Attack Force (film)

Last updated
Attack Force
SSAtack Force.jpg
DVD cover
Directed byMichael Keusch
Written byJoe Halpin
Steven Seagal
Produced byJoe Halpin
Vlad Paunescu
Steven Seagal
Pierre Spengler
StarringSteven Seagal
Lisa Lovbrand
David Kennedy
CinematographySonja Rom
Edited byJonathan Brayley
Music byBarry Taylor
Production
companies
Distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release date
  • December 5, 2006 (2006-12-05)
Running time
95 minutes
CountriesUnited States
Romania
United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$12 million

Attack Force is a 2006 American science fiction action thriller film directed by Michael Keusch, and also written and produced by Steven Seagal, who also stars in the film. The film co-stars Lisa Lovbrand and David Kennedy. The film was released on direct-to-DVD in the United States on December 5, 2006. [1]

Contents

Plot

Marshall Lawson (Steven Seagal) is the commander of an elite U.S. military unit. During an overseas assignment in Paris, Lawson loses all three of his men in a seemingly random attack on their hotel room. He takes it upon himself to investigate the attack, with the help of his girlfriend Tia (Lisa Lovbrand) and his friend Dwayne (David Kennedy). Marshall uncovers CTX, a covert military drug so secret that an arm of the military headed by a man named Werner (Danny Webb) wants Marshall eliminated. Tia turns out to be one of the two military scientists who developed CTX.

Reina (Evelyne Armela O'Bami), the prostitute who slaughtered Marshall's team, was under the influence of CTX. The drug gives its users superhuman strength and agility, but also irrevocably drives them to violence. The other co-inventor of CTX is Aroon (Adam Croasdell), now a Paris night club owner. Aroon has plans to release the CTX into the Paris' water supply, which would turn the city's residents into deranged killers. Marshall, Tia, and Dwayne must stop Aroon and Werner before that happens.

Cast

Production

Filming took place at Castel Film Studios in Bucharest, Romania from January 7 to March 8, 2006.

When the film was first announced under the name Harvester, the plot description described a significantly different scenario than the one in the finished film; the villains were described as aliens with actress Ileana Lazariuc listed as "alien queen." In an email exchange between Seagalogy author Vern and co-writer Joe Halpin prior to the release of Attack Force, Halpin confirmed that although the movie had been written with a sci-fi element, it had been shot in two ways: one explained the villain's actions as the work of European mobsters, and the other explained them as the work of aliens. Asked if the alien plot elements would be present in the final cut, Halpin answered "Who knows," explaining that the producers and Seagal would come to an agreement in post-production. [2] In the finished film, the villains are explained to be gangsters, and no reference is made to any extraterrestrial origin.

Critics and fans have speculated that leaving the nature of the story unresolved during principal photography led to the pervasive use of other actors overdubbing dialogue (particularly Seagal's) that occurs in the finished film. Seagal's 2005 film Submerged appears to have undergone a similar post-production process. [2]

Apparently Seagal and the director did not get along during production [3]

Reception

David Nusair of Reel Film Reviews called it, "flat-out unwatchable," and "egregiously shoddy," claiming, "even the most ardent Seagal fan would be hard-pressed to sit through this monstrosity of a production in just one sitting." [4] Seagalogy author Vern noted "[Seagal] does a bare minimum, the lowest amount he can get away with and still seem like the star. Not much fighting, not always appearing (or speaking) in his own scenes, no speeches," but goes on to note, "...I don’t agree that it’s his worst," comparing it favorably to Seagal's previous film (also directed by Michael Keusch), 2006's Shadow Man . [2]

Several reviewers complained about the perceived slapdash nature of the film, in particular the extensive use of an obvious voice double overdubbing much of the dialogue from Seagal. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Seagal</span> American actor, martial artist, and filmmaker (born 1952)

Steven Frederic Seagal is an American-born actor, screenwriter, and martial artist. A 7th-dan black belt in aikido, he began his adult life as a martial arts instructor in Japan and eventually ended up running his father-in-law's dojo. He later moved to Los Angeles where he had the same profession. In 1988, Seagal made his acting debut in Above the Law. By 1991, he had starred in four films. Seagal also holds Serbian and Russian citizenship.

