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SYNOPSIS:
Neil (Gerard Butler) and Abby (Maria Bello) have a perfect
marriage and a worry-free life until their young daughter
goes missing and a strange gunman (Pierce Brosnan) named Ryan
shows up. Clearly masterminding the kidnapping, Ryan insists
the couple perform various tasks for him in order to protect
their child from any harm. After they've committed to multiple,
strenuous orders, Ryan escalates to a request that may be
impossible to fulfill.
MOVIE
REVIEW
Before the title “Shattered” came about
for the USA and Singapore market, this movie was originally
named “Butterfly on a wheel”. Taken from the phrase,
“Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel” (with the
wheel symbolizing an ancient torture tool used to break long
bones), it actually meant going through massive effort into
achieving something unimportant and minor.
Although
the plotline of a couple being coerced into various task by
a mastermind had been almost done to death, Shattered was
still able to engage with it’s emotionally charged acting
by the actors, the fanatic pacing that would takes a second
viewing to appreciate it better and lastly a fine use of cinematography.
The
trio, Pierce Brosnan, Maria Bello and Gerard Butler made it
compelling to follow their respective roles through every
very familiar plot devices in Shattered. Gerard Butler was
flawless from the switch from confident (some would say cocky)
advertising executive to a worried father while Pierce Brosnan
was every that charming (yes it still reeks of residue from
James Bond) as he was menacing. And Maria Bello had given
one of the most underrated performances and (Potential Spoiler
here) I would say it’s almost
the same performance that Kevin Spacey had given in The Usual
Suspects. What you had seen in the first viewing would vary
into almost a different performance all together with the
second viewing. (End of Potential Spoiler).
It also helps when the film pacing and turn of events keep
the viewers engage with what going on while doesn’t
stray into thinking the rational behind the kidnapper’s
action. That will keep the thriller boiling till the final
revelation which should be fairly difficult to guess. Although
it might seems like it came out of no where, taking a second
look at it and you will find clues planted everywhere in this
film.
Then
there the sweeping cinematography which filmed the cityscape
with such love that it was rather breathtaking to watch. There
also a tricky pan shot in a hotel lobby that will not only
make one wonder how they did it and it will also add that
unreal feeling as the couple go through the unbelievable tasks
that normally doesn’t happen in everyday life.
The ending payout is the cream on the top for liking this
movie. (Potential Spoiler)How do you
teach an adulterer a lesson on his actions? To repay all those
lies and hurt that he gave his wife when he was cheating on
her. Some might go cause a scene with the other woman but
to really get back at the cheating husband, to hit where it
really hurt and to make him realize where his love truly lies,
watch Shattered to learn a few tricks or two. (Potential
Spoiler ends). It might seem like going through tremendous
effort to prove a seemly insignificant point but for the “butterfly”,
it will be a life crushing lesson that will probably haunt
him for life.
Before
I end my review, I am aware that it isn’t the most popular
film around and many had written it off as another entry into
the intimation genre. I might have missed some of the red
herrings that might be more obvious to those who are trying
to figure out what’s happening. My reasoning would be
that I just let the film take me where it had planned to do
and when I reached the end, the ending resonates with me and
I had to rewatch it again. It was even better the second time
round.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
NIL.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
Presented
in 16 x 9 Widescreen and English Dolby Digital 2.0 with English
& Chinese subtitles.
MOVIE
RATING:
DVD RATING :
NIL
Review
by Richard Lim Jr
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