44 thoughts on “Jason Statham Movies”

1. HI GUYS:

   I’m being serious here and not trying to spoof you.

   I was watching a television documentary a few nights ago about the British government’s relatively new Universal Credits System for the payment of State benefits, such as unemployment cash entitlements. The scheme is housed in a large state-of-the arts complex.

   I guess to try to make the building look ‘cool’ and modern, each room is named, on the outside of its door, after a celebrity. We were shown the name plates of just around half-dozen of the celebs, but one room was named The Statham Room and another The Willis Room. I thought you’d like to know.

   Reply

2. HI STEVE:

   Sorry to interrupt your weekend but Jace is starring in 2013’s Parker on the 5STAR channel this coming Tuesday evening. Any recommendaztions as I’m drawing up my viewing list for the next 7 days?

   The Work Horse gives it just a 49% review rating; he seems to be less of a Jace fan than I am; but IMDB thinks it deserves a 62% rating.

   J Lo, Jace’s female love-interest is always worth a look-in form my viewpoint – though no substitute for The Meg of course.

   Reply

   1. Hi Bob, from what I remember Parker isn’t one of Statham’s best. I think it had less action than usual which might make it more tolerable for you, and another attempt at an American accent from the Stath, well at least he tries.

      Like you say J Lo is always worth a look. She had good reviews for her new film Hustlers.

      If it turns up on TV, Spy is worth a look, a hilarious comedy starring Melissa McArthy, Statham co-stars as an inept secret agent, basically sending himself up.

      Brexit is over. Rule Britannia! 😉

      Reply

      1. HI STEVE: Thanks for the advice and comments. I think I’ll give Parker at least a preliminary look-in because (1) you say that the action is not overdone (2) J LO’s in it (3) I don’t want WH’s review column dictating ALL the movies I watch!

         Supporters of Mother Theresa are saying that she really came through for us in the end as now that the Northern Ireland arrangement has been restored to Theresa’s original blueprint the deal agree is virtually totally HERS with Bo Jo trying to claim the credit.

         Friends of the departed Jo Swinson counter-claim that whilst Jo wanted to remain, if she had been forced [in say a coalition] to negotiate a leave package she would have gotten us a better leave deal.

         Yet again the Observer’s European firebrand columnist, the crusading Nick Cohen hates in equal measure The Far Right, The Far Left, Boris’ Tories and Labour – under Jeremy at least; Nick is Jewish on his father’s side. Nick who is the author of Cruel Britannia: The Sinister and the Preposterous, insists that under Johnson we are all “going to hell in a handcart” now we have left.

         I suppose that as usual where politicians and newspaper opinion writers give conflicting thoughts and advice you “pays your money and takes your choice”. It seems that whereas you and I might differ at times about Jace and actions heroes we think alike on Brexit; but see in Part 2 other takes on matters from Hugo Dixon of the Guardian, speaking on behalf of the Friends of Europe; and Will Hutton of The Observer representing Capitalism in Europe.

         Reply

         1. HUGO DIXON – IN FACTS SITE: “When the history of Brexit is written, the Lib Dems’ decision to let Johnson hold his miserable election will be seen as a key strategic error. Boris Johnson has a big majority in Parliament, but he didn’t get a majority of the popular vote. Even if you add his buddies in the Brexit Party and his previous allies in the DUP, they got only 46%. If we’d had a referendum instead, we could have won.

            Sensible Labour MPs stopped Jeremy Corbyn multiple times in the summer and early autumn from agreeing to an election. But when Jo Swinson broke ranks, the SNP immediately followed suit and Labour couldn’t hold the line.

            Another tragedy is that the prime minister’s deal wasn’t properly scrutinised. It splits the country into two. Northern Ireland follows EU rules without a say on them, effectively becoming an EU colony. And Johnson hasn’t agreed anything for Great Britain. He’ll be in an incredibly weak position when the negotiations start in earnest.

            Johnson will then have to figure out what Brexit means. He will face a terrible dilemma between damaging our economy by ripping us out of the EU market or following the bloc’s rules without a say on them.. It’s a debate that will be held entirely within the Tory party. Meanwhile I, for one, will take some time to reflect.”

            WILL HUTTON OBSERVER: “It is a first order political miscalculation. The Conservative party created Brexit. It must own it. Labour, after 2015, made two monumental miscalls: first, not sufficiently opposing austerity and later voting for article 50. There must be no repeat now. Brexit must be opposed in every dimension. This is a Conservative project. The Tories must be its sole sponsor and live with the consequences.

