4/5 Not a great film,but action packed
  by Dee Generate (Corruption City,CT)
Steven Seagal will never be acclaimed as a great actor,but his films are action packed and exciting.This one was filmed in my hometown of Bridgeport,Ct in 2007 (due to the State of CT giving generous tax credits to movie makers).This one features Seagal as an alcoholic degenerate gambler ex-cop on a losing streak.A benefactor (Lance Henriksen)buys his "markers" and allows the disgraced gambler to "work off" his debt by assassinating various bad guys.Standard Seagal fare here,lots of shooting,car chases,and of course Steven beats up hundreds of guys along the way.Nothing great or original here,but a great 90 min.thrill ride.

3/5 compulsive gambler, reluctant hit man, and loving family guy . . .
  by trebe
Steven Seagal is back again. The man's direct to video output in recent years, has been quite remarkable. This time he is Matt Conlin, an ex-cop with a huge gambling problem. His markers totaling over a million (yeah right), are bought up by a shadowy figure identified only as the 'old man' (Lance Hendrikson), who proposes that Conlin work off his substantial debt, by acting as a hit man.

With his back against the wall, Conlin acquiesces, and begins receiving his assignments from Blue (Paul Calderon), who works for the old man. After a couple of very untidy hits, Conlin faces a crisis. His next target is Lt. Steve Shacter (Mark Elliot Wilson), a cop, a friend, and husband of his ex-wife.

This is an atypical role for Seagal, who usually plays characters that are independent, and motivated by some moral code. Money rarely is a consideration. Things are different here, where much seems to be about money. Conlin's family figures in the mix, but his priorities appear to be clear, when he cancels a visit with his daughter, so he can go out and kill someone. Troubled by the turn his life is taking (is that a surprise?), Conlin consults his priest (Bernie McInerney), but can there really be absolution for a contract killer?

As you might expect, the level of violence is high, with the hits being very up-close and personal. Seagal has a couple of minor fights, but most of the action is gun related, with one big shootout in the street escalating to car chase. The film's finale is a wild shootout in a cemetery, with plenty of flying bodies, and exploding headstones. Conlin takes out a ton of cops, and barbecues a good friend, but somehow escapes doing any time.

There's plenty of over the top action, though no one is actually pistol whipped, in this quite twisted film. There is little that is admirable about Conlin, who apparently reconciles with his family, but continues working as a hit man, getting his assignments to kill, while praying in the same church where his priest breathed his last, because of him. It really seems to be all about the money, as Conlin pulls the For Sale sign from his lawn.

Presentation is anamorphic widescreen. Extras include some deleted scenes, one being an lighter alternate ending.

2/5 only one scene.....
  by Ron Israel
the other folks said it all...there was just one scene that touched and that was when he looked in the fridge and sighed..."Man, I ain't got xxxx"
That did it for me. Because at this point in my personal journey, I feel likewise

3/5 I wasn't very impressed with that movie!
  by Khaled Altaher (Riyadh, NA Saudi Arabia)
Stevan Seagal is an ex-cop who is heavy in debt due to gambling, gets contacted by the "Old Man", who gives him murder assignments of specific corrupt people. He takes on these assignments in exchange for money and payment of his debts.

I am not really sure what was about this movie that made it lack spirit. Was it the fact that Seagal had put on lots of weight and doesn't look like the dangerous fighter we knew before? Or was it the dull character he portrayed in the movie? I suppose it also could be the unnecessary vulgar phrases we heard such as at the one at the very end when he said "You cremate now mother ....."

The aikido scenes were ok, but still nothing compared to the scenes in "above the law" or "hard to kill".

The story is ok, nothing outstanding.


5/5 Very good movie.
  by Jimmy F. Crook
Good movie, really enjoyed this one, good action movie, that's what I like to see.