Assassination Games
{{For|the game|Assassin (game)}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Assassination Games
| image = Assassination Games.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Ernie Barbarash
| producer = {{plainlist|
- Justin Bursch
- Brad Krevoy
- Patrick Newall
}}
| writer = Aaron Rahsaan Thomas
| starring = {{plainlist|
}}
| music = Neal Acree
| cinematography = Phil Parmet
| editing = Peter Devaney Flanagan
| studio = {{plainlist|
- MediaPro Studios
- Rodin Entertainment
}}
| distributor = {{plainlist|
}}
| released = {{Film date|2011|7|29}}
| runtime = 101 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
}}
Assassination Games is a 2011 American action thriller film directed by Ernie Barbarash and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Scott Adkins with Ivan Kaye as their main antagonist. The film was released in the United States on July 29, 2011.
Premise
In France, Vincent Brazil (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a contract killer, willing to take any job if the price is right. Roland Flint (Scott Adkins) retired from being a contract killer after an attack by drug kingpin Polo Yakur (Ivan Kaye) left Roland's wife Anna (Bianca Van Varenberg) in a coma that she still hasn't emerged from.
When a contract is put out on Yakur, both Vincent and Roland want to take the contract—Vincent is in it for the money, and Roland is in it to make Yakur pay for putting Anna in a coma.
With crooked Interpol agents and vicious members of the criminal underworld hot on their trail, Vincent and Roland reluctantly join forces to mow down their enemies so they can find and kill Yakur.
Cast
- Jean-Claude Van Damme as Vincent Brazil
- Scott Adkins as Roland Flint
- Ivan Kaye as Polo Yakur
- Valentin Teodosiu as Blanchard
- Alin Panc as Kovacs
- Kevin Chapman as Culley
- Serban Celea as Wilson Herrod
- Michael Higgs as Godfrey
- Kris van Varenberg as Schell
- Marija Karan as October
- Bianca van Varenberg as Anna Flint
- Andrew French as Nalbandian
Production
Assassination Games began development under the working title The Weapon with Russel Mulcahy attached to direct. Initially Steven Seagal had signed on to star alongside Van Damme.{{cite web|last=Vejvoda|first=Jim|title=Van Damme's Weapon reloaded|url=http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/982/982000p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518000634/http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/982/982000p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 18, 2012|work=IGN|accessdate=2015-04-16}} After Seagal dropped out of the role, Vinnie Jones was considered to replace Steven Seagal, though the role eventually went to Scott Adkins.{{Cite web|url=http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=13433|title=Steven Seagal leaves Jean Claude van Damme's "Weapon"|work=WorstPreviews|accessdate=2015-04-16|archive-date=2012-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012000223/http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=13433|url-status=dead}} Shooting took place in Bucharest, Romania, and New Orleans, Louisiana.{{cite web|url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/-mpca-spwa-play-assassination-games-with-van-damme/5028754.article|title=MPCA, SPWA play Assassination Games with Van Damme|last=Kay|first=Jeremy|work=Screen Daily|date=2011-06-15|accessdate=2015-04-16}}
Release
The film had a limited release on July 29, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://twitchfilm.com/2011/07/retrospective-interview-jean-claude-van-damme.html|title=Retrospective interview: Jean-Claude van Damme|last=Whale|first=Chase|work=Twitch Film|date=2011-07-28|accessdate=2015-04-16|archive-date=2012-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011020615/http://twitchfilm.com/2011/07/retrospective-interview-jean-claude-van-damme.html|url-status=dead}} Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the DVD in the United States on September 6, 2011,{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/52090/assassination-games/|title=Assassination Games|last=Rao|first=Rohit|work=DVD Talk|date=2011-09-15|accessdate=2015-04-16}} and in the United Kingdom on October 10, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/dvd/Assassination+Games+DVD-7102.html|title=Assassination Games DVD|author=|work=Female First|date=2011-09-13|accessdate=2015-04-16}}
Reception
IGN gave the film a 6 out of 10 stars and wrote, "If you need a quick dose of action, Assassination Games should do the trick. Don't expect a masterpiece and you should walk away moderately pleased with the experience".Shaffer, R. L. (2011-09-08). [http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/09/08/assassination-games-dvd-review "Assassination Games DVD review."] IGN.com. Retrieved 2014-03-20. Rohit Rao of DVD Talk rated it 2 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Van Damme and Adkins show up to the party, game for anything, but director Ernie Barbarash insists on weighing them down with a convoluted script that mistakes meanness for grit." Gabe Toro of Indiewire rated it C and wrote, "The fight choreography doesn’t lift this effort above Van Damme’s usual direct-to-DVD offerings, but it does prove that there are still filmmakers who understand how to shoot action."{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/review_assassination_games_presents_direct-to-dvd_action_on_the_big_screen|title=Review: 'Assassination Games' presents direct-to-DVD action on the big screen|last=Toro|first=Gabe|work=Indiewire|date=2011-07-29|accessdate=2015-04-16}} Ike Oden of DVD Verdict described it as "a cheesy, pretentious, and poorly paced action film with a jet black nihilistic streak".{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/assassinationgames.php|title=Assassination Games|last=Oden|first=Ike|work=DVD Verdict|date=2011-09-06|accessdate=2015-04-16|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028165652/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/assassinationgames.php|archivedate=2011-10-28}}
Ivan Kaye's performance as the main villain in this film has earned him special praise in a review from 2014 listing him as one of "The 10 Greatest Villains That Jean-Claude van Damme Has Ever Faced" and stating: "A brilliant casting choice and stand-out performance for an unusually drama-focused and underrated Van Damme film."{{Cite web|url=http://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/10-greatest-villains-jeanclaude-van-damme-movies/|title=The 10 Greatest Villains That Jean-Claude Van Damme Has Ever Faced - Part 2|last=Schembari|first=Matt|date=2014-08-28|website=We Got This Covered|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-07}}
References
{{Portal|Film}}
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Wikiquote}}
- {{Official website|http://www.assassinationgames-movie.com}}
- {{IMDb title|1436568}}
- {{Rotten Tomatoes|assassination_games}}
- [https://music.apple.com/us/album/assassination-games-original-motion-picture-score/573656587 Soundtrack on iTunes]
{{Ernie Barbarash}}
Category:2011 action thriller films
Category:American films about revenge
Category:Films set in Bucharest
Category:Films set in New Orleans
Category:Films shot in Bucharest
Category:Films shot in New Orleans
Category:Films directed by Ernie Barbarash
Category:Films about assassinations
Category:American action thriller films