Haywire (5/1/2012)

Rated R for some violence.

Starring Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum, Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas, Michael Fassbender and Bill Paxton

Directed by Steven Soderbergh

Mallory Kane (Gina Carano) is a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world. After successfully freeing a Chinese journalist held hostage, she is double crossed and left for dead by someone close to her in her own agency. Suddenly the target of skilled assassins who know her every move, Mallory must find the truth in order to stay alive. Using her black-ops military training, she devises an ingenious—and dangerous—trap. But when things go haywire, Mallory realizes she’ll be killed in the blink of an eye unless she finds a way to turn the tables on her ruthless adversary.

You say you never heard of Gina Carano? Well she is a MMA (mixed martial arts) fighter and kicks butt in the latest Steven Soderbergh film: Haywire. There were plenty of times I cringed watching Carano take a punch to the face or a kick to the midsection…then I remember, chances are she could easily take out any one of those movie stars.

Haywire is only 93 minutes long, but it’s 93 minutes of intense action and intrigue. Like other Soderbergh films, especially Traffic, Out of Sight and the Ocean films, the fast moving Haywire features a multitude of characters scattered over various locations. In its first 30 minutes or so the movie leaps between upstate New York; Washington, D.C.; San Diego; Barcelona, Spain; and Dublin, Ireland.

Also in common with other Soderbergh projects, Haywire has a huge cast. Actors clearly want to work with Soderbergh, and this time he brings together Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas, Ewan McGregor, Bill Paxton, Channing Tatum and Michael Douglas. And believe me, they are all fantastic…well Channing Tatum isn’t fantasic…but he is less annoying in this one – and he gets his butt kicked!!

The only real negative was Carano’s acting. But with all the action sequences it was easy to overlook this one shortcoming. I was pleasantly surprised, so I’m giving it a “Theater Worthy.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Although no sex or nudity is shown, it is implied in one scene. There are three s-words and one f-word. The movie is rated R, but even with the violence, it really is more like a PG-13 film.

Conversation Starter

1. In the film, Mallory Kane is betrayed by the agency she worked for. Have you ever been betrayed by someone? What happened?


2. How did it feel when you were betrayed?


3. How did Mallory respond? How did you respond?


4. Read John 13:18-30
   
   “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’

   “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

   After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.”

   His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

   Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

   Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

   “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

   
   How do you think Jesus felt when he was betrayed?

5. Read Matthew 26:47-50
   
   “And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.

   Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.”

   Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

   
   How do you think Judas felt when he heard Jesus call him “friend”?


6. We may betray Jesus on a daily basis, by our actions or words. So what message can we take away from this encounter?