            I think it will break them. So at 11pm on 31 January, dismiss Johnson’s extravagant claims for what lies ahead and the faux celebrations. Light a candle in a window, at your door, in your garden; find friends to do it together. We stand for a European Britain. Remainers aren’t going to vanish on 31 January. We fight on, sure of our cause. We will be back. As with Fu Manchu the world of Johnson will hear from us again”.
            NOTE: Hutton is a strong supporter of a vibrant British CAPITALIST economy but within Europe.

            Reply

3. As we agreed I watched Jace in Homefront last night. For the most part I found it entertaining enough, though he didn’t suit that pop star-type long hair in the opening sequences.

   Well let them say your hair’s too long,
   I don’t care, with you I can’t go wrong – Jace!

   Inevitably however everything was wound up in the end by the final half hour of the movie degenerating into a non-stop bout of violence and blood-letting. I prefer sporadic set pieces of violence which we had at times earlier in the film and which we saw in classic era films like Shane and Psycho.

   The power which Psycho had to terrify audiences resided in the suspense of waiting for Mother Bates to suddenly appear and then after a brief orgy of violence disappear again, forever a figure of mystery until the end.

   There were really only about 3 set pieces of violence in Psycho, but the relatively short shower scene is cinema legend now. However if Mother Bates had got loose in a changing room and spent 30 continuous minutes attacking female after female taking showers it would have become repetitive and just another par for the course slasher film.

   Knees up Mother Bates! Knees up Mother Bates!
   Under the radar you must go. Ye I, Ye I, Ye I Yo!
   Oh, oh, isn’t it a shame?
   To think that Mother Bates will never slash again!

   However maybe Homefront was just an excuse for Jace, through his choice of lead co-stars, to pay homage to an ACTOR – Brando! James Franco has been referred to as the “new Brando” [a possibility that has been discussed on this site with I think WH disagreeing] and Winona Ryder is on record as saying that The Great Mumbler is her own top idol. If Marlon dropped to No 2 in her estimation after she worked with Jace, I haven’t heard of it! Anyway my personal rating for Homefront is 60%. I am much kinder to it than WH who gives it a lowly 49%, whereas IMDB awards 65%

   Reply

   1. Hey Bob….good review and thoughts on Jason Statham’s Homefront. Last night I watched Motherless Brooklyn and really enjoyed it. Bruce Willis is barely in the movie…..but his character is constantly mentioned throughout the movie. Edward Norton is excellent in the lead role (not to mention he wrote, produced and directed the movie). A nice slow burn movie that is interesting to watch unfold. Good stuff.

      Reply

      1. HI BRUCE Thanks for the feedback. I just hope that Steve doesn’t fall out with me for giving his idol’s movie a 60% rating.

         However as you keep pointing out 60% whilst routine is nonetheles “good” and as I am not really a big action movies fan that 60% probably equates to 80% from admirers of the genre; so Steve can be satisfied that his advice for me to watch Homefront was wise.

         I made one of my occasional forays out to the cinema on Monday night to see Bombshell. It is more my cup of tea as it is human interest themed. As I’m sure you know both Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie are nominated for Oscars in the best actress and supporting actresses categories respectively. Both were good but Charlize impressed me more. Malcolm McDowell is excellent too in the very small role of Rupert Murdoch. The language in it is so strong throughout though that I was looking for the name “McClane” in the writing credits!!

         I WILL be watching motherless Brooklyn at some stage as I like Norton and Mr Gimme More is always riveting for me even in small roles [Split excepted!] AnywayI hope all is going well for Family Cogerson and you all keep safe.

         Reply

4. HI AGAIN STEVE

   Morg is on the Sony movie channel at 4.45 pm tomorrow in 2014’s Ruth and Alex [aka 5 Flights up].

   Is it OK if I watch it?

   Reply

5. HI WH Following our recent discussions about Jace I thought that the following press extracts might be of passing interest to you-

   “Jason Statham has had to issue a public apology for homophobic remarks he made while filming the gambling movie Wild Card in 2015.

   In a heated row with his long time production associate Steve Casman, Statham went into a rant that many would regard as strongly homophobic and which was delivered in foul-mouth terms which will not be repeated here as there are those who would find them offensive. The conversation and remarks were recorded on tape by a consultant on the set, R J Cipriani

   Also some women too seem to be upset by aspects of Statham’s screen persona which they appear to regard as incorporating a sexist atttude to females and The Women’s Film Critics Circle are on record as castigating Statham as ‘the most offensive male in movies.’”

   Bruce, each of us is entitled to determine what attracts him/her to a screen persona [if I may paraphrase – Bob’s meat is Joel’s poison!] and I have never made a study of Jason in the few films that I have seen him in -indeed for me there is little there to study – but whilst I don’t wish to be seen to adopt a lofty moral tone it is unlikely that I would be entertained by a persona that I perceived to be unnecessarily depreciating of ANY demographic if that indeed is the case here.

