FILM REVIEW: 'HAYWIRE'

Soderbergh's Suave Action Thriller Is Bond Meets 'Run Lola Run'

By: Rachel Heine

January 20, 2012

(Relativity Media) Mallory Kane, played by the extraordinarily gifted Gina Carano, is not to be underestimated. From the moment she walks coolly into an out-of-the-way diner and gets jumped by a man twice her size, Kane is a force to be reckoned with. Steven Soderbergh’s sleek, sexy thriller, Haywire, pummels its point with a sound piece of advice: “Don’t think of her as a woman. That would be a mistake.”

From the comedic heist flick (Oceans 11, 12, 13) to the eerie ensemble, Soderbergh is known for reinventing well-known genres with his own modern kick, and Haywire is no exception. He described the film as “a Pam Grier movie made by Alfred Hitchcock.” The comparison is unmistakable, as Kane kicks, punches, and jabs her way through the male-dominated world of espionage.

Haywire centers around Kane -- a covert ops specialist hired by a government contractor to take on the toughest jobs. When she suddenly becomes the target of a group of skilled assassins, she realizes she’s been set up. Kane darts through Barcelona and skims the rooftops of Dublin, on her own mission to discover who betrayed her. Ewan McGregor plays a devilishly charming Kenneth, her boss and ex boyfriend, while Channing Tatum is a friendly muscle as a fellow covert ops agent. Michael Fassbender is perhaps Carano’s most intriguing cohort, as the dashing Irish rogue she can’t quite trust.

Carano herself is considered the pioneer of MMA – Mixed Martial Arts. For those unfamiliar with the discipline, MMA is a combination of Muay Thai, Judo, wrestling, boxing, Sambo, kickboxing, Kung Fu, Karate, and Jiu Jitsu, Haywire is her first feature film, and Soderbergh himself sought her out for this particular role. She brings a wry attitude to Mallory Kane, but most impressive was her brutal stunt work. Unlike other female-centric action movie stars, Carano is no 90-pound waif. When Soderbergh films one continuous take of her chasing down an assassin through the cobblestone streets of Barcelona, you believe it.

The realism behind Haywire is only part of what makes it so much better than your average action movie. Soderbergh injects his own suave style into every film he makes, no matter the subject matter. With his latest, he resurrects the classy, debonair feel of old Bond movies – an approach he admits is deliberate. The score itself is straight out of a '60s espionage thriller, punctuating each incredible fight with a sense of elegance and humor. Filmed on location, each fight has a weight all its own. Whether being smashed into a flat screen TV or conducting grueling hand-to-hand combat in the snow at dusk, the players are all impeccably smooth.

All in all, Haywire sets the bar extremely high for action thrillers this year. Each fight scene left the audience gasping for breath, and the wry humor sprinkled throughout had everyone cheering Kane on. Soderbergh has proven, yet again, that his direction, cinematography, and keen eye make for a terrific film.

For Fans Of: From Russia with Love, Run Lola Run, Alias

Why We Like It: Bada** Female Protagonist, Action Thriller, Stylish Cinematography

Relativity Media's 'Haywire' is in theaters nationwide starting January 20, 2012. Read more from the cast of the film in our Buzzine Interview.