Homefront

Sylvester Stallone writes the screenplay for the Jason Statham and James Franco led Homefront, and we love it! Yes, you read the right.

For all intents and purposes, Homefront should be a train wreck of an abomination in film-making. But if you squash your preconceived biases that will doom Homefront to failure, you open yourself to watch a supremely entertaining, funny and highly thrilling film.

Phil Broker recently widowed and struggling to raise his 9-year old daughter Maddy the only way a father knows. Broker also happens to be a well trained DEA agent who chooses to leave the dangerous action and retire to a small town in Louisiana to care for his daughter. With small town life comes small town trouble, and Broker is quickly thrust into the drama despite his fervent effort to remain impartial and uninvolved. Unfortunately, his past history and the criminal occurrences of his new residence makes matters more complicated and he must soon use his skills to protect his daughter the only way he knows how.

Homefront has an energy and vibrancy about it, a spark, that revitalizes the potentially stagnant action film type. It does not deviate from the formula too much to make it feel forced and contrived, but it has a well formed and original enough plot thanks to the source material from Chuck Logan's original and synonymously titled novel. Sylvester Stallone, the film's screenwriter and executive producer, who never makes a token egotistical cameo, translates Logan's narrative into an un-caricaturized action-crime-drama, a pride worthy feat. The difference between Homefront and its inferior counterparts is Homefront focuses on the story and the characters and the creative direction of Gary Fleder never veers into nonsensical excess.

Jason Statham is quintessential Statham as Phil Broker, bringing his stoic charisma and martial arts ability to be used perfectly in this film as the steadfast protagonist. No protagonist is complete without an equally matched antagonist, of which Homefront has several players, all of which fully formed and complete characters. Kate Bosworth, James Franco and Winona Ryder are all notable in their acting and contributing to the film's overall success.

At first glance, Homefront should be an uninspired derivative action flick solely for box office numbers. But, it is not. It is a surprise of a film and a shame that some potential viewers may choose to overlook this film due to their misinformed prejudices for the actors, crew and subject matter. Anyone willing to take my word for it and give this film a chance will not be disappointed.

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I was very pleased with this movie. Its got the action you want, a believable story to keep the momentum going and a handful of good actors to support it.

First of all, I LOL at all the people criticizing the plot, dialog, character development etc, again let me LOL. People watch Jason's movies for the a** kicking action and fight scenes. I will admit, some of his movies I think about giving up at the half way mark, but this was one of his better films for sure.

Transporter, Homefront, Hummingbird would be my favorite Statham movies not including the Guy Ritchie classics of course.

8/10 will definitely watch again.

"Transporter" rocketed Statham's name as a well rounded action star. Since then, most of his action films have felt the same, just with a different title. That was my mind set going into watch this film. "Homefront", isn't your usual Statham film, and it's nice to see it play out the way it did. A change of pace for Statham movies, and hopefully a turning point for the actor. But let's keep things simple: Story: Good Acting: Good Action: Very Good Pacing: Good If you're looking for a good action film with a lot of heart, watch this. It's not bad.

7.1/10

Great cast. Beautiful shots. Good plot.

Really enjoyed this movie, although I thought I had the plot figured out , it wasnt how I expected it to be. Really interesting when you think about how one thing can lead to another.

A couple of times the scenes were shot a lot better than what I would have expected from an action movie, from lighting, to camera angles to clarity in action scenes. I really enjoyed the R rated action as it really does add to a movie, and Ive never been a fan of a cut right before somebody gets shot and not show the wound... so more action scenes like this please!

All actors are really delivering strong performances although Jason does sound very british for being an american. James Franco plays a good redneck and overall this movie is very enjoyable. If you wonder what JS looks like with long hair....this is the movie for you.

Torn between giving it a 7 or an 8 but since its one of the better action movies I think it deserves an 8.

Single ex-agent with a child, settling down in a new closed place where a self-claimed boss has set his own rules - there are (and definitely will be) lots of similar stories, about past, present and future. As it is difficult to add a new angle or approach, it is usually acting and solution of issues that counts, are they logical, or just ridiculous and unrealistic. Homefront has evidently more pluses than minuses - pleasant performances by "the good guys" - Jason Statham as a caring but tough father Phil Broker and Izabela Vidovic as sensitive but tough Maddy, realistic atmosphere, catchy fights, meaningful use of violence... True, "the bad guys" are too plain, the ending has predictable structure and elements, and there are scenes not necessary for the general course of events, but absence of dudikoffs-seagals and torpid chases and fights is already a valuable feature. It is nice to see that Statham as an action hero has followed in the footsteps of e.g. Mel Gibson and Bruce Willis.

All in all, a good and proper-time (1,5 hours) thriller. Not a conceptual one, but no flop either.