Movies.ie

• Critic rating
• Currently 4/5 Stars.

Movies.ie Critic Review

Covert, hands-on troubleshooter Mallory Kane (Carano) has just completed her latest mission in Barcelona when her point man Kenneth (McGregor) sends her to Dublin, to hook up with fellow operative Paul (Fassbender). Mallory soon discovers that it is she who is the target though, and one destroyed Shelbourne suite later, she’s on the run back to the US, trying to figure out what just happened. Her answer comes with a series of attacks on her life, and the discovery that her father (Paxton) – also an ex-Marine – is being held hostage by Kenneth and his cronies…

THE VERDICT: Always happy to see a film where a woman sets out to batter the hell out of Ewan McGregor – well, get her hands around his throat, which is just as good – Steven Soderbergh here has considerable fun with the lone super-agent fugitive genre by allowing nothing but reality into the stunts. Which would explain why he cast Mixed Martial Arts champ Gina Carano in the lead role, this MMA hardbody pin-up quite capable of kicking forty shades of shit out of Ewan McGregor’s nasty, pop-napping Kenneth. Or Tatum’s meathead henchman Aaron. Or, indeed, any other Hollywood leading men who are stupid enough to stand in the way of Carano’s walking, running, jumping killing machine. Familiar plot, but Soderbergh – always one for trying to at least buckle the wheel – just keeps the punches coming, letting the stunt-double-free action do all the talking. And David Holmes back on soundtrack duty too. Sweet.

Review by Paul Byrne 

• Avg User rating
• Currently 2/5 Stars.

User Reviews

• • Currently 2/5 Stars.

  Onionhead

  

  We know from the very beginning who set her up and keep asking why is she even after Kenneth to begin with. Why does an agent go to mission with real name and everybody knows about her family history, who her dad is, where he lives, what he does, and still make a nice scene with him when they want her dead. It doesn't even look like an action movie, action scenes make you feel ashamed for their quality. The storyline is hilariously stupid. I am absolutely disappointed by my time being wasted, can't even understand how McGregor, Douglas, Banderas & Tatum agreed to play in a movie like this. You watch it and then you would be like "What the hell?!"

• • Currently 2/5 Stars.

  Mr_Twist

  

  I was bored off my tits

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  vepyewwo

  

  I think this is a film you'll either like or hate. I enjoyed it. despite it being a bit silly at times. I thought for a first time actress Gina Carano was good and I really enjoyed seeing the scenes set in Dublin. My sister, who went to see it with me, thought it was terrible and nearly fell asleep during it. I agree with a poster above- maybe it was the novelty of seeing scenes set in Dublin in a Hollywood action movie that appealed to me.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  ssconnolly

  

  After a rescue mission in Barcelona, freelance agent Mallory Kane is immediately sent on another mission to Dublin where she is double crossed by her employers. As she is hunted down (including by machine gun toting Gardaí) she must use all her skills and experience to stay alive and get payback on those who deceived her. Being juvenilely labeled by many critics as “Bourne with boobs” Haywire is a hugely exciting globetrotting actioner that will be either remembered for its brilliant action sequences, or forgotten due to its flimsy story. Haywire ultimately succeeds and fails for the same reason, and that reason is lead actress Gina Carino. Apparently Steven Soderbergh apparently saw Carino in action during a women's mixed martial arts tournament and decided to build a film around her. It's her first film role and it's a big ask for her to carry this film, and one that she's not entirely able to handle. She struggles to hold her own alongside the star-studded cast, at least until the fight scenes. And the story of the film is really poor, just about strong enough to hold things together but seriously lacking and sense of intrigue or imagination. I think they should've put more thought into the story considering they were making it a starring vehicle for someone who has never acted before. Despite the problems with the story and Carino, she does actually add a lot to the film as well. Specifically she has orchestrated some of the finest fight sequences I've seen in a long time. These fight scenes are where the film really excels and finally does something original. Never feeling overly stylised or manufactured, these scenes are superbly crafted and feel incredibly realistic. Carino doesn't succeed as an actor, but she shows why her fighting earned the fighter her own film. She made it look like she was actually fighting her co-stars, throwing them around like ragdolls and landing hits that you can almost feel from your seat. So all in all Haywire is a hugely entertaining but ultimately unrewarding conspiracy thriller that should've been better. It had the potential to be something special and a more interesting and complex story could've made it easier to look past the films problems. We've been waiting a long time for a good female led action franchise, and this could have been it if Soderbergh put as much work into the story as Carino did into the action. Ultimately the film was disappointing, but is still worth a look.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  mart

