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FILM DETAILS

Certificate 15

Cast Jason Statham Catherine Chan Chris Sarandon.

Directors Boaz Yakin.

Screenwriters Boaz Yakin.

Running Time 94 minutes

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Safe
Don't tell mom, the babysitter's Statham

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Plot
Mei (Chan), a ten year-old Chinese maths genius, is brought to New York by Triads. After she has memorised a number code, Mei is abducted by Russian mobsters, but escapes. Luke Wright (Statham), a down-and-out city man, sees the girl being chased and intervenes, ultimately setting him against the Triads, the Russians, crooked cops and the Mayor.

Review
Despite a hit-and-miss filmography which balances every Crank with a Killer Elite, Jason Statham is the best tough-guy male lead currently at the top of his game. Here, he gets a terrific showcase in the gritty, cynical, laconic style of the Charles Bronson, Lee Marvin or Clint Eastwood vehicles of the 1970s.

An agile hardman in fight, chase and stunt scenes (note his unconventional way of getting on and off subway trains), Statham flexes acting muscles as his burnout character comes to life and finds greater purpose in a) protecting a small child and b) taking down three whole factions of New York bad guys in one night.

A confident prologue hops back and forth in time, doling out story snippets which set grown-up hero and child heroine on an unstoppable collision course. Here, Statham’s Luke Wright is established as a former garbage collector/cage fighter who has failed to throw a fight and is cursed by Russian hoods. They murder his wife but leave him alive with the promise to kill anyone he makes friends with — even the bum in a homeless shelter to whom he gives a pair of shoes. Meanwhile, Mei, a young numbers whizz with a photographic memory, is enslaved to a Triad boss (veteran James Hong) — who hates computers and electronic data trails — and learns how to survive in a ruthless business.

Once the duo get together — working up a not-cute bond which adds a touch of humour to the grittiness — the film takes place over a long, busy night. Writer-director Boaz Yakin, who’s been making respectable stuff lately (Remember The Titans) but started with offbeat little pictures (Fresh), can stage a shoot-out or a punch-up with the best of them. He constantly ups the stakes, pitting our hero against don’t-give-a-hoot baddies who smugly mow down innocents because they mistakenly think they’re untouchable — not realising until halfway through that the ‘garbage collector’ gig on Luke’s CV is a euphemism for what he really did for the city. Unashamed of its old-school roots, it has an up-to-the-moment feel, exemplified by Mark Mothersbaugh’s exciting score — which evokes the pulse-pounding chords of vintage Lalo Schifrin or Jerry Goldsmith without imitating them.

Verdict
A rough, exhausting, exhilarating action picture with a payoff which would have delighted Sam Fuller or Howard Hawks. The Stath — an actual Olympian, remember — is on top form.


Reviewed by Kim Newman

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Your Reviews

Average user rating for Safe

RE: Safe

Given the patchy nature of Jason's back-catalogue, Safe is a lot of fun, and definitely in the top-end of his canon, but it lacks the greatness that The Stath™ can bring when he's really trying. Safe is 'a Jason Statham film', with everything that implies. ... More

Posted by TheMightyBlackout at 12:54, 25 May 2013 | Report This Post

MEH....

Jason Statham snore fest. Fell asleep watching this. Boy am I getting tired and fed up with all this hand held, shaky cam, flash edit nonsense. It’s no wonder that Hollywood doesn’t make any really decent action films any more. Half the time, you can’t BLOODY see what’s supposed to be going on. Michael Bay has a lot to answer for. TWO STARS ... More

Posted by ROTGUT at 18:41, 12 November 2012 | Report This Post

MEH....

Jason Statham snore fest. Fell asleep watching this. Boy am I getting tired and fed up with all this hand held, shaky cam, flash edit nonsense. It’s no wonder that Hollywood doesn’t make any really decent action films any more. Half the time, you can’t BLOODY see what’s supposed to be going on. Michael Bay has a lot to answer for. TWO STARS ... More

Posted by ROTGUT at 18:41, 12 November 2012 | Report This Post

RE: Great Fun

Safe (2012) Well...talk about double cross, intrigue and back stabbing, this film has it all and you never know who the hell's gonna get it next. Statham is back, well he never left but he's back on his own killing everybody in his path whilst being rather nifty with a gun. Like Seagal, Statham is pretty much always cast as either a cop, elite cop, military special forces, ex-cop or ex-military special forces, the same role every time. Now this isn't a huge issue but the attract... More

Posted by Phubbs at 19:22, 09 September 2012 | Report This Post

Great Fun

Possibly overshadowed by Avengers Assemble this is a very entertaining little gem. Violent but with a plot that is far deeper than you first realise. ... More

Posted by bretty at 08:27, 11 May 2012 | Report This Post

Statham is safe!

As usual Jason Statham delivers top class action and this is a blast. ... More

Posted by filmsunlimited at 13:46, 10 May 2012 | Report This Post

RE: Safe Review

As above. It was really very good & Statham is on top form throughout. It's a decent enough story, the director has done a solid job and I really enjoyed the performance of Reggie Lee as one of the main bad dudes. 4/5 ... More

Posted by Lucky Day at 21:06, 08 May 2012 | Report This Post

RE: Safe Review

Really enjoyed this film - no great surprises, but a solid well made action movie. ... More

Posted by Rgirvan44 at 20:37, 08 May 2012 | Report This Post

Safe Review

Safe is hard-hitting and violently inventive, Jason Statham is on top form in his best film in quite some time. ... More

Posted by the film man at 21:35, 07 May 2012 | Report This Post

RE: Let's get real here.

In Hong Kong, young Mei, who has a special gift for remembering numbers, is taken from her mother’s care by gangsters who want to use her talent, and taken to New York, where the local Triad leader uses her to help keep him in control of much of the city. Wondering around the city is Luke Wright is a homeless guy who was once a cage fighter, but he blew a rigged fight, causing the Russian mafia to murder his wife. Mei is asked to remember a special, extra-long number, but is snatched from th... More

Posted by Dr Lenera at 11:00, 07 May 2012 | Report This Post

Let's get real here.

A four star review, Empire? OK, fine, within the action genre it certainly has something to offer, and is passable as a disposable popcorn movie, but to give it the same level of merit as The Avengers is just misleading. There is little of originality here, and whilst the gritty, dour feel make for an interesting premise, it is ultimately unsatisfying on many levels. The exposition heavy script is dire, and the skill of many of the actors delivering the lines is even worse. Even the action scene... More

Posted by kirk1973 at 10:58, 06 May 2012 | Report This Post

The Stath's finest!

Just saw and it was much better than I expected. Great action, story and direction with probably Statham's finest acting role. And the girl was more than a match for him. Highly recommended! ... More

Posted by waqas5050 at 23:06, 01 May 2012 | Report This Post

Statham IS Jack Reacher

I really enjoyed this movie, kept me riveted, the characters were good, and the action was awesome. Statham is a crisp and impressive fighter. The weird thing about this movie was that it seemed almost exactly like a Jack Reacher story, and done very well. Statham would be the perfect Reacher -- he's got the impressive physique and quiet badassness down. Fuck Tom Cruise, I still can't believe he's playing Reacher and wish that bad dream would just end.... ... More

Posted by Madhava at 18:27, 30 April 2012 | Report This Post

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