REDEMPTION

REDEMPTION

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

Coming to theatres from director Steven Knight and Lionsgate comes a tale about life when its time to look for REDEMPTION.

This film tells the story of Joey Jones (Jason Statham), a soldier who served in Afghanistan and is now living on the streets of London running from a court martial. When local gang of hoodlums rousts the homeless, instead of being killed Joey runs and ends up in an apartment of an out of town businessman.

Not so lucky is his friend Isabel. Trying to find her with the help of Sister Cristina (Agata Buzek) who feeds the homeless Joey begins to change. Looking at his life he takes advantage of the situation he finds himself, gets healthy and ends up working for a local businessman Mr. Choy (Benedict Wong) as an enforcer.

When Sister Cristina tells Joey that Isabel (Victoria Bewick) has been found dead he knows what he has to do. Life is calling and doing the right thing by his family, those who took care of him and a Sister who tells it like it is – his life begins to change.

But will it be in time to redeem himself?

FINAL WORD: Statham has always been the quiet actor who seems to be able to convey a lot of emotion without even trying. He is always cool, calm and collected with the awesome deadly 3 c’s of any character out to make things right. Stratham plays this character with vulnerability but that should not, in any way, be mistaken for weakness.

Buzek as Sister Cristina is a very docile character that is hard to relate to until her background story is revealed. With a desire to experience life without a habit, the struggle begins to take its toll in dangerous ways.

The story is less violent that perhaps most of Statham’s films which really allows the viewer a chance to get involved in the story and his ability to give a good performance. The ending has the right amount of twist to it that the entire story comes full circle.

Other cast includes: Vicky McClure as Dawn, Siobhan Hewlett as Tracey, Ian Pirie as Pimp, David Bradley as Billy, Chris Cowlin as Meat Porter and Anthony Morris as Taxman.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give REDEMPTION three of popcorn out of five. There are several character storylines happening here but then meld in nicely. This is a winning performance for Statham. This is a story of two very broken people who are driven by their past pain and are the only ones that understand each another. That truly does open the door for things going horrible wrong or each of them finding redemption.

In the end – all roads don’t lead to salvation.