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A NEW BREED OF ACTION IS HERE!!!!
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the two best kept secrets in a new era of action cinema. One hails from filmmaker and action maestro William Kaufman who through a few decades of honing his craft has really cemented himself as the go to creator of explosive and brutal action films that deploy tactical action design that is fierce and kinetic and rarely seen in films today and the other is a new and legit candidate for breakout action star in LaMonica Garrett. The latter has carved out a nifty little career in supporting roles in some of Taylor Sheridan’s hit series like 1883 and Lioness as well as teaming with Kaufman in last year’s contender for best action film in Osiris. Now the two have combined their forces once again for a gritty, visceral and brutal new military infused actioner titled appropriately enough Man of War.
Man of War is a more grounded and realistic action film as opposed to the sci-fi tinged Osiris and it is literally ripped from the headlines of today as it deals with the Ukraine conflict and the devastation that has hailed over the course of years of fighting and the atrocities that have plagued that region. Make no mistake, Man of War doesn’t look to make some political statement although it doesn’t shy away from the brutality of what is going on over there, but Kaufman chooses to tell a story of redemption and love of family amidst a hailstorm of bullets, beatdowns and the fact that there are still heroes in this world.
In the film, LaMonica Garrett stars as Connor who is a former Navy SEAL dealing with the aftermath of years of killing and seeing the worse in humanity while simply existing in the world that has forgotten him. What happens to a man who has dedicated his life to being a killing machine when there are no more wars to fight and the demons have taken over? The answer is simple. Nothing at all. Connor literally just fills his last days looking at the bottom of a bottle and hoping that this is the day when it all goes away.
Things change in a heartbeat when Connor’s adopted daughter Riley (Rosemary Yaneva) is taken prisoner during the Russian invasion of the Ukraine and upon calling him during the ordeal, Connor witnesses her abduction at the hands of ruthless Russian mercenary Koniev (action star Daniel Bernhardt) and his band of killers. Before you can say “no easy day,” Connor contacts an old ally in Charlie (played by Jason Patric who always elevates a scene) and he is off to Kiev on what is essentially a suicide mission to retrieve Riley and hopefully make it out before his time is up. This is the highest of stakes as Connor is forced to navigate a death zone of unforgiving death and destruction while trying to execute the no room for error rescue mission.
Upon arriving, Connor is hooked up with Dany (Andrew Howard) who is his guide in this land of death and from the get-go, things do not go as planned as Connor has to deploy all of his lethal skills as an elite operator once again as he takes on an Koniev’s army to save family and maybe dish up a little restitution for all the bad things he has done. However, will this be his resurrection or his death sentence remains to be seen as all good plans go out the window when the first bullet whizzes past your ear.
Man of War is exactly what action fans should be looking for as it checks all the boxes more than once. This is a film that showcases tactical action and CQB battles with brutal gusto and from the beginning until the credits roll at the end, this is relentless, visceral and savage cinematic warfare at its finest. I must say that if you come out of Man of War not liking the film, well then, you simply do not like action films because Kaufman is a master at implementing this kind of adrenaline and even though the story is a simple one, it still resonates with enough human emotion and bravado to compliment the carnage that is being executed onscreen.
First of all, LaMonica Garrett simply put deserves to be the headliner here and he showcases why he should very well have a long career as the frontrunner of these types of films. When describing Garrett, the best analogy I could use is if you blended Denzel Washington together with the late, great Steve James. Garrett is a force to be reckoned with, and he has a commanding presence every time he is on screen. He has the look, the gravitas and chance to finally take center stage here after so many great supporting performances and Garrett puts the whole film on his broad shoulders and carries it over the finish line while blasting away with an AK-47 at the same time. If any actor was ever destined to honor elite warriors who do this for real on the big screen, it would be Garrett.
The supporting cast around Garrett is spot on as well with Andrew Howard stealing his scenes as Connor’s guide Dany through the death and destruction. This could have easily been a throwaway role, but Kaufman gives Howard ample opportunity to run away with his performance and declares that he is much more than a tour guide. Dany is no slouch either and we come to learn that he has devastating skills just like our hero.
Rosmary Yaneva shines as well as Connor’s adopted daughter Riley and just like Howard, she could easily have been written as just a woman who has been captured and needs saving. No sir. Yaneva is no damsel in distress by any definition and Kaufman gives her all the opportunity to display just how strong she is and gives her ample moments to highlight her fierce nature and why she is Connor’s daughter.
Jaon Patric’s involvement here could have simply been an extended cameo with his character of Charlie Lewis simply talking to Connor over the phone, but Patric is such a noteworthy actor that he elevates anything he is in and he is very instrumental to the course of the mission and his interactions with Connor, even though they share no screen time, are pretty much a lot of the heart of the movie.
What can I say about Daniel Bernhardt. The action legend never disappoints and whether he is playing the heroic lead or the villainous killer, Bernhardt has all the gusto and chews up the scenery whether he’s delivering lines or a lethal side kick. Bernhardt is such a draw in action cinema that he is basically a ninja. You put him in any film, and it automatically makes it better. As Koniev, Bernhardt could have been the over the top, mustache twirling baddie but here he is equally sadistic and scary as hell. He plays Koniev as a man with no soul who looks to do nothing more than cause pain in the world and his character is horrific because you know that there are actual men out there that are like this. Bernhardt also gets the chance to throwdown so no worries there as he showcases that he hasn’t lost a step.
