REPEATER Review: R. Ellis Frazier’s Latest Toils At Killers’ Impasse
Repeater is currently available in select theaters and on demand and digital from Saban Films.
Repeater is currently available in select theaters and on demand and digital from Saban Films.
The past year or so have lended an ample opportunity to familiarize myself with the work of actor and producer Alexander Nevsky in lieu of his upcoming April 28 U.S. release, Black Rose. The film marks his directorial debut wherein he also stars in a formula slightly different from his usually known action star persona from his film career in Russia, and joined by none other than actress Kristanna Loken.
The last several years have been tremendous brain food for me in learning about various filmmakers from around the world and even getting acquainted with some of them in the process. They’ve all been delightful surprises in some degree or another, much like multifaceted Russian bodybuilding exponent, actor and producer Alexander Nevsky who has kept himself weighing in frequently as the latest in action stardom in his own making for close to two decades.
His latest brings us to his directorial inaugration, Black Rose, for a familiar, albeit doable murder mystery narrative that largely functions as you would hope. The film doesn’t waste time identifying itself as you are instantly immersed into a world where a presumably Russian serial killer is on the loose in Hollywood, stalking women, torturing and murdering them, and then leaving cryptic notes and black roses with their corpses. Lead detective Matt (Adrian Paul) is running cold with no progress for his investigation, leaving Captain Frank (Robert Davi) no choice but to summon one of Russia’s best, police Major Vladmir (Alexander Nevsky) to aid the LAPD’s efforts in communicating with some of the Russian locals in order to help bring the killer to justice. The plot thickens when the killer targets Vladmir’s newly assigned partner, Emily (Kristanna Loken), a resilient rookie police profiler, entangling them both in the killer’s web of intrigue and danger as the bodycount grows with each passing moment.
There’s good footing in Nevsky’s storytelling with much credit here to Brent Huff and George Saunders for their script. Nevsky’s entrance brings the kind of 80’s and 90’s action star flair folks in their 30’s and over would appreciate given his persona, and while his acting initially comes off a bit wooden at times, he does makes up for it with a bit more charm and grace for the rest of the runtime. One can also ascribe this to Loken’s introduction about half-hour in, cueing some rather amazing chemistry between both our lead actor and actress, and particularly with respect to Loken who provides one of the film’s strongest performances.
Seasoned thesp Davi brings conviction to the supporting role of the aforementioned police Captain next to that of actor Paul’s role of subordinate detective Matt whose cooperation with the case leaves a lot to be desired. Action aficionados will take a liking to the appearance of actor Matthias Hues who steals the film’s first biggest sequence during a violent bank heist, testing our hero’s mettle in a hail of bullets to bookend Vladmir’s cool and reserved demeanor. Action sequences are kept minimal, albeit signature and coordinated accordingly in entertaining fashion.
For most of the film you’re given a decent handling of the murder mystery whodunit formula with notably compelling performances from most of our cast; Even co-star Oksana Sidorenko had me guessing to some degree as Sandra, a bartender at the nightclub that becomes the epicenter of our killer’s psychological and bloody stranglehold.
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Arguably, there’s no question that Nevsky has grown in notoriety at home, and there may be even some folks beyond Russia who know of Nevsky’s body of work moreso than others. Conveniently our own James Couche was already on familiar territory with Nevsky’s films before screening Black Rose for his own review wherein he describes it as a crime thriller in the vein of Walter Hill’s 1988 action thriller, Red Heat, as well as a bold move for a first time director relatively known for action thrillers. He isn’t wrong, and after my own viewing, I can fairly assert the same, in addition to Nevsky’s execution in doing away with some of the Cold War stereotypes often evoked in writing Russian characters in Hollywood. It’s something he humbly acknowledged in our interview at the top of last year and so in similarity with many Asian Americans and the ire they take with Whitewashing (not to be confused with the industry in Asia where consumers are less concerned since Asians are continually represented in media all the time), I can understand how some critics in the U.S. might feel a little stymied.
Nevsky’s got plenty to offer in my book when it comes to his potential in film. I’m not as familiar as others may be, but looking past of the film’s minor bumps, he’s earned my interest. He manages to spearhead an ample story founded on an archaic performance that illustrates the action hero image he is known for with a slightly more cerebral approach that gives him a bit more room for affability, which is something I believe most action fans and cinephiles in general can appreciate.
ITN is releasing Black Rose in select theaters and on VoD on April 28.
Black Rose Movie – http://blackrosemovie.com
Alexander Nevsky Twitter – https://twitter.com/nevskyalexandr
Alexander Nevsky Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/realalexnevsky/
Don’t fall asleep on multifaceted action star/producer/director Alexander Nevsky. His latest U.S. release with the long-awaited thriller, Black Rose, is finally poised for a North American release with word of ITN Distribution’s acquisition of the film hailing from Nevsky’s Hollywood Storm banner.
The film, which opens in the U.S. on April 28, is a mix of what our own James Couche described in his review as, among other things, “a gutsy move for a first-time director” in his debut following a spate of locally produced action thrillers in his native Russia, and here with a more cerebral formula in the vein of Red Heat. Nevsky is joined by Kristanna Loken (Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines), and actors Adrian Paul, Robert Davi and Matthias Hues for the story of a Russian police major who sets out to bolster the LAPD’s investigation into a series of gruesome murders of young women in Hollywood.
“We’re excited to bring this action-filled thriller to the big screen,” said ITN Distribution’s President Stuart Alson. “The film leads audiences to many twists and turns, sending them on a thrilling ride.”
Brent Huff and George Saunders wrote the script for the film which is executive produced by Sheldon Lettich and Robert Madrid. The film currently sits as one of at least three on Nevsky’s plate in which he will star with the other two being Mark Dacascos’s own debut, Showdown In Manila, and Romeo Must Die helmer Andrzej Bartkowiak’s Maximum Impact – both of which have Nevsky and Dacascos starring together on screen.
ITN released a trailer earlier this as a date was awaiting an official announcement. Check it out below along with the film’s official poster art.
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Finally, a decade after his breakout film, Nevsky makes his directorial debut in the Russian/American thriller, Black Rose. The film is a major departure for him, focusing on a murder investigation as opposed to bombastic action; a gutsy move for a first time director to step outside his comfort zone.
via Rama’s Screen:
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