Old Stuff
A Man Apart (2003)
Directed by F. Gary Gray
"A Man Apart" is just another in a string of appallingly bad action flicks that are killing the genre. Like anything in life, if it's not growing, it's rotting. Action films are in full rot. There was a time when these flicks asked some interesting questions about justice and corruption besides giving plenty of suspense and action ("Dirty Harry," "The French Connection," "Death Wish"). Today, these movies pose no questions and the characters are just portraits of moral anarchy. The audience is supposed to root for the hero even though he/she is a selfish, stupid, spoiled, in-your-face asshole.
Hollywood Outsider's "Man of the Year 2002," Vin Diesel, stars as Sean Vetter a former gangsta turned DEA cop trying to destroy a Mexican drug cartel supplying Southern California with cocaine. The opening 10 seconds of "A Man Apart" held out the promise that this movie had something to say about America's ravenous appetite for drugs and its questionable tactics in trying to control both those who sell and use them. It quickly devolved into a mind-numbingly cliched story of a maverick cop who puts his career on the line to exact revenge for the murder of his beloved. Instead of exploring the damage that Sean's behavior is inflicting on his colleagues and friends, "A Man Apart" ignores that innocent people are paying the price for his self-pity and grief. Sean is like a super-tanker of nitroglycerin after his wife is killed during a failed attempt on his life by the drug cartel. The world in this pic operates on the principle of simple street justice. It tries to get back on track at the end but it's too late.
As a result of his wife's murder, Sean goes on a downward spiral of rage and vengeance that puts everyone near him in danger. During a sting operation, one of the druggie's henchmen brags about Sean's wife's murder. Since Sean is undercover, obviously, the henchman doesn't know who he's talking to. That doesn't matter, what matters is that the henchman has lit a match and Sean explodes. He literally beats the guy to death while a battle erupts between the drug gang and a cadre of undercover cops that are backing up Sean. Three of the cops die. In the next scene, Sean's boss suspends him. Sean is devastated, and in disbelief states that he is sorry. Sorry? Three people lost their lives because he couldn't control his temper. Sorry? I realize that the other three cops were nameless, faceless, motherless assholes, story wise, but does "I'm sorry" really cut it? Six months leave seems pretty lenient if you ask me, but what do I know? If you're looking for an ultra-violent piece of shit starring Vin Diesel, check out "A Man Apart." -- Rating: $2.14
Tom Graney -- copyright 2003 Hollywood Outsider