Read Mixed User Reviews for Haywire

5

HalfwelshmanJan 26, 2012

I mostly blame the marketing team of Haywire - they'd convinced me I was going to get something between Bourne and Nikita, and I didn't. I accept that's not what the film ever aimed to be, but because of the misleading trailers and publicityI mostly blame the marketing team of Haywire - they'd convinced me I was going to get something between Bourne and Nikita, and I didn't. I accept that's not what the film ever aimed to be, but because of the misleading trailers and publicity I can't help but feel a little duped. What Haywire actually is, is a pretty old-fashioned slow-burning spy movie with the occasional bone-crunching fight scene to savour. All due credit to Steven Soderbergh, the film is shot beautifully (particularly the Dublin sequence), has some nice stylistic touches, and the film as a whole isn't anywhere near as far up its own backside as some of his previous directorial efforts (Ocean's films I'm looking at you!). Gina Carano makes a decent, confident protagonist, and her mixed martial arts background makes the various scrapes that Mallory Kane gets into extremely creative, brutal and entertaining to watch. Michael Douglas also appears to relish his role as a high-ranking government agent, and his performance as an authority figure is very believable now that he's the spitting image of his dad. The rest of the cast I found a little underwhelming, with Ewan McGregor and Channing Tatum coasting, Antonio Banderas playing Antonio Banderas, and Michael Fassbender, though continuing to prove himself as a decent character actor, still slips back into his natural Irish lilt now and again. The actors' failings may have been overlooked had the script been decent, but Lem Dobbs' dialogue leaves a lot to be desired, and is probably the element that detracts most from the film as a whole. The pace of the film is extremely uneven too, and no matter how interesting Soderbergh makes his numerous long takes, you may find yourself pining for a few more all-out scraps. Maintaining a shot for the sake of tension only works up to a point, and after he pulled this trick for the third or fourth time I found my attention waning. I also found the conclusion to this story, which started so well, completely underwhelming. It may be good-looking, well-choreographed, and well-told up until the final act, but in the end, I found Haywire a little lifeless, and occasionally quite dull.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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5

olympiansJan 20, 2012

You know there's something's wrong with an action-thriller when you don't really care who lives and who dies. This is not a bad film per se but a decent plot might have helped.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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5

TVJerryJan 25, 2012

Gina Carano, a famous MMA fighter, has thrown her hat into the action star ring. Under Steven Soderbergh's direction, she got stuck in a lackluster plot of international intrigue. He's surrounded her by a strong cast (Ewan McGregor, MichaelGina Carano, a famous MMA fighter, has thrown her hat into the action star ring. Under Steven Soderbergh's direction, she got stuck in a lackluster plot of international intrigue. He's surrounded her by a strong cast (Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum, Michael Douglas) to help boost her adequate acting. Unfortunately, much of the movie's time is spent with low-key dialogue and uneventful chases. The infrequent fight scenes are well-staged, but not especially original or impressive. Soderberg's detached style doesn't blend well with this genre. As a result, there's too much mediocre activity and not enough action.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

BikerjamesJan 22, 2012

Although the film is flawed, I thought Gina Carano was terrific. Unlike many female action stars she actually has a personality. She smiles at times and comes across as human, instead of a killer machine. The movie was WAY too complicatedAlthough the film is flawed, I thought Gina Carano was terrific. Unlike many female action stars she actually has a personality. She smiles at times and comes across as human, instead of a killer machine. The movie was WAY too complicated with that horrible technique of going back and forth to different time periods. Ever since Pulp Fiction writers and directors can't seem to get enough of it, and it's getting annoying. The only thing I liked about the film was Carano, and she made it just good enough to recommend.… Expand

0 of 8 users found this helpful08

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5

ChuckPalantineJan 27, 2012

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. To put it simply it's a B-movie. For the entire film the audience is unsure of particular motives and plot details until the end with the reveal from McGregor's character. It made the movie confusing, and the introduction of new characters cheesy. Like when another character makes a reference to a mysterious "Paul," a character we haven't seen yet. I don't know, it just kind of comes off amateurish. Also the acting and writing were very average. Carano wasn't convincing and the others were just very average. And with the writing, what is with the sex? They mold this character into a sex symbol who kicks ass instead of creating a character much more original than that. The audience doesn't need sex, it needs interesting characters with justified motives. Overall like I said, it was just an average, b-movie, action movie.… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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5

MX312Jan 23, 2012

I liked Gina Carano in this film and she looked like she was actually kicking the crap out of everybody unlike other female action stars (Angelina Jolie). However, they tried to cram so much plot into a movie that lasted an hour and thirtyI liked Gina Carano in this film and she looked like she was actually kicking the crap out of everybody unlike other female action stars (Angelina Jolie). However, they tried to cram so much plot into a movie that lasted an hour and thirty minutes that it feels disjointed and messy. Also, the theatrical score was horrid and really distracted me throughout the film. It almost sounded like 1970's porn music.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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5

amheretojudgeSep 15, 2018

its gritty practical approach..

Haywire Haywire is a plot driven action thriller about a spy who seeks revenge after a mission goes down and is hunted down by her fellow companions. The choreography of all the action sequences are jawits gritty practical approach..

Haywire

Haywire is a plot driven action thriller about a spy who seeks revenge after a mission goes down and is hunted down by her fellow companions. The choreography of all the action sequences are jaw dropping that is lethally performed which leaves the audience in an awe of it. The crisp of the feature isn't kept alive through pummeling their way out of the track, but the thrilling ride it offers in that limited span. Chess like slick moves, characteristics of the characters and scoreboard mentality game is what keeps these characters not only intriguing and mysterious but pragmatic. As always, Soderbergh's pace is eerie, but he surely knows when to chew things and take it slowly and when to fasten and narrow it into one big punch. The background score can be daft at certain moments but is finely edited with decent cinematography and sharp sound effects. The chase sequences are smarter than we usually get and so are tricks and treats that is constantly imputed in each aspects of it, to keep the audience tangled in its cruel cold bubble. At a certain point somewhere in its middle act, there aren't any verbal content and is purely relied upon the detailed physical screenplay. As the script enfolds, it gets juicier than ever and with Soderbergh behind the camera, it is definitely not short on execution. Carano at the heart of it, may not be the anticipated actress, but surely delivers eye popping physical sequences that one has not yet encountered and the guest actors like Douglas, McGregor, Tatum, Banderas and Fassbender holds on to their part tightly. Neat and clean visuals, live locations and gut wrenching sturdy action sequences are the high points of the feature. Haywire is not a game changer but definitely redefines the genre by offering some real concrete material to the audience that is horrendous for its gritty practical approach.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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5

jeremypMay 12, 2012

Well she certainly can fight, and despite being beaten to a pulp, often, she only has a few bruises to show. Unfortunately she's stuck in a silly movie that panders to adolescent fans. Nothing wrong there had this been a B movie director notWell she certainly can fight, and despite being beaten to a pulp, often, she only has a few bruises to show. Unfortunately she's stuck in a silly movie that panders to adolescent fans. Nothing wrong there had this been a B movie director not Soderbergh of Michael Clayton and Syriana fame. This time he gets some famous buddies to take on cameos so he can showcase the fighting chops of his MMA champion. The dialogue is dull, the holes in the plot are truck size and it's all just an energy bunnette flic without even humor to redeem it.… Expand