Linds Edwards, who also starred in Kaufman’s Osiris, is exceptional once gain as Bunny who is one of Connor’s comrades on this mission of no return. Edwards goes all in every time he’s taking on a role and even though this time out is different than his performance in Kaufman’s sci-fi outing, he still brings the bad ass to the celluloid and puts his stamp on the proceedings while getting his moments to make an impact.
A special shoutout also goes out to veteran tough guy Greg Burridge who steals the show as Zeus, the resident sniper of Connor’s motley crew of devil dogs. Burridge should be a bigger star in these types of genre films, and he executes his scenes with steely eyed efficiency and does justice to the sniper who probably is the most dangerous soldier there is. As Zeus, Burridge gets to be set loose, and he vaporizes a number of faceless goons, and his character rises to the level in the finale.
The action here is the name of the game. Let’s make no mistake. Yes, we want to care about those involved here and yes, we want to see the good guys prevail but seriously it’s all about the action. Who are we kidding? I’ve been around a long time so it’s hard to impress me because I’ve seen it all. I mean everything. Rest assured hardcore fans because Man of War is a bullet riddled chef’s kiss that is a chest thumping, crowd pleasing good time. The film is locked and loaded with some of the best firepower infused sequences that I have seen in a long time and it is virtually a non-stop, pedal to the metal assault on the senses that ignites some serious tactical mayhem and deploys a kick ass, no nonsense attitude.
Man of War is more than immersive when the action hits. Kaufman basically not only drops the audience in the thick of it, but he also essentially straps battle gear on you and throws a rifle in your hands and while the chaos is erupting, you feel like you are right there with the cast as it is all kinetic, ferocious and unflinching. The combat choreography is legit, and Kaufman is a leader in honing that aspect, so it honors the men and women who do this for real. Kaufman surrounds himself with an elite crew that serve up gritty, pulse pounding, no holds barred set pieces that rival anything that we see in bigger budgeted blockbusters. Dare I say that Kaufman and these indie action filmmakers do it better and bigger with limited recourses and time and that’s what makes it a victory on all counts. The action design is an eclectic blending of grounded, realistic carnage layered with a little over the top garnish because this is an action movie after all. We love it real, but we also want to watch tactical Armageddon erupt at the same time and with that Kaufman says hold my beer.
There are many highlights to be had here with the firefight in the forest emulating a chaotic and confusing aesthetic to the action. The sequence radiates what true guerilla combat is all about and it throws you right into the heat of war as it is unflinching and merciless. The finale is a finale that deserves to be mentioned as maybe one of the best in an action movie in a long time. The body count is insane and while countless rounds of ammo are dispensed, the motion of it all is kinetic, feverish and intense with every second delivering a “Hell Yeah!” moment for fans of sweat inducing combat flicks.
No spoilers here, at least yet, but it’s in the trailer so you know that Connor on Koniev will eventually center the ring for a climatic beatdown of gigantic proportions. In a film where the bullets do the talking, we are treated to a savage, ugly (in the best way), and stripped down CQB battle that employs hands, feet and bladed weaponry for the desired results. This is take no prisoners, barbaric MMA style action design with both men giving it their all and this is one fight that you will want to watch over and over again because it is that damn good. I think I was bleeding and sweating while watching it and that’s the biggest compliment I can give it.
Overall, Man of War showcases action maestro and filmmaker William Kaufman at his very best. All those years ago when I walked into my Blockbuster Video and rented his first foray into action with The Prodigy, I knew I was watching the start of a great career. Kaufman is a fan’s filmmaker because he makes the movies we want to see with action that is unrivaled. The cast, led by an action star making performance in LaMonica Garrett, are at the top of their game and you can tell that each and every performer respects the material and wanted to give the viewer what they want.
Man of War is a bullet riddled chef’s kiss with LaMonica Garrett proving that he has more than what it takes at headlining a chest thumping, crowd pleasing, action heavy film. Action legend Daniel Bernhardt is ruthless, unforgiving and deadly as always and he is clearly having fun with the role. This is locked ‘n’ loaded tactical action cinema that dishes out some of the best firepower infused sequences I have seen in a long time and it deploys a relentless, never give up aesthetic that will check all the boxes for hardcore fans looking for some serious military style action sequences that executes on all levels with a kick ass, no nonsense attitude. With a cast like this and Kaufman’s track record for delivering authentic tactical/military style action that is visceral and grounded, Man of War is a crowd pleasing hit that should be at the top of any serious action movie fan’s must-see list and this movie does for military style tactical action films what The Furious did for hard hitting martial arts action.
There are a few certainties in life. Some being that we must pay taxes. We will eventually leave this earth and an action movie from filmmaker William Kaufman will rock with bombastic, tactical, grounded action. This is a film that reassures me that we haven’t seen it all yet.
VERDICT: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS
Man of War is Essential Action Cinema with William Kaufman Proving He is the Master of Cinematic Tactical Action and Featuring an Action Star Making Performance in LaMonica Garrett!
ON DIGITAL JULY 3RD!
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