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Brian Cox is ranked among the best character actors in the business. Yet, for all his talent, he's seldom chosen as a leading man, instead being called upon to fill supporting roles as far ranging as the original Hannibal Lecter (Manhunter) to William Wallace's dad in Bravehart and William Stryker in X2, the X-Men sequel, among only a few of his 134 roles thus far. So it comes as a bit of a surprise to see him handed the lead in Red, a mini-masterpiece of one man's quest for justice which screened at the 2008 edition of Montreal's Fantasia film festival.

Directed by Trygve Allister Diesen and Lucky McKee (May, The Woods), and based on a story by Jack Ketchum, Red tells the story of aging war vet Avery Ludlow (Cox), whose only remaining companion after a life of tragedy, a dog named Red, is brutally killed by a group of teens. Built upon a remarkably rich, layered and textured script by Stephen Susco (The Grudge), the story doesn't play out as your simple paint-by-numbers revenge thriller. Instead, it unfolds slowly and all too realistically as Ludlow seeks redress, not revenge, from the wealthy father of two of the boys (Tom Sizemore in full sleaze mode), only to be rebuffed by parents and legal channels alike. Even when these attempts fail, Ludlow, ever the civil citizen, tells his story to the local TV news, and launches a lawsuit against the killers.

Drawing parallels between teen dog killer Danny McCormack (Noel Fisher) and Ludlow's chilling account of how his own son single handedly destroyed his family, we're presented with a man whose motivation for justice is driven in large part by a belated attempt to right the wrongs of his past. So much so, in fact, that in the absence of his companion dog, the quest for justice virtually becomes Ludlow's reason for living, to the point where it practically consumes him.

Cox's performance here is nothing short of breathtaking. He carries this movie on his back and is in every scene, mesmerizing you with his nuanced portrayal of a lonely man to whom tragedy has bequeathed a host of inner demons to torment him in his twilight years.

Don't mistake Red for lesser fare such as Death Wish or The Brave One. While it is constructed around a fairly simple premise that on the surface appears primed to appeal to the base human desire for revenge, the story here is so much more than that, and to give it short shrift and dismiss it as mere manipulative movie making would be to miss out on a story and performance that is a true must see.

After seeing the trailer for this a few weeks ago, I decided to read the source novel before going to the movie. Jack Ketchum's novel is a pretty taught thriller that stays very realistic in telling its tale of an old man's increasingly frustrating attempts to get justice for his senselessly murdered pooch, but the book does feature a gratuitous romantic entanglement and a final chapter that could have been completely excised with no loss of the story's narrative power; the final chapter goes on after the real climax to the story and is in fact more of an epilogue than a proper ending, but it unnecessarily gives the reader an all-too-tidy three-way happy ending with an incongruous bit of tragedy thrown in for good (?) measure. Thankfully the novel's problems were carefully considered and left out of the film, even to the point of losing or consolidating some of the minor characters with no harm done to the overall story.

This is a textbook example of exactly how to handle a novel-to-screen adaptation, and I'd wager that author Jack Ketchum is more than pleased with the translation. Brian Cox — always a consummate actor — turns in one of his best performances, and the whole cast is equally game, especially two of the boys involved in the attempted robbery and pet-slaying. And for those expecting a seventies-style vengeance flick filled with wall-to-wall guns-a-blazin', I'd advise you to check your expectations at the door. The pursuit of justice follows very legal steps until it's apparent that such an approach won't amount to anything, but even when it gets rough the story stays completely believable. One of the year's best films, and that's no lie.

While fishing in Miller's Band with his dog Red, the lonely widower and owner of a small general store Avery Ludlow (Brian Cox) is surrounded by three teenage thieves seeking money and without any reason, one of them shoots Red on the head. Avery investigates the empty cartridge and finds the owner of the shotgun Danny McCormack (Noel Fisher), his brother Harold (Kyle Gallner) and their friend Pete Doust (Shiloh Fernandez). Avery seeks out Danny's father Michael McCormack (Tom Sizemore) that is a corrupt businessman expecting excuses and punishment for the boys, but he finds an arrogant man that does not pay attention to his complaints about the cruelty of Danny to his dog. He decides to sue Danny using his friend and lawyer Sam Berry (Richard Riehle), but Mr. McCormack uses his political influence to obstruct justice. The reporter Carrie Donnel (Kim Dickens) makes a program for TV showing the cruelty of the offender and how justice does not work, but again Mr. McCormack affects her work. However, Avery does not give up of his quest for justice.

