Direct Contact (2009)

Don't Believe the Hype

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

An American prisoner in a Russian jail is given a chance at freedom if he can rescue a kidnapped American woman. Direct Contact is everything you could ask for a slow Sunday Night and Dolph Lundgren brings on the pain and the action for sure. This movie is pretty action packed from start to finish and the storyline although lacks alot of originality and all? it was pretty nice. It's not a movie for everyone and i know that and i respect it of course but if you wanna have fun? See it it's not really that bad as some reviewers make it sound like. (7.5/10)

May contain spoiler, but not much.Looks like a production that went straight for DVD, but it gives you some action if nothing else. A bit like a Jason Bourne chase, just cheaper. Dolph is an ex-American soldier in a Balkan prison that is released in order to rescue a girl from a local military man and bring her back to the USA. They will be chased by many, and we get to know some of the background for the rescue and that not those that are bad or good are not exactly what they were set out to be.A plot line says Russian prison, however it's from the Balkans according to the movie. Cyrillic street signs are put up for the movie, but soldiers have a Slovakian symbol on their uniforms and cars drive with some EU look alike signs, so not really sure where it is. A city with an Orthodox church might give you the impression it could be Bulgaria - no idea :)5/10 was maybe a bit generous.

I don't comment often but this rating has to be brought down fast, do not waste your time and money on this movie! The poorest editing you'll ever see. Scenes are catastrophically poorly executed, the destruction doesn't even make sense when entire buildings are destroyed in an effort to capture one or two people who inexplicably remain in the buildings while the threat is pending? Car chases where the second passenger is missing in most of the scenes. The plot is so drab it will make you wish you were playing solitaire instead. The acting is atrocious and the "action" scenes aren't even believable. Slaughtering of innocent people throughout the movie for no reason whatsoever, what would the city smell like? Soldiers who can barely move right, let alone make us believe they are in the police or the military. Careless producing and directing. How can someone be shot at so many times at so many angles and still get away, it's bad enough in good movies but this is too much, or should I say far too little. Even my twelve year old son is appalled. The main actor doesn't even come across to be the trained man he is supposed to be. I want my money back!

Direct Contact: 6 out of 10: This is one of the most action packed movies I have ever seen. Keep in mind the action is not always good and the script certainly writes checks that the budget cannot cash. In addition, Dolph Lundgren gives the best performance in the film… However, one cannot deny that compare to those bloated (in more than one-way mind you) Segal films like Driven to Kill; this is a fit, fast and fun ride.Dolph starts the film in an eastern European prison but is released to rescue an American girl from a concentration camp located just east of a World War 2 film. (Direct Contact takes place in modern times but both the camp commander, and the camp victims, would not be out of place in Schindler's List as done by Full Moon Productions.) Bashar Rahal plays camp commandant General Drago with such a silly vigor, that when he shoots children in the head you just cannot help but laugh. Not to mention the fact that any character with the name General Drago belongs in a film with either Lightsabers or Dragons, not Fiddler on the Roof extras being mowed down by machine guns.Gina May plays the American girl, whom is much easier on the eyes than she is the ears. Her acting could have been improved with more nudity and less dialogue: much less dialogue. The rest of the cast is Michael Pare, random Bulgarians or James Chalke who gives the kind of horrible performance that makes one wonder if he financed the entire film.Now back to the reason to watch the film: the action. Dolph is in good shape and makes a surprisingly agile action star. Moreover, even though Bulgaria has no native word for continuity, it is a country that, for a couple of bucks, you can drive tanks through buildings downtown like some sort of Goldeneye road show.Overall, I enjoyed the film more than I should have. Lord knows it could have been better. However, as the good lord above also knows, it could have been a lot worse. Direct Contact may commit countless cinematic sins but it is never less than entertaining.