13 (2011)

Directed By: Gela Babluani
Written By: Gela Babluani & Gregory Pruss
Cinematography By: Michael McDonough
Editor: Gela Babluani & David Gray

Cast: Sam Riley, Mickey Rourke, 50 Cent, Jason Statham, Emmanuelle Chiriqui, Ben Gazzara, Michael Shannon, Ray Winstone, Gaby Hoffman, Alexander Skarsgard


Like the remake of THE VANISHING this film though written and directed by it’s original helmer from his film 13 tzameti. This film seems to lose something in translation though suspenseful definitely not as much as the original as this remake doesn’t seem to explore the drama underneath the situation at all. Instead it goes for looks and grunts more or less what is unsaid between the characters to explain it to us the audience.

I can understand why maybe the stars wanted to be in this film if they saw the originl but I figure they must be as disappointed as me with the result they are relegated to bit parts that make no impact. Now I understand the film couldn’t be as good as the original but they could have tried a little harder or tried something a bit different but just as suspenseful. Watching this feels like a waste of time even if you haven’t seen the original. Everything seems to breezy to easy. It doesn’t take it’s time to explore the world it has created. In the original film we learned the game, The players, the behind the scene drama more or less from the leads point of view here he is just another cog in the machine leaving us in the audience with little insight and to try and figure it out for ourselves. I’m not saying all films should lead us, But if your film is going to be complex a map helps. The film lacks subtlety. The film feels sped along half the time then taing the time to explain things.

I really wanted to like it or hope that it at least sustained some of it’s original but it doesn’t even the reason for him entering into this competition is ague as is his reaction to keep going through this situation which was a lot more in the original and more damaging to his psyche here he just seems to get used to it but then again there aren’t too many times he has to do it.

While I enjoy seeing mickey rourke in the film. It felt like his scenes were written and added just to get his participation since he had gone hot after THE WRESTLER. So his role is a featured one but seems just added on and pairing him with 50 cent in most of his scenes just seems to tr and add a certain machismo to the affair.

If it wasn’t the original director I would say this feels like a cheap Americanized ripoff of the original..

Skip it Trust me do yourself a favor and watch the original one of my all time favorite films


GRADE: F