  

  This spy action film features some great fight scenes and stunts. It is edited right down tothe bone andthe production is about as slick as anything in recent years. Emotionally, however, it is on the cold side

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  vu1999uk

  

  You know I don't know if I would have enjoyed this as much if a large part of the film was not shot in Dublin, but this is good nonsence. The plot is silly, the acting at times all over the place (Banderas seems to be doing his puss n Boots voice), but the action scenes are great. Builds up quite nicely at times, and as I said Dublin looks great. A total turn your brain off fun film.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  alanhorkan

  

  I'd like to rate this film higher but ultimately it is slight story without much in the way of depth. I found the story all a bit vague. Aside from that it is a well paced bit of action, big chunks of it were filmed in Dublin and I quite enjoyed seeing Michael Fassbender getting beaten up by a girl. Carono will I hope make more action films but despite being a mixed martial arts champion with more than enough ability to fight for real, that doesn't actually count for much and far less capable actors have faked better more stylish and entertaining fight scenes. Choreography goes a long way, and real fighting moves don't necessarily look interesting on screen. I quite liked the car chase, the way it all goes a bit wrong felt quite real, and in fact the reality of the film drew me in and felt quite comfortable and convincing throughout (unlike the latest Mission Impossible which all seemed a bit silly to me by comparison). I was 4.5 almost 5/5 stars entertained and I felt it was worth seeing just for the parts filmed in Dublin. So 3 out of 5 is my objective "would you recommend it to someone else" score and an attempt to judge the overall quality of the film.

• • Currently 1/5 Stars.

  JDX

  

  Awful film. no intensity.. actors were bland. Very disappointed.

• • Currently 1/5 Stars.

  gmiskelly

  

  Garbage. The lead actress is as wooden as a chest of drawers...the story is simple and poorly executed...the film is drab and poorly shot and dont even get me started on the music (which feels like left over music from oceans eleven and doesnt fit at all). Laughably bad

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  jony_dols

  

  Enjoyable albeit shallow action film, that's worth the ticket price to see the excellent action sequences & the chance to see an unusually clean looking Dublin city on the silver screen. Not the best film that Soderbergh (nor most of the cast) has ever made. But hey in the words of Maximilius Aurelius 'Are you not entertained?'. I definitely was.

• • Currently 1/5 Stars.

  Dezo

  

  Very poor film. Absolutely nothing to the film. The fight scenes are just too scripted looking. Feel very unnatural. The acting is very mediocre as well & the soundtrack isn't great. It's a poor mans Hanna & that wasn't even a good film bit at least it had the sandman & the chemical brothers!

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  darthrodney

  

  Enjoyed this, not a great movie more of a DVD rental. Carano is good and kicks serious ass, Fassbender just steals his scenes I wish he was in it more and Mcgregor a bit less as he comes across as bland not menacing enough. The soundtrack is Sodenburg to a T, but just sounds like the stuff that wasnt good enough to make it into Ocean13. The action is real,raw and brutal and well shot. It's cool to see sights like the Shelbourne Hotel, Abbey St and the Luas in a REAL action movie. Beware though the ending is a big sudden letdown ....

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  blade803

  

  Could have been better, Gina Carano does a great job in her first ever role, the action is well done and it's great to see parts of Dublin city in the movie too, although what let the movie down a little for me was the music didn't go with the movie at all, it felt like something out of an old espionage movie. And Ewan McGregor as a bad guy did nothing for the film, he had no presence what so ever, in my opinion Michael Fassbender should have had the main villian's role.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  filmbuff2011

  

  Steven Soderbergh's latest film will no doubt be of interest to Irish and particularly Dublin viewers. A sizeable portion of it was shot in Dublin two years ago and showcases a number of city centre locations, including a rooftop chase under a typically gray sky. That's just one part of this twisty-turny action thriller which centres around an apparently rogue agent being double crossed by the US authorities and going on the run. Mixed Martial Arts expert Gina Carano acquits herself well and holds her own against more familiar faces. The fight sequences have a rough, raw feel to them but the lack of music makes the film feel quiet and under-stated. It moves along quite fast and seems to end a little too quickly. However, it's a good film that's worth a look. There's also a very short but pleasant surprise before Paramount's centenary logo rolls onscreen.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  mell61

  

  A double cross in the world of espionage, and a frenetic chase to find the culpret. Nicely done, with some good Dublin scenes (the geography of dublin actually makes sense).

Page 1 of 2  1 2 »