Yesterday I saw the trailer of "Red" and I liked what I saw, so I decided to watch this movie expecting to see a sort of "Death Wish". However the story is a powerful drama with a complex lead character performed by the veteran Brian Cox. In this regard, it is great to see the quest for justice of an old man against the corrupt system ruled by money and influence. The cast is superb, with Noel Fisher perfect in the role of the mean Danny, and Tom Sizemore in an awesome performance in the role of the patriarch of a dysfunctional family. Unfortunately the conclusion is not well resolved and quite pointless. The Brazilian title misleads the viewer, giving a wrong idea of the plot. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Rastros de Vingança" ("Tracks of Revenge")

Avery Ludlow is retired and has little left in his life but for his dog, his store and his health. He finds simple pleasures in the peace of his life and all the companionship he needs from his dog, Red. Out fishing one day he a trio of teenagers come across him and politely start to trouble him and essentially intimidate money out of him. The leader of the three has a rifle and, for his own reasons, he leaves Avery with a parting gift of shooting Red dead. Avery is grief-stricken and tracks down the teenagers, going direct to the main boy's father to let him deal with it in a manner that will satisfy Avery. However this fails so Avery tries other legal means to get justice for this wrong, however his persistence in this matter makes it a bigger deal for the well-connected family of the man boy.

On the face of it this is a revenge thriller where a man seeks justice and continues to do so even as events escalate – in fact, not only on the face of it but indeed that is the narrative arch we are looking at here, no point is pretending to be surprised by it, we all know where we are going with this from when we got on board. However it walks a very impressive line while doing this that prevents it being about the revenge but instead the justice sought, or rather the undefined "action" that Avery seeks someone to hand him that will in some way make up for his loss. This is very well presented because it is clear throughout that ultimately nothing can fill that gap – which is part of the reason things continue to build. I very much liked how it did this as it never fell into violence at the expense of the emotional part of the story and it thus keeps it much more engaging than if it had simply because a violent revenge thriller.

Some have said that this is a film for dog lovers as they will appreciate the loss most but I do not think that is true. Although Red is the subject of the loss, it is about more than the dog but also what the dog represents to Avery – and as this comes out the scale of his pain and his loss is more engaging and moving. This general feeling of something emotionally valuable being taken unfairly by another is a raw emotion in the film and it was very well done. True it helps to understand the loyal companionship a dog gives a man but even if you don't, the emotion is real and convincing enough to hook you. Praise to Cox for making this work because he is the heart of the film and is the reason we care as much as we do. You can see what attracted him as an actor because the script gives him plenty to work with, including a strong ending that is another part of the film being about the main character's feelings rather than the act of revenge/justice. He acts all others off the screen and the only downside is that everyone else feels weaker than they actually are by comparison.

I thought Fisher and Gallner were both good even if there was room for them to find more of their character and bring it out in ways that were not in the script. Gallner probably does this best as so much of his mannerisms and body language tell you about his place in that family and how he feels his father views him. Sizemore isn't asked to do much but does it fairly well and is a good presence. Riedle, Englund, Plummer, The Wire's Williams and others all give solid accounts of themselves but everyone knows that, while they have lines, Cox has the real character of the piece and mostly they deliver the goods in support without ever shining for more. Considering the budget the film looks great with impressive cinematography and selection/use of locations. You can see where things are implied rather than shown due to money constraints but these do not matter at all and are well done.

Red is not a cheerful film, not is it one that has a "big" ending or impacting telling. Rather it is a patient and slower film that engages thanks to the convincing core of emotion that drives all the action; without this it could have been a simple and emotionally distant revenge thriller. Cox does excellent work to bring this out and produces the goods from the start right to the final scene, while all the others turn in performances that are solidly good. An engaging and emotional film that is much better than the "taking law into own hands" genre that the plot suggests it belongs in.

