Like a film made with two directors, the good one goes for a coffee the less capable one takes over. You have a mix of electric brutal well staged violence mixed with slow poorly put together, comically inappropriate scenes. The start in the store is poorly staged, and you think, who would do it this way, except a geek volunteering for 99yrs on death row. The villain Hagan, played by the totally unconvincing Vincent D'onofrio [ one of the worst actors in the film, to be kind maybe he was miscast] had no impact. Another scene with Josh and Rosario as sitting targets to a snipers telescopic rifle, sees them dancing about like sitting ducks at 250yds while she returns fire with a pistol, suicide jockey doesn't come near. Bruce pro-cameo where's the pay check Willis was totally unnecessary, his scene in the warehouse where he fronts Hagan does blah blah then exits kicking the s--t out of a gunzle on the way, he saunters out with his back to about six gorillas armed to the teeth, who do nothing unrealistic? cool? pointless? you choose its in there. The torture at the table brilliant and brutal, but reluctant heroes throwing up, no especially firemen, they go through everything, just a whispered "Its not like me" would have elicited an audience smirk. The best scene? The utterly brilliant interaction between Josh and Richard Schift under the sprinkler, acting direction, meaning, dialogue, worthy of the absolute best. The finish was also very good. The inconsistencies were irritating, the good bits surprisingly good. Well worth a watch you'll say "if only" but overall you should enjoy it.
Review of Fire with Fire
