The Mercenary: Аbsolution (2014)

[knucklesandwich]

Me too. He should only take on projects that he likes, and that he feels would come out right. If he just needs to pay the bills, he should just go open an aikido studio. I would rather have one 'good' or 'great' Seagal movie every few years, that 3 stink bombs in one year.

 

[Martin01]

The problem is, he is doing almost only one film per year lately, which is much less as he did a few years ago...but they are still bad.

 

[DiDa]

Thanks for the review Clement. This body double shit is ridiculous....actually, it's just plain lazy. If it is not a fight scene, and you are not in immediate danger (where a double can fill in for safety sake), then do you job and get your ass in the scene. I just don't get that. I understand that it may not always be Seagal's fault.....but that they want to fill in a shot (say from behind, or him walking in the distance), but if the director and crew cannot get Seagal to agree to the shots, DON'T film them. They look stupid and ruin the movie.

This happens in all recent dtv movies. Check the recent Van Damme movies. This is the fault of the producers. The producers are giving the crew so little time to shoot the movie. During the shoot they work with two different teams. We got the 2nd unit, who do the stunts, the distance scenes and already shoot the fightscenes with the double. This is saving them time.
Then we got the 1st unit who do the dialogue scenes and the other stuff. Steven Seagal IS doing all his fightscenes, but they have to be shot very fast because of the lack of time. They mix the 2nd unit footage of the fight with the 1st unit footage. That's when you get the visible double.

For example: Dolph Lundgren got the change for once to make a good movie with Skin Trade. Producers gave him a bigger budget AND a 7-8 weeks shoot. Not the 3 week shoot that Keoni Waxman is getting from the producers. That's why Skin Trade has good fightscenes with almost no doubles. They have time to prepare with the real actors....
Steven is just a cashcow to the producers.

Good to see that he is finally doing something different with Code Of Honor. Code Of Honor had 4 weeks (although it is still not much), so I hope this one looks better.

 

[Martin01]

You're right DiDa, but there is also an interview with an actress on the "stories" topic that Steven don't film reverse shots (also talking scenes). This is really weird. I really ask me if that is because of time issues or because Seagal don't want to make them. I've noticed that in a lot of his DTV movies.

I'm glad he worked with a completely different crew this year. I hope he tries more to film with different crews.

 

[rastafari]

but there is also an interview with an actress on the "stories" topic that Steven don't film reverse shots (also talking scenes)

I alot of actors have that even in smaller movies...I think Bruce Willis does it on most of his STV films

I think I read somewhere that willis only shoots for 2-3 hours a day on His recent films like Vice,The Prince

 

[Mason]

In which order should FOE AGM and MA be watched storywise ?

 

[Clement3000]

This happens in all recent dtv movies. Check the recent Van Damme movies. This is the fault of the producers. The producers are giving the crew so little time to shoot the movie. During the shoot they work with two different teams. We got the 2nd unit, who do the stunts, the distance scenes and already shoot the fightscenes with the double. This is saving them time.
Then we got the 1st unit who do the dialogue scenes and the other stuff. Steven Seagal IS doing all his fightscenes, but they have to be shot very fast because of the lack of time. They mix the 2nd unit footage of the fight with the 1st unit footage. That's when you get the visible double.

For example: Dolph Lundgren got the change for once to make a good movie with Skin Trade. Producers gave him a bigger budget AND a 7-8 weeks shoot. Not the 3 week shoot that Keoni Waxman is getting from the producers. That's why Skin Trade has good fightscenes with almost no doubles. They have time to prepare with the real actors....
Steven is just a cashcow to the producers.

Good to see that he is finally doing something different with Code Of Honor. Code Of Honor had 4 weeks (although it is still not much), so I hope this one looks better.

The only difference is that it's much more obvious when Seagal is being doubled, and it seems to happen far more often. First of all, his double is younger, thinner, has tidier hair, etc so it's far more noticeable. If I was to go back and take screen caps of the movie there are at least 5 scenes that you can easily see the doubles face.

Also, Byron Mann isn't doubled in any of his fight scenes, and he isn't doubled in any of his walking or back-on scenes. So does that mean that he stayed around for both production 1 & 2? If so, Seagal should do the same thing, if he truly cares about the quality of his films and isn't in it solely for the money! That's why I doubt your reasoning as to why Seagal is being doubled so often, I don't think it has anything to do with different production teams (it may in other movies). I think that Seagal just comes in does a couple of hours of work and isn't interested in the film enough to devote his time to making the movie right.

What confuses me the most about Absolution, is why did it receive so much publicity (multiple trailers, posters, banners etc.) and limited theatrical release. Why would they do that if the quality is still on par with his last few DTV offerings (i.e. low budget - b-movie)? I could understand Absolution getting a limited run if the movie had twice the budget and filmed over a longer period of time (i.e. like Skin Trade). Maybe they are testing the waters to see if there is still any profitability for Seagal on the big screen? Wish they could have made a better movie because any non Seagal fans who do see this movie in theatre won't be converted, they'll likely Google Byron Mann.