The combination of Brian Cox and Tom Sizemore in a film based upon a Jack Ketchum novel (bizarrely spelled Jack Ketchmum in the trailer) and the direction of cult-courting Lucky McKee certainly peaked my interest and therefore I awarded this film some of my time. The premise was something that also appealed to me - a kind of "Falling Down" but with a more mediative, Western styling.

The story is a simple but, on the surface, a powerful one. Brian Cox is Avery Ludlow, a veteran who hides his tortuous family history behind his love for his faithful dog, Red. One day while fishing, he is approached by three delinquents who try to rob him. Realising that he lacks anything of worth, the cocky leader of the pack, Danny, shoots dead his dog, laughs about it with his brother and friend, and then walks off. Ludlow is determined to get justice, but finds hurdles at every stage, from the boy's arrogant father, to a reluctant town sheriff.

The acting in this film was excellent. Brian Cox is superb as the graceful recluse seeking justice. He plays his role in a remarkably understated manner that compliments his experience and wisdom. Whether he is brutally taking on the perpetrators or solemnly reminiscing about the tragic circumstances that led to his wife and son's death, Cox is brilliant at making us feel a warm empathy with him, and makes us want to join him on his quest for justice. Kudos must also be given to Tom Sizemore, who is wonderfully repugnant as Michael McCormack, the arrogant, millionaire father of Danny the delinquent. He really does shine and show what a great actor he can be when he is not in trouble for one reason or another. It would be fair to say that he is much better at eliciting disgust than Cox is at eliciting empathy (although this is a much easier task) and his evolution from his first meeting with Cox, to the final showdown is a joy to watch and anticipate.

The other actors play their parts competently. I was a bit apprehensive about Noel Fisher as Danny at first, as he was guilty of slight overacting in his first scene. However, upon finishing the film, the acting style perfectly complimented his role as a narcissistic youth with no empathy, and overall he was very good in the film. Kyle Gallner, who plays his shy brother, and Shiloh Fernandez as his equally minded friend are also good, with Gallner excelling in the film's climax. The other major part is that of reporter Carrie Donnel, played by Kim Dickens. She is not bad in her role but it is entirely unnecessary, which brings me on to the film's flaw - it's script.

The film really does shine when there are scenes of direct confrontation. Anything between Cox and Fisher after their first meeting, or anything with Sizemore. The film really does suffer when the action is diverted to scenes of a more meditative nature. Donnel's role is far too over played, and her emergence as some sort of bizarre is she/isn't she love interest at the end severely harms the movie. The only things that ties the two together is Cox's consistently brilliant acting. His monologue on how his family fell apart is beautiful and haunting, with the camera lingering on his wise yet hurt face. Likewise, he is respectably sinister in his pursuit of justice, and the film really picks up pace in the final third, building to an excellent climax involving Cox, Sizemore, and his family. Indeed, after a slow, slightly turgid middle, this comes as a great relief. What a shame then that it is spoilt by a horribly put together ending that literally screams "TV MOVIE!" It is far too contrite, and does not favours to Cox or the film. I understand that McKee was replaced by a more happy-friendly director during filming, and his influence is clearly felt here (one wonders how McKee would have done the ending). Other than that though, the film maintains a consistent indie-Western style, and any notions of two directors are not realised.

It is this paltry ending that forces me to award this 7 out of 10. The film has many memorable moments, but is ruined by its final scene. I suggest watching this, if just for the confrontation scenes, and the film does certainly keep you guessing as to how it will end, but if it had just been more adventurous at various points then this could have been a very good film.

I initially thought this film might be OK, but would probably turn out a let-down, as so many do. I was totally wrong. The film was unexpectedly very good. If you are an animal lover and a family man, you should be able to relate to this film and thus should definitely enjoy it.