<i>Under Siege</i> 1992 film by Andrew Davis

Under Siege is a 1992 American action thriller film directed by Andrew Davis, written by J. F. Lawton, and starring Steven Seagal as a former Navy SEAL who must intercept a group of mercenaries, led by Tommy Lee Jones, after they commandeer the U.S. Navy battleship Missouri.

<i>On Deadly Ground</i> 1994 film

On Deadly Ground is a 1994 American environmental action adventure film directed, co-produced by, and starring Steven Seagal, and co-starring Michael Caine, Joan Chen, John C. McGinley and R. Lee Ermey. It is Seagal's only directorial effort and features a minor appearance by Billy Bob Thornton in one of his early roles. Seagal plays Forrest Taft, an expert firefighter who chooses to fight back against the environmental destruction caused by his ruthless former employer (Caine).

<i>Under Siege 2: Dark Territory</i> 1995 American film

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory is a 1995 American action thriller film directed by Geoff Murphy, starring Steven Seagal as the ex-Navy SEAL, Casey Ryback. Set on board a train traveling through the Rocky Mountains from Denver to Los Angeles, it is the sequel to the 1992 film Under Siege also starring Seagal. The title refers to the railroading term that the subject train was travelling through dark territory, a section of railroad track that has no train signals and in which communications between train dispatchers and the railroad engineers were impossible.

<i>War of the Worlds</i> (2005 film) 2005 American film by Steven Spielberg

War of the Worlds is a 2005 American science fiction action thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Josh Friedman and David Koepp, based on H. G. Wells' 1898 novel, The War of the Worlds. It stars Tom Cruise in the main role, Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto and Tim Robbins, with narration by Morgan Freeman. It follows an American dock worker who must look after his children, from whom he lives separately, as he struggles to protect them and reunite them with their mother when extraterrestrials invade Earth and devastate cities with giant war machines.

<i>The Scorpion King</i> 2002 film by Chuck Russell

The Scorpion King is a 2002 American sword and sorcery action adventure film directed by Chuck Russell, starring Dwayne Johnson in the title role, Steven Brand, Kelly Hu, Grant Heslov and Michael Clarke Duncan. It is both a prequel and spin-off of The Mummy franchise and launched The Scorpion King film series. The film marks Johnson's first lead role. It received mixed reviews and grossed $180.6 million worldwide against the production budget of $60 million.

<i>Submerged</i> (2005 film) 2005 American film

Submerged is a 2005 American action film directed by Anthony Hickox, who also wrote it with Paul de Souza and produced with Michael P. Flannigan, Daphne Lerner and David Varod. The film stars Steven Seagal, William Hope, Vinnie Jones and Christine Adams. The film was released on direct-to-DVD in the United States on May 31, 2005.

<i>Into the Sun</i> (2005 film) 2005 film

Into the Sun is a 2005 action film directed by Christopher Morrison and starring Steven Seagal, Matthew Davis, Takao Osawa, Eddie George, Juliette Marquis, and William Atherton.

<i>Shadow Man</i> (2006 film) 2006 American film

Shadow Man is a 2006 American action thriller film directed by Michael Keusch, and also written and produced by Steven Seagal, who also starred in the film. The film co-stars Eva Pope, Imelda Staunton and Garrick Hagon. The film was released on direct-to-DVD in the United States on June 6, 2006.

<i>The Patriot</i> (1998 film) 1998 American action thriller film

The Patriot is a 1998 American action thriller film directed by Dean Semler. Starring Steven Seagal, the film is loosely based on the novel The Last Canadian by William C. Heine. Seagal's first direct-to-video film, it features him as a local doctor and former immunologist who races against time to find a cure for an active viral outbreak, the origins of which trace back to a militia leader who injected himself with a deadly virus.

