the main villain of the movie. And Cowboy Cerrone brings his usual tough guy role to the movie. Overall, I think this film easily deserves best film at the oscars, and Chael deserves best actor. Whether it's 1 on 1, 2 on 1 or 5 on 1, the rest of the films at the oscars are going to need 911.