I found the story very interesting and the acting was excellent. I watched the film whilst having a bottle of wine and this may have made it even better, but I actually found it very touching and even a little emotional. I am not normally the kind of person, who gets emotional watching a film, but this one struck a cord with me and in a way it saddened me, but at the same time, as I could relate to the main actor, he gave me great strength.

Brian Cox played the part tremendously and managed to portray the past tragedies in his life extremely well and with utter conviction. I scored the film 7, but it would be a high 7 and close to an 8. I prefer action type films and slower paced ones like this normally bore me. This one however was far from boring and in actual fact was thoroughly entertaining.

Jack Ketchum's brilliant novel tells the story of an elderly man Avery Ludlow,who has a dog named Red he loves more than life.A simple lonely man he has few good things in his life after losing family members tragically years before.On the day he takes his dog fishing with him,three young boys come along,rob him and shoot his dog for no reason. After this cold-blooded murder he tries to seek justice,but two of the boys are coming from a rich and powerful family.Each thing he tries is thwarted until he takes matters into his own hand.The climatic outburst of violence is inevitable..."Red" is a slow-moving and meditative drama punctuated with sudden explosions of violence.The acting by Brian Cox is phenomenal,the supporting cast is also splendid.Overall,"Red" is a sad and beautiful story about a man and his dead dog.Thank You very much Lucky McKee and Trygwe Aliester Disen for such powerful piece of work.I have seen "The Girl Next Door" and "The Lost",but "Red" is the best adaptation of Ketchum to date.I'm glad that I saw it in the cinema during 2008 Warsaw Film Festival.

Ten reasons why I like this movie:

1. IMDb lists 14 movies named "Red" in the past 30 years and this is the only one I've seen.

2. Productionwas bifurcated—shot by two different directors. But you could never tell, a credit more to the final director, Trygve Allister Diesen, than initial director Lucky McKee.

3. The Carmen Sandiego Factor: The movie is set in rural Oregon, and filmed in Maryland by a Norwegian director. Who would have guessed this could possibly turn out well?

4. Young TV actor Noel Fisher sneers with conviction as he plays Danny--the spoiled, insecure and mean-spirited rich bully--realistically enough to make you hate him.

5. Tom Sizemore plays Danny's dad, an even bigger jerk, and has a natural sneer, which might be drug-induced since the movie was shot before his 2007 prison sentence for another drug conviction.

6. Brian Cox (Bourne Supremacy) is really terrific as Avery Ludlow, the aged protagonist. He's old, fat, bald and has a flawed past. And he's the main man. He's like Mr. Miyagi for the 21st century, except he doesn't know karate.

7. Thankfully, Ludlow does not engage in gratuitous sex with anyone in the movie. While this certainly put the Sundance submission at risk, it was an act of good taste and gracious compassion to the audience.

8. Dogs and puppies make every movie better.

9. The story has all the earmarks of a Greek tragedy, but with a modern American twist. It definitely had a classical feel, including hubris as a fatal flaw, yet still managed to keep viewers fully engaged from beginning to end.

10. Snooty film critics might complain that the wrap-up was trite and contrived, but nevertheless, the ending satisfied the audience, which sure beats the alternative.

After reading lots of positive reviews on RED, I kind of knew it was going to be good..And it was.

It's kind of like the defender who plays well all season but does'nt get the player of the year award!

A brilliant film, but because it has'nt got special effects or a mega star cast it will not get the push it needs to hit the cinemas, but let me tell you. RED hits the spot.

It' about an oldish guy (played splendidly by Brian Cox) whose only buddy is his 14 year old dog called RED. One day out fishing with Red, three young guys turn up and harass him and eventually shoot Red dead.

So now Brian Cox' character wants justice, but two of the guys whose killed Reds' dad is the towns main man, Cox wants revenge!

Basically thats the plot, so simple, but so effective!

No blood and guts, No special effects...Just a brilliant film, no matter what genre you like. You just can't not like this film.

RED is one of those low-budget, narrow-release Canadian films that is full of emotion, and encourages the viewer to think, and to feel. I was guilty of dismissing this before viewing as another mindless revenge flick, but directors Trygve Diesen and Lucky McKee and writer Stephen Susco manage to do a powerful job of piecing the story together such that it flows extremely well.

