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Havoc | Review by: Gal Balaban


Havoc begins as a mixed bag, with a Tom Hardy character who never quite changes and feels like the same stoic, hungry for danger/pain hero he’s played before. The story and its setup also feels somewhat convoluted and surrounded by characters who aren’t that gripping.


However, after the first act, the action sequences become so complex and outrageous in their choreography, editing, and stunts, that they elevate the entire movie, including Hardy’s presence in it. The crime lord villains feel like caricatures, and Forest Whitaker’s performance is too over-the-top with hollow writing. Jessie Mei Li plays a great partner to Hardy’s cop, as is Timothy Olyphant as a more seasoned cop rivaling Hardy’s character. 


Two fight scenes, one in a nightclub and one in/outside a cabin, are so intricate, bloody, and exaggerated, and escalate so shockingly they’ll make your jaw drop and forgive many of the film’s shortcomings. However, that does take getting past a generic beginning (and bland Whitaker/Triad storylines) that doesn’t feel promising until those later battles suddenly kick in and make the ride worth it.


3.5/5


Review by: Gal Balaban 

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