The Death and Life of Bobby Z (2007)

Director:

John Herzfeld

Writers (WGA):

Bob Krakower (screenplay) &
Allen Lawrence (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

17 November 2007 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

You can't out-run yourself.

Plot:

A DEA agent provides former Marine Tim Kearney with a way out of his prison sentence: impersonate Bobby Z...

Plot Keywords:

On The Run | Prison | Drug Lord | Tattoo | Spit

Cast

Paul Walker	...	Tim Kearney
Laurence Fishburne	...	Tad Gruzsa
Olivia Wilde	...	Elizabeth
Jason Flemyng	...	Brian
Keith Carradine	...	Johnson
Joaquim de Almeida	...	Don Huertero
J.R. Villarreal	...	Kit
Jason Lewis	...	Bobby Z
Jacob Vargas	...	Jorge Escobar
Michael Bowen	...	Duke
M.C. Gainey	...	Boom Boom
Josh Stewart	...	Monk
Margo Martindale	...	Macy
Raymond J. Barry	...	Stanley (as Raymond Barry)
Julio Oscar Mechoso	...	Mexican Detective

Also Known As:

Bobby Z (USA) (DVD title)
Kill Bobby Z - Ein Deal um Leben und Tod (Germany) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, some drug use, language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

USA:97 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:MA | Finland:K-15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:16 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Block Productions

Trivia:

Initially, the film was going to be released theatrically by Warner Bros., who have a first look deal with Millennium Films, but after the film tested poorly, WB decided to pass. Sony picked it up as a direct-to-video feature.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: You can see a member of the crew walk by inside Monk's house when Elizabeth and Monk are sitting outside of his home talking about their future plans together.

Soundtrack:

Agua De Rosas

Straight to Video

There is nothing much to be too excited of at this movie, but still entertaining. I wonder why it made its way to the silver screen because it's not better than dozens of Straight to Video productions. Storywise, you will get nothing more than you'd also get if you rent a Jean-Claude Van Damme Film. Same goes for "character development". There are some nice shootouts and fights, but nothing remarkable. It sometimes feels as if you were watching a film from the seventies: there is nothing really stylish or spectacular in the action scenes. Although it feels good to see movie that doesn't use the much common and enough-seen style of today's action flicks, the way this film shows the action seems out-dated. Also the film's pace should be higher, again it feels 70s-ish. As usual these days, there are some nice twists and turns in the story. Paul Walker does a decent job, but not as convincing as in "Running Scared". Laurence Fishburne he fails to put any life in his bad guy role. I am not impressed of Olivia Wilde in the leading female role. At least she tries hard to be more than decorative. 5/10