I have a select group of friends who had no interest in Seagal and I have converted them into part-time fans. But I only watch the good Seagal movies with them (good seagal movie = a movie a non seagal fan will enjoy), let's just say they haven't seen a new Seagal movie for many many years....... still holding my breath...

 

[JoeDirt]

I think I read somewhere that willis only shoots for 2-3 hours a day on His recent films like Vice,The Prince

I believe it was The Prince, where I heard he was on set for only one day, but he filmed for 18 hours straight to get all his scenes in the can before he went home.

His "going rate" is $1M per day for these DTV movies, and he gets it. Rumours say that for Prince he was paid $1.5M. And for Expendables 3 they offered him $3M for 4 days but he wanted $4M.

I did hear that Seagal only works 4 hours a day now, which isn't hard to believe seeing how little screentime he has in his recent movies and how much he's doubled.

In fact I remember Either Keoni Waxman or Lauro Chartrand write somewhere how they only had 8 hours to film a fight scene in one of these recent movies, and he even mentioned that they had 4 hours to shoot Seagal's part and 4 hours to shoot the other guy's part (with Seagal's double) which would suggest that he indeed only works 4 hours a day.

Let's face it, he is putting the least amount of work and effort possible into these movies, has been for over 10 years now. They're just a way for him to make a paycheck, nothing more.

 

[Martin01]

Let's face it, he is putting the least amount of work and effort possible into these movies, has been for over 10 years now. They're just a way for him to make a paycheck, nothing more.

I got that feeling too.

The quality of his new movies probably depend only on the quality and motivation of the directors. There have been very few who did a good job (Roel Reiné for example) last years.

 

[JoeDirt]

What confuses me the most about Absolution, is why did it receive so much publicity (multiple trailers, posters, banners etc.) and limited theatrical release. Why would they do that if the quality is still on par with his last few DTV offerings (i.e. low budget - b-movie)? I could understand Absolution getting a limited run if the movie had twice the budget and filmed over a longer period of time (i.e. like Skin Trade). Maybe they are testing the waters to see if there is still any profitability for Seagal on the big screen? Wish they could have made a better movie because any non Seagal fans who do see this movie in theatre won't be converted, they'll likely Google Byron Mann.

It's mainly a VOD release. The only reason they are releasing it in theaters (usually only a few small theaters) is so that they can drive up the sales of the movie on VOD services, since they can promote it as an "exclusive, still in theaters!" type of thing, so then people get excited they can watch a brand new movie that's still in the theaters right in their own home. Allthough I don't know how that would work with Absolution seeing that Seagal has been a DTV star for over 10 years now. I would imagine it works a lot better with Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, Robert De Niro etc. movies since they're still occasionally in big movies.

In a simultaneous VOD and Limited Theatrical release the distributors usually loses money by showing it in the theaters, since they usually have to rent the rooms and what little tickets they sell might not even cover the costs, but it's just a marketing tool.

Some of these movies might make as little as a couple grand on opening weekend, some of the higher profile movies with the likes of Nicolas Cage might make 5 figures in their entire run, but much more on VOD.

The sales of physical media has dropped considerably, even some big movies can't move a lot of copies anymore. The only DTV movies you even see on the top selling charts anymore are usually the studio DTV sequels like recently all the Scorpion King movies, or maybe a Nicolas Cage movie, like Dying of the Light recently that didn't sell much though.

The Seagals and Van Dammes and Lundgrens etc. that used to show up regularly on the charts are nowhere to be seen now. The smaller movies make more money in VOD and in TV licensing deals than on DVD. It's no wonder that most of the DTV stars are doing more TV work recently. Seagal had Lawman and True Justice, Lundgren had SAF3 and that reality competition show, Van Damme has Behind Closed Doors reality show and some upcoming French show, and even Wesley Snipes is starring in a NBC pilot that's looking to be picked up.

 

[J.Lucas]

I totally agree.

This is how i think the are as the best.

Force Of Execution.

Mercenary Absolution.

A Good Man.

Now, in which order should they be watched ??

lol.......yeah...good question....I suppose 'A Good Man' would be first because he's still in his 'hired merc' phase........which seems to carry over to 'Absolution'....until the end when they kill the head of the operation......then I guess he was fed up and just became a crime lord in "Force of Execution'...which ends with him(Alexander) retiring.....of course these movies would be a good case for a 'fan-made' version....where they take parts of all 3 movies and try to fit them into a somewhat chronological order...
PS: I read something about the 'behind scene's' feature on the "A Good Man ' DVD where they say that Seagal came in and added the whole beginning merc part and it completely changed the idea of a trilogy from that point..but that the writers just didn't bother to change his name in the movie...so as far as a 'flow' to the movies....also there is supposed to be some kind of 'few years ' gap in between 'Absolution' due to the fact that Seagal was given Byron Mann as a 'gift' to be used for 3? years after saving some guy.
----
SIDE NOTE:
This is in the 'Today You Die' section of 'Seagalogy' epub
---
....Seagal was accused of making unauthorized changes to the script
(“including dialogue”) in a lawsuit filed by Kill Master, one of the
production companies, and sales agent Nu Image. Seagal was also
accused of losing the production millions of dollars in reshoots by
showing up late and leaving early from shooting. The suit also involves
another movie, Mercenary For Justice, which he allegedly only showed
up for under threat of lawsuit, and brought a rowdy entourage who
“continually harassed, intimidated and threatened the production and
members of the production team with requests and demands that
were inappropriate, outrageous or not contractually required.”

