In the bonus track on the DVD of "Acts of Violence," the film artists described their three goals as (1) exploring the theme of "family"; (2) the importance of raising awareness of PTSD in our returning vets; and (3) the horrific phenomenon of human trafficking with an especially high incidence in the United States in Ohio.
Off the shores of Lake Erie on the streets of Cleveland, the family drama of the MacGregor brothers turns into a war zone. The most interesting brother is Deklan, the vet struggling with PTSD, who enlists his two brothers, Roman and Brandon, in a paramilitary operation to rescue Roman's fiancée, Mia. She has been kidnapped in a public place by a nefarious crime syndicate specializing in drugs and human trafficking. In the bonus track of the DVD, the film's director described a brazen, real life kidnapping that occurred in broad daylight in a shopping mall.
Of course, the cops and the federal agencies are hopeless in the rescue mission. It is all up to the MacGregor brothers to get Mia back safely. With Bruce Willis playing the role of the hard-boiled detective whose hands are tied by the police bureaucracy, Deklan's team is given twenty-four hours to suit up for action with their vests, load their assault weapons, and assemble their bombs.
One of the interesting details from bonus segment is the director describing how the film was inspired by a real veteran, a Ranger who saw combat in Afghanistan. The screenplay was originally drafted by the Ranger, and it resulted in a film described not as an action drama, but a "drama that has action."
The film was successful in its major goals, and it was directed with economy and precision. An interesting montage of still frames from the film ran concurrently with the closing credits. There were good locations and outstanding performances in this drama that has plenty of action.
Off the shores of Lake Erie on the streets of Cleveland, the family drama of the MacGregor brothers turns into a war zone. The most interesting brother is Deklan, the vet struggling with PTSD, who enlists his two brothers, Roman and Brandon, in a paramilitary operation to rescue Roman's fiancée, Mia. She has been kidnapped in a public place by a nefarious crime syndicate specializing in drugs and human trafficking. In the bonus track of the DVD, the film's director described a brazen, real life kidnapping that occurred in broad daylight in a shopping mall.
Of course, the cops and the federal agencies are hopeless in the rescue mission. It is all up to the MacGregor brothers to get Mia back safely. With Bruce Willis playing the role of the hard-boiled detective whose hands are tied by the police bureaucracy, Deklan's team is given twenty-four hours to suit up for action with their vests, load their assault weapons, and assemble their bombs.
One of the interesting details from bonus segment is the director describing how the film was inspired by a real veteran, a Ranger who saw combat in Afghanistan. The screenplay was originally drafted by the Ranger, and it resulted in a film described not as an action drama, but a "drama that has action."
The film was successful in its major goals, and it was directed with economy and precision. An interesting montage of still frames from the film ran concurrently with the closing credits. There were good locations and outstanding performances in this drama that has plenty of action.