<i>Ben 10</i> (2005 TV series) American animated series

Ben 10 is an American animated series created by Man of Action, produced by Cartoon Network Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television. The series is about a 10-year-old boy named Ben Tennyson who gets a watch-style alien device called the "Omnitrix". Attached to his wrist, it allows him to transform into 10 different alien creatures with different abilities, allowing him to fight evil from Earth and space with his cousin Gwen and grandfather Max. The series first aired on Cartoon Network as a sneak peek on December 27, 2005, as part of "Sneak Peek Week", airing alongside other shows, including My Gym Partner's a Monkey, Robotboy and Zixx. It later became a full series airing from January 13, 2006 to April 15, 2008.

<i>Starship Troopers 3: Marauder</i> 2008 film by Edward Neumeier

Starship Troopers 3: Marauder is a 2008 American military science fiction horror film written and directed by Edward Neumeier and starring Casper Van Dien, who returned as Johnny Rico from the original film, along with Jolene Blalock and Boris Kodjoe. It is a sequel to Starship Troopers (1997) and Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation (2004) and the third installment of the Starship Troopers film series. The film was released directly to video in the U.S. on August 5, 2008. It received negative reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

<i>Flight of Fury</i> 2007 American film

Flight of Fury is a 2007 American action thriller film directed by Michael Keusch, and starring Steven Seagal, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Halpin. The film co-stars Steve Toussaint, Angus MacInnes and Mark Bazeley. The film was released direct-to-DVD in the United States on February 20, 2007.

<i>Pistol Whipped</i> 2008 American action film

Pistol Whipped is a 2008 American action film directed by Roel Reiné. The film stars Steven Seagal, and was released on direct-to-DVD in the United States on March 4, 2008.

<i>A Dangerous Man</i> 2009 American film

A Dangerous Man is a 2009 American direct-to-DVD crime action film directed by Keoni Waxman. It stars Steven Seagal as an ex soldier released from prison after spending six years locked up for a crime he did not commit.

<i>Hunt to Kill</i> 2010 Canadian film

Hunt to Kill is a 2010 Canadian-American direct-to-video action film starring Steve Austin, Gil Bellows, and Eric Roberts.

<i>Attack the Block</i> 2011 British film directed by Joe Cornish

Attack the Block is a 2011 British science fiction comedy horror film written and directed by Joe Cornish and starring John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker, and Nick Frost. It was the film debut of Cornish, Boyega, and composer Steven Price.

<i>Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens</i> 2012 television film directed by Victor Cook

Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens is an American computer-animated superhero television film that premiered on Cartoon Network Asia on March 11, 2012, and in the United States on Cartoon Network March 23, 2012, as part of "Ben 10 Week" which ran from March 19, 2012 – March 24, 2012. The events of the film take place after the final episode of the series. It was officially unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con International 2011. This is Cartoon Network Asia's first film in collaboration with Cartoon Network Studios. It is considered the official three-part finale of the 2005 animated series.

<i>Jurassic Shark</i> 2012 Canadian film

Attack of the Jurassic Shark is a 2012 Canadian independent action horror-thriller film project directed by Brett Kelly. It parodies two Steven Spielberg-directed films at once: Jaws and Jurassic Park.

<i>Skyscraper</i> (2018 film) 2018 film by Rawson Marshall Thurber

Skyscraper is a 2018 American action thriller film written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. Produced by Legendary Pictures, Seven Bucks Productions and FlynnPictureCo., the film stars Dwayne Johnson in the lead role, Neve Campbell, Chin Han, Roland Møller, Noah Taylor, Byron Mann, Pablo Schreiber, and Hannah Quinlivan. In the film, Will Sawyer, a former FBI agent, must rescue his family from a newly built Hong Kong skyscraper, the tallest in the world, after terrorists set the building on fire in an attempt to extort the property developer. The first non-comedy of Thurber's career, it also marks his second collaboration with Johnson, following Central Intelligence (2016).

References

  1. 1 2 "Attack Force (2006)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Vern (December 14, 2006). "Attack Force". Outlawvern.com. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  3. "Steven Seagal Threatened to Stab Director Michael Keusch - ManlyMovie". 9 July 2015.
  4. Nusair, David (March 12, 2007). "Three Action Films from Sony". Reelfilm.com. Retrieved October 20, 2016.