"Bangkok Dangerous," a new thriller starring Nicolas Cage, manages to deliver some action along with a heavy dose of tired plot devices and distracting camera-work. Taking a cue from Michael Haneke, the Pang brothers decided to direct a remake of their own film in English. In the remake, Cage plays a hit man named Joe who only lives by four rules. The most important of these rules is to know when to get out. This theme plays at the heart of "Bangkok Dangerous."
Joe is a remorseless killer who stays under the radar by remaining detached from all human beings. Detachment may keep him on top of his life professionally, but, as one might imagine, Joe gets a tad lonely when he comes home to an empty safe house after another successfully executed murder. This dichotomy of self serves as the film's central tension and gives the story an emotional pull to go with the action scenes.
What "Bangkok" suffers from is a plot we have all seen before. Cage plays a hit man who survives by burying his emotions, only to have those same emotions boil to the surface toward the end of his run as a hit man. Also, Cage's performance is certainly lacking, as he never strays far from his character's coy demeanor. This makes the film's more tender moments seem forced. It always leaves the viewer to question the validity of Cage's scenes where he shows signs of ruthlessness.
When the movie does show signs of life, it is in the action sequences surrounding Cage's murderous escapades. In the beginning, some of the excitement of the chase is lost with the high-arching camera angles that leave the spectator feeling too distant from the action of the scene. As the movie progresses through the four jobs Cage takes on in Bangkok, the action sequences are shot with a tighter focus and propel the movie toward its thrilling climax.
Throughout the film Cage wrestles with his desire to reach out for human contact and his assassin sensibilities. A rushed romance with a local pharmacist and a friendship with his errand boy make Cage question his actions. He lets people into his life, and he starts to realize how his job affects their lives on a personal and cultural level. This forces Cage's character to choose: hero or villain.
"Bangkok Dangerous" moves quickly and is paced well. Though the directors give little backstory, you get the information needed to prevent the plot confusion. The action picks up considerably after the halfway mark. Fans of action films and gun fights will enjoy the shoot-'em-up ending and numerous chase scenes. The movie certainly isn't original, but it offers enough excitement for fans of the genre to overcome what it lacks in substance.
