Gutshot

When Jack owes money to a mob boss, he has to pay it back and fast. The best way to make a quick buck is make friends and then hustle them. The problem is the friend he has made is not a pleasant guy. The situation gets worse when he is found with the bosses wife in the pool and he is put into a sadistic game. It becomes clear that this friend is the sort of person you either have to run from or murder for. Where will this take him next?

So George Eads has moved from CSI to this type of faux Film noir film. I liked him in CSI as he had the temperament of Grissom but with the gruffness of a fighter. This film does play on his abilities and this is built on his warmth. He has the charm of a 'real' modern man and should try more varied roles. His fighter side is not in evidence here as he is being tempered by his emotions. He is a punch bag and often is at the end of a fist. I laughed at this a little but after felt it was unnecessary. The other good points are in the choice of images and some of the more reflective elements that the director focuses on. He has an eye for images that are interesting and add flavor to the film and character. The production itself is clean and crisp with superb sound design and cinematography as well.

The negatives are many, sadly. The other cast are at their usual, stereotype roles. Jones is a hard nut, Segal a hair piece and Mc Cord an object. This is more to do with the funding and sits harshly with the viewer. They aren’t present for long and don’t wear thin thankfully as has been the case prior to this. Also the bland story is quite plain and has been done before. Often very much better then here. Other negatives aren't just with the film but with the way it has been sold. If you read the press you would feel that this was awful. it is not a terrible film, far from it just packaged badly. This had lead to the negative press and if you subtract all the silly cast pieces and focus on George Eads. You actually have a film going somewhere.