The acting by Brian Cox is quite impressive, as he portrays the picture of calmness, while exuding a deep-set sense of having a troubled past. The unlikeable Tom Sizemore reprises the role of the even more unlikeable Michale McCormack, while Noel Fisher plays his wayward and hateful older son.

RED sets off as a simple Motion Picture but evolves quite well as the story progresses, touching upon various facets of human emotion and family relationship within a relatively short run-time (about 90 minutes). My only regret here is the ultimate lack of closure (in some departments). Apart from that, RED is quite impressive and surprising, deserving of a solid 7/10 and a 3-star rating (out of 4). May just about clinch a spot on my Honourable Mention list. Recommended.

I remember watching the trailer to this and thinking that it gave away a lot of the film. Made me wonder if it was really worth going out to see this when the entire story is basically told in trailer. So when I recognized the title and decided to give it a try I was pleasantly surprised.

I feel like you really know how everything's going to unfold, barring a few minor details, but it's not what happens so much as how it's told. The story is written and cast almost perfectly. I believe this movie is a good example that a plot is really only as good as how well it's written and who is put in the roles. Brian Cox is an excellent choice as the protagonist. He's not a Clint Eastwood or a John Wayne type of aging star. He's a fat, bald, old man who enjoys his work, fishing, hunting, and his dog. I know several men just like his character in my own life. In addition, I know people who I could see in the kids roles in this story. Noel Fisher was a perfect choice. I think everyone's met a kid like that; someone who thinks they're owed everything in life and will throw a tantrum if they can't do something on the first try. A person who will go off on someone for any perceived slight against them. Someone who's so jaded in life they could find entertainment in others' suffering.

That said, my only complaint is that the ultimate message of the story gets kinda lost or clouded throughout. On the other hand at least it isn't too preachy and full of itself. Some symbolism is a bit too blatant (Look no further than the title for that haha) and there are some other points that get lost. But like I said, it's worth watching just because it's told rather well. You never really get bored with the film and is a very good change from movies that can't figure out if they want to be thrillers or action flicks.

I don't know why it happens, possibly I'm not a good citizen, but movies in which animals die sadden me more than when humans do. And possibly on that thought, and because I'm also a pet owner, I couldn't help but intensely root for the owner who goes after the kids who killed red. And that leads me to the marvelous performance by Brian Cox, an actor whom I never gave much attention to, even though many people love him. Tom Sizemore gives, like usual, another great spectacle. Actually all actors deserve praises. The directing by Trygve Allister Diesen is also quite remarkable. I have to admit I have a weakness for this movies about this rural small towns in the USA, in particular those who delve into the drudgery of those living there, which, to me, is the center of this film.

I haven't read anything from author Jack Ketchum's novella repertoire yet and this is only the first movie adaptation of his work that I watched, but nevertheless I had high expectations because he has a wide and loyal fan base, which includes several people whose opinions I value enormously. The basic plot description makes "Red" sound like a raw and primitive vigilante/revenge thriller – the type of film that "Death Wish" spawned a truckload of in the 1970's – but the truth is that this is much more of a compelling drama and detailed character study rather than a gratuitously violent thriller. Thanks to the, hands down, brilliant tour-de-force acting performance of Brian Cox and the recognizable defaults in our modern day society (like abuse of power and derailed youth), "Red" is a saddening and diligent fable about one man's consistent quest for justice where others would have given up long time ago already. Avery Ludlow is a small town's store owner who enjoys nothing more than to go fishing in his fixed and idyllic little spot, accompanied by his old but faithful dog Red. Red is Avery's dearest impedimenta, as it was a present from his deceased wife. When a trio of adolescent thugs, on the lookout for money and kicks, cruelly and cold-heartedly kill Red with a headshot, Avery obviously seeks retaliation. He confronts the boys' father with indisputable facts and asks for an appropriate punishment, but since Mr. McCormack is an obnoxious and wealthy local businessman, the accusations are simply laughed away. Moreover, when Avery seeks help and support around town, McCormack uses his political influence to obstruct him. Especially the first half of "Red" is extremely powerful and fascinating. The dramatic event at the fishing lake, Avery's first acquaintance with the arrogant Michael McCormack (fitting role for Tom Sizemore) and his first attempts to acquire justice are all masterfully accomplished sequences that literally ooze with suspense and craftsmanship. I watched this movie at the annual Fantastic Film Festival in my country, amidst a whole gathering of usually outrageous and bloodthirsty horror freaks, but I assure the audience was dead quiet and staring at the screen with eyes and mouth wide open during these intense sequences. The second half is unfortunately a lot less impressive, on the very of disappointing even, due to a handful of far-fetched twists and illogical sequences. The escalation of the vendetta between Avery and the McCormack family are simply too implausible to take seriously and the climax is too violent to fit in with the overall tone of the film. Nonetheless this is a remarkable and long-haunting film with a lot of heart & passion. The major stars receive excellent support from familiar B-movie faces, like Robert Englund, Amanda Plummer and Ashley Laurence. Particularly that last one was a refreshment to see again, as she hasn't appeared in a half-decent movie since she depicted the lovable Kirsty Cotton in "Hellraiser".

