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Wild Card Review

Jason Statham may be playing essentially the same character he always plays, but this noir-style thriller has a somewhat groovier tone thanks to the Las Vegas setting and a scruffy William Goldman script. It's also directed with wit and energy by Simon West, who keeps everything moving very briskly. Although not fast enough for us to miss the fact that it's all rather thin and pointless.

As always, Statham is a former black-ops agent whose jaded, frazzled exterior obscures his fighting-fit action moves. His name this time is Nick Wild, and he works as a bodyguard for wealthy clients like Cyrus (Michael Angarano), who needs protection as he visits Vegas casinos with vast sums of money. He also has a lot to learn from Nick about gambling and wants to learn some of those action moves too. Meanwhile, Nick's ex-girlfriend Holly (Dominik Garcia-Lorido) asks him to help her get revenge against the swaggering gangster Donny (Milo Vengimiglia), who kidnapped and viciously terrorised her. Nick knows that getting even with Donny will put him on a collision course with mob kingpin Baby (Stanley Tucci), but he can't resist a challenge.

Nick is one of those characters who can't resist much. He's addicted to high-stakes blackjack, life-threatening confrontations and his own seedy poverty. So clearly the goal of the screenplay is to find some sort of uneasy redemption. Statham has played this role before in his sleep, so he looks almost bored here, which makes him vaguely intriguing. His gimmick this time is an ability to turn everyday objects into lethal weapons, including a seriously nasty moment with a pair of hedge clippers. It also helps that the film is packed with colourful scene-stealers who add plenty of badly needed spark, including a ripped Ventimiglia and the reliably wonderful Tucci, plus lively cameos from the likes of Sofia Vergara and Anne Heche.

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The Princess Bride Quotes Remembered (Pictures)

By Holly Williams in Movies / TV / Theatre on 21 March 2013

Robin Wright Chris Sarandon Mandy Patinkin Andre the Giant Wallace Shawn Cary Elwes Rob Reiner William Goldman

Some of our favourite quotes from The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride 25th anniversary has arrived and with it, a Blu-ray special edition featuring loads of brand new extras including interviews, behind the scenes action and much more.

This cult classic fairytale movie arrived on our screens in 1988 featuring a hilarious ensemble cast that has kept us gripped for a quarter of a century of watching. It is the story of how a beautiful young woman named Buttercup (Robin Wright) is forced into almost marrying the deceitful Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), before being captured by a group of not so bright but not so evil crooks; a Spanish fencer named Inigo (Mandy Patinkin), a Turkish giant named Fezzik (André the Giant) and their Sicilian boos Vizzini (Wallace Shawn). However, along the way she is reunited with her former love Westley (Cary Elwes) who she believed to be dead until then, and they all go about attempting to bring down Buttercup's fiancé, the future King of Florin.

Although it was never a major success at the box office, this classic Oscar nominated film was well-received by critics on its release and it has remained a family favourite ever since, being especially regarded as one of the most quotable films of all time. Some of the best The Princess Bride quotes are worth bringing up again:

Continue reading: The Princess Bride Quotes Remembered (Pictures)

Is A 'Princess Bride' Sequel On The Cards?

By Michael West on 03 October 2012

Rob Reiner William Goldman Robin Wright Billy Crystal

Twenty five years later, the cast and crew of 'The Princess Bride' reunited at the New York Film Festival this week to promote the Blu-ray release of the classic romantic-comedy. They were all there - Billy Crystal, Robin Wright, Rob Reiner, William Goldman, Mandy Patinkin, Cary Elwes - but the gathered press pack were only concerned with one thing: would there be a sequel?

Goldman, 81, who wrote the 1973 novel and the screenplay for the movie confessed that developing a sequel had been on his mind for years, telling the Los Angeles Times, "I'm desperate to make it and write it and I don't know how.I would love to make it, more than anything else I've not written." In a humorous Q&A session at the Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, the cast and crew quoted key scenes from the movie, and director Reiner spoke of how he got involved in the project in the first place, revealing that Goldman had approached him after Robert Redford, Francois Truffaut and Norman Jewison had tried and failed to make the movie. "He looked at me with the eyes of, 'What are you gonna do to it?" said the filmmaker, revealing that it was his knack for comedy (This Is Spinal Tap) that helped win over Goldman. A classic fairy tale, 'The Princess Bride' has everything, swordplay, an evil prince, giants, and of course a beautiful princess. So would a sequel be realistic?

Reiner has been relatively active as a filmmaker in recent years, though Goldman hasn't written anything of note since 2003's 'Dreamcatcher,' starring Morgan Freeman. We're sure Crystal, Wright and the gang would be up for another movie, so watch this space!