   Reply

   1. Bob, you’ve used up a lot more text on Statham than Bruce and I combined. Are you sure you’re not a closet fan? There’s no shame to confessing your admiration for ‘The Stath’. How many of his films have you watched?

      My dad loved swashbucklers and westerns when he was young and segued smoothly to modern action blockbusters as he got older.

      As for Jason’s perceived shortcomings, one of your all time favorites Morgan Freeman wasn’t exactly angelic either. Did you like him less as an actor? 😉

      Reply

      1. Thanks for your thoughts and I certainly agree with your implication that he who is without sin should cast the first stone and if we all received our just deserts who should escape whipping? etc.

         However I was talking more about condoning perceived bad behaviour via an image and persona projected ON SCREEN.To the best of my knowledge Morg never in his screen heroes glamorized as role models “dirty old men”.

         Even then it’s a personal decision as to where one draws the line. For example I can live with gratuitous swearing in movies but my Jimmy apparently couldn’t. Stewart turned down the Peter Finch part in Network because he thought that to accept it would have been to condone foul language in films. My Greg too never seriously swore on screen.

         Apparently what got the Women’s Film Critics Circle after Jason’s scalp [metaphorically speaking of course!] was that in 2006’s Crank Jace, among other annoyances, had “C***” written on his forehead. If women find that offensive we should in my view respect their feelings and I find it difficult to envisage that the movie could not have done without it.

         “The American people look up to us to represent fine values in our screen roles, Kirk.” – The Duke [who resented Clint Eastwood’s western movies screen persona being compared with Wayne’s own because the latter thought that some aspects of Clint’s “anti-heroes” were unsavory.]

         I’ve watched 3 of Jason’s flicks and slept through another two – which were maybe his masterpieces! Thanks again.

         Reply

         1. Good back and forth from Bob and Steve….and Mr. Jason Statham.

            Reply

   2. Hey Bob. Jason’s rant went pretty much under the radar. If I heard about it, it was just briefly. I would bet if it came out today it would be much much bigger news. Hopefully Jason learned his lessons. Interesting that some women list him as ‘the most offensive male in movies.’” Seems like the though police are everywhere these days….it almost sounds like a science fiction movie. Good feedback.

      Reply

      1. As I have indicated, with such loose censorship today it can vary from individual to individual where he/she feels the line should be drawn regarding perceptions of decency and tolerance in relation to such things as strong language and controversial attitudes in the public domain.

         John Wayne’s politics are not mine and some of his more “gung ho” movies are not among my favourites but as you know in other aspects of his screen persona I am a big fan of The Duke’s. Other moviegoers though don’t watch Wayne movies because of disagreement with his politics and that is of course their right [no pun intended!]

         If Jace IS too overtly homophobic and sexist in private life I would not wish to be in his company any more than I’m sure he would want mine but ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL I would watch him on screen provided he was not using his heroes to condone, promote and even glamorize attitudes that I regarded as unwelcome.

         I say “all other things being equal” and Steve mentions my enjoying Morg’s acting despite the controversy that has been associated with Freeman’s name in recent times. I do not know enough about the truth of the matter to form a judgement but if I did perhaps the key to my attitude would still lie in the “acting”!

         I have confessed to not having seen many of Jace’s movies but even if I forced myself to watch bucket-loads of them I deem it unlikely that I would find that he had “the charm of Danny Kaye, the magnetism of Marlon Brando and the acting genius of Laurence Olivier” as, in the TV sitcom Frasier, Niles Crane told his brother he Niles was regarded by his classmates as possessing when he appeared in school plays in his college days.

         Perceiving you as I do I know that you no more than I would condone movies being used to genuinely belittle or offend any demographic group in society but it’s possible that we would be being overly-dismissive if we were to regard bodies like the Women’s Film Critics Circle as “thought police”. There is apparently evidence on tape of Jace’s homophobic outburst and the lewd word on his forehead in Crank is I presume there for all to see, so those it seems are actions and not simply thoughts regardless of what weight we would actually personally place on such ‘transgressions’.

         PS Last night I put Stahtam out of my mind, forgot about Roger being put out of the Madrid Open and watched Morg and Diane Keaton in 5 Flights Up [aka Ruth and Alex]. You give it just a 51 % rating but I found it mildly entertaining and worth the goodish 62% credited to it on IMDB. Certainly Morgan has a flare for dry sarcastic humour.

         For example he is trying to sell his apartment and one viewer is being rude and hyper-critical about almost everything in the dwelling. At one point that viewer looks into a bedroom and says to Morg “YOU didn’t paint that room that awful colour, did you?” and Freeman replies “No – I was away one weekend and some guy broke in and painted it in my absence!”

         Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.