Of course, these Kill Master guys could be full of shit. The movie is
obviously better than Submerged, so how out of line could Seagal
have been? At least he dubbed his own dialogue. Seagal denied all
the charges and claimed the lawsuit was a pre-emptive attack on him
because he wasn’t fully paid for Mercenary For Justice, and had
accused the production of fraud, allegedly spending $5-$7 million
less than the budget on the books. His lawyer also disputed the
claims of the interfering entourage.

One of Kill Master’s claims was that they had pre-sold the movies
based on certain plot elements that were now in jeopardy due to
Seagal’s unauthorized script changes. A plot description on
All Movie Guide mentions a casino heist, but changing a casino
to a warehouse sounds more like a budgetary issue than a rewrite
(backing up Seagal’s side of the story). The summary also says
that Harlan “has powerful psychic abilities and can punish a man
simply with the powers of his mind,” something that I sure as fuck
didn’t pick up on if it was supposed to be going on in the movie.
Movies Unlimited’s synopsis mentions that “when Seagal has a
supernatural experience while incarcerated, his life is forever changed.”
That doesn’t happen in the movie either.
----
PS: so it's possible that even tho' it was originally planned as a 'trilogy' ....Seagal himself may have change d it while it was in progress.

 

[lee nicholson]

Pretty cool that IMDB have a mini ABSOLUTION gallery advertised on their main page today

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2999842560/rg2365037312?ref_=hm_snp_cap_pri_1

 

[Mason]

@DiDa can you ask Waxman in which order these movies are ment to be watched ??

 

[lee nicholson]

I don't think we're dealing with WAR AND PEACE here folks, watch the movies in whichever order you like. They are hardly imbued with labyrinthine plots, symbolism or meaningful character arcs (they're just action movies)

 

[DiDa]

I got that feeling too.

The quality of his new movies probably depend only on the quality and motivation of the directors. There have been very few who did a good job (Roel Reiné for example) last years.

Before Roel Reiné started with Pistol Whipped he had a meeting with Seagal and he had the balls to say to Steven: "Listen buddy, I want to make this movie with you but you have to give yourself 100%. I don't want Pistol Whipped to be like your last movies. You need to do your own voice dubbing and be on the set when I ask you to. Let me do my job".

He mentioned this in an interview.

Steven agreed and Pistol Whipped turned out to be one of Steven's finest dtv's.

 

[DiDa]

@DiDa can you ask Waxman in which order these movies are ment to be watched ??

I will try, but Waxman didn't even answer my last email. Right now he is shooting the movie Killing Salazar with Bren Foster and George St Pierre in Romania. I have the feeling he and Steven are done and maybe that's why he is not answering anymore.....Strange...

 

[DiDa]

 

[DiDa]

In which order should FOE AGM and MA be watched storywise ?

I remember when Waxman told me that AGM is a prequel to FOE. Don't know where MA fits in.

 

[Clement3000]

Before Roel Reiné started with Pistol Whipped he had a meeting with Seagal and he had the balls to say to Steven: "Listen buddy, I want to make this movie with you but you have to give yourself 100%. I don't want Pistol Whipped to be like your last movies. You need to do your own voice dubbing and be on the set when I ask you to. Let me do my job".

He mentioned this in an interview.

Steven agreed and Pistol Whipped turned out to be one of Steven's finest dtv's.

Seagal needs to start working with new directors that aren't afraid to push him, Joel Silver made Seagal lose weight for Exit Wounds and then by the time Half Past Dead came out he had gained back all of his weight.

Seagal obviously likes working with these same directors over and over again because they allow him to do as he pleases. He can go and come as he pleases, rewrite scripts last minute and pretty much do what he wants.

I doubt he will take on any new projects with directors who force him to stay on set longer, lose weight, etc. He will continue working with directors/producers that give him 100% control over the project... i.e. doubles, voice overs, etc.

 

[DiDa]

Seagal obviously likes working with these same directors over and over again because they allow him to do as he pleases. He can go and come as he pleases, rewrite scripts last minute and pretty much do what he wants.

Exactly, that's why he is working with Waxman all the time. Seagal can control Waxman and co. That's why there were so many troubled productions during the 00's (Michael Keusch), because Steven could not control these guys. As a result Seagal refused to come out of his trailer and that sort of stuff...I believe this kind of behavior also resulted in the lawsuit that is surrounding Today You Die and Mercenary For Justice. Guys, we all love Steven and are his fans, but this is the hard truth!

I am so intersted in Code Of Honor because of the new crew. Just a new vibe....