I saw Red at the 2008 Fantasia Film festival in Montreal, Canada first off I'd like to say that i went to see this movie because Lucky Mckee was attached to it and Brian cox . I was extremely disappointed to hear what happened to Lucky half way through the films production where he was replaced by someone else. The final product however one very good nonetheless Brian Cox was just amazing in this film. Without any spoilers this films was very touching. Great music, surprisingly had some action scenes and a great feel to it. I recommend it to anyone who wants to see something real, touching , and well made.

i give it a 10/10 i had no problems what so ever with this film, left satisfied as well as everyone else who cheered and clapped when the credits rolled

I was really excited when I saw the trailer for this film, especially since there seems to be so little encouragement to go to theaters lately. Brian Cox is an easy draw for me. ( I even sat through Troy…. well Pitt was OK too) But while Mr. Cox did a fine job, and I enjoyed watching the film, I think it suffers from a sort of identity crisis.

I have no real criticism on the particulars of the film's execution. It was directed well enough as far as a layman like myself could tell. It was well acted and well scripted, and the story moves a reasonable pace. I just am not sure what it is really about… or I thought it would be about more. I think the fault is in the theme of the film. IMHO, the story should have been more than a bad seed story… or bad seeds in this case, played by Tom Sizemore and Noel Fisher. I think that good v evil morality tale approach was a fallacy especially in these times when the zeitgeist seems a conflicted, self-reflective creature.

Cox is captivating in his role, his screen presence is not lacking in any sense. But he is painted as naive, unbelievably trusting in the elemental goodness in man. OK, maybe I am jaded, but Avery Ludlow does not seem real to me, not as a man who lives in and does business in the real world. And Sizemore and Fisher, by contrast, come off as too archetypically sociopathic. Granted the film does not embrace stereotypes and moves toward the violent conclusion in a believable fashion, but I was hoping for a more nuanced subtext.

Brian cox was wonderful in this movie. A simple old school man with a simple live in the northeast. When his dog is murdered by a teenaged punk and his friends with no respect and for no reason he finds the boy and goes to his house. The boys father played by Tom "saving private Ryan" Sizemore is also deliciously evil and disrespectful. The son lies to the father and the father believes him and protects him. This is a story about how corruption corrupts absolutely. The older man can get no justice which is all he wants. The young punks are very good actors as well as the journalist. All in all a good solid movie about justice respect and privilege.

Brian Cox is the only bright spot in this disappointment. From the implausible plot to the scenery chewing, from beginning to end, this one is just god-awful. By the end of it I suspected Red committed suicide to get away from such a lousy vehicle. I'm happy for him being a dog with only one life to give in service to this train wreck. Amanda Plummer must have thought she was still holding up a diner. Tom Sizemore was as one-dimensional as ever. Bob Englund got gypped in the lines department.

Despite having some big name talent, this movie was undone by a sadly predictable plot and some intelligence-insulting foreshadowing.