Pursuit arrives in the UK on Digital Download from June 12
Emile Hirsch’s portrayal of Rick, an audacious hacker on a rash search for his missing wife borders on subpar Nic Cage in Brian Skiba’s recent crime thriller, Pursuit. That’s the first thing that comes to mind watching his performance, which has me pondering a bit what actors go through to prepare for certain roles. It sort of works for Hirsch and gets the job done for the most part, and so its not the most blaring aspect of the film in its delivery.
Hirsch is firstly joined by actor Jake Manley who plays NYPD detective Mike Breslin, who soon finds himself thrust into the upheaval when an undercover bust goes awry thanks to Rick’s actions. With the elusive Rick now on his radar, Mike is soon forced to repriortize when after nabbing Rick one evening, in a nutshell, Rick makes him an offer he can’t refuse, in exchange for his safe transfer to jail in another state.
Little do they know that a crime boss named Frank, an associate of Rick’s father, Jack, is eyeing Rick as the culprit behind a series of raids disrupting his drug business. Things get even more intense when Rick’s transfer goes topside, resulting in more dead bodies and compelling Mike to work with the local authorities. What ensues is a series of developments involving longstanding coverups, double crosses, and shocking twists and secrets all leading up to an explosive final showdown.
This about covers the gist of what you can expect in Pursuit, an action crime thriller from director Brian Skiba whose credits also partly include Ryan Phillippe actioner The 2nd and MMA thriller Chokehold. You get a round of mostly decent performances apart from Hirsch’s half-baked Nic Cage impression which is matched only by Manley’s inability to emote as someone going to the trauma and grief of a cop losing people he loves and cares about.
Manley is joined by Elizabeth Ludlow who plays Zoe, a local police officer tasked with sticking with Breslin while the two continue their investigation. Nick Benseman, an actor and stunt peformer who also serves as fight coordinator, plays Dodge, a colleague of Zoe’s who’s got plenty of skeletons in his closet as the film soon reveals. The biggest casting seller here though is John Cusack as Rick’s father, Jack, along with Andrew Stevens in the role of vicious crime boss, Frank.
At best, one thing that’s redeemable about Pursuit is that it’s worth a rental. If you can suspend disbelief in certain areas and R-rated action and violence is your cup of tea then Skiba’s latest here should scratch the itch some. You won’t love it, at least in my view, but I’ve seen worse.
