Hounds of War

Hounds of War: This week’s usual routine sees us going through yet another Frank Grillo vehicle. While I’m joking, it really isn’t an exaggeration to say that Grillo is one of the most hard working actors in Hollywood today. He was cast in at least seven films in 2023 alone. Probably 2024 is going to be a bit calmer for him however usually he has ready for release several pictures.

Recently completed Mr. Grillo – Hounds of War, another in the lines of action drama, with which he currently has Ongoing from ace action director Issac Florentine. Any follower of the action movie genre should be thrilled about this collaboration since there is Florentine who has directed some of the best LTVDVD action features (now streaming too, feeling old here).

When the dedication is put into action classics like these Undisputed 2 and Ninja: Shadow of a Tear it’s when Florentine is at his best. Because of such quality work evidented in my recollection, I ventured into Hounds of War with great expectations. Would it be like the Undisputed films, or perhaps I was raising the bar too high again?

The short answer? Perhaps yes and no. However, Hounds of War does have some elements that truly are worth noting. For starters, this film is by far the best looking project that Florentine has ever handled. It is enhanced by the stunning Maltese locations but it still is Ericson Core’s cinematography which makes Hounds of War different from other Florentine while it had been in my eyes at least.

For action fans, Core’s contributions are likely well known; he was DOP for The Fast and the Furious and later on, for Daredevil. Of course he was theone to unleash upon this world Point Break (2015) and retell the story by Kathryn Bigelow. And this one was not as good as the first one, still, the visuals were quite something. Anyway, I admit I looked for Core’s credits so found them and that made this film more interesting than just another DTV release.

The action sequences are well-coordinated, thanks to the efforts made by Florentine and Core. One of the things that make Florentine such an action-oriented director is the ability to deal with action sequences, with this one being no exception. While the sheer sophistication of the on-screen action does not come anywhere close to that of his finest works, the quality of several fight scenes, gun battles, as well as vehicle chases is very good. There is no point in the film where it makes the viewer trailing to comprehend the reality of the visuals.

The major weaknesses of the movie are the one-dimensionality of the characters and the plain chores of beginning and ending the story. Even if Grillo passes as a good actor in the main role, there is a limit to how much he can salvage an ill-conceived role. At the very least, he gets more depth than the other actors. The other members of his team are introduced in such a hurried manner that later on, what happens to them lacks the desired emotional resonance.

Furthermore, the film starts quite far into the story and then contains a flashback explaining events up until that point. This works on the other hand in that it makes for a very exciting beginning, but also makes the dramatic tension dissipate because the audience understands that the character that is presented with such a flashback is unavoidable.

Martial arts enthusiasts must be warned that fans of the genre might also feel let down due to the importance placed on fighters such as JOey Ansah, Seydina Balde and Mark Strange. There is little doubt that from what we have seen of Ansah and Balde they can throw in some impressive moves but will soon have their screentime edited, as this is also the case of Strange. Fortunately however, they’ve still got a reason to wait, as Strange will play lead at bandaid in Kung Fu Games (2024). That film comes highly recommended to the extent that this gives the potential for Strange to move to bigger assignments going forward.

In the second half of the film, other martial arts actors including the always welcome Mike Moller, and the likeable Lee Charles make a showing. As with Sarah’s work, there is some back story to both characters but nothing too in-depth, although they do have some fun action, with Charles having a significant part in the car chase style conclusion of the film. As for Moller, it was good to see him during the film in a more important position since the last few films he has been films with more cameo type appearances. Though I would like to be able to see him take it even further, he at least gets to play quite a number of times with his nice skills to good use.

As already described, the last part contains mostly the action with cars, and in the so-called “hero” turns out to have kidnapped someone in a stolen ambulance. The car chase television series certainly employs the property Malta as a setting. The driving parts are separated by fight parts inside the ambulance where Rhona Mitra is fighting a secret police agent and a driver who is Lee Charles is being attacked from another side. This action sequence is fairly well crafted particularly as Mitra while being close up worked very well with the choreography.

What is remarkable in the end is how little time Grillo has in the courtroom. Certainly, this is far from his only scene filled with action during the duration of the film, but it does take you by surprise that the climax would be handed over to his co-stars. As always, Grillo maintains his excellent fitness level that is not only recommend for people of his age but also any fitness individual. He carries out the stunts though he tries to do it most of the time himself. Still, he does both pretty well – with guns and in unarmed combat. I just thought it would be the case that because he was the star, the final wouldn’t be left to his two co-stars. This is a minor quibble since the action is still compelling even if it wasn’t what I expected.

The stunts and action scene work helps to address certain pacing problems that plague the film. The pacing of the film is mediocre in action-spiced film making however there is a positioning that calls for this dulling of suspense in view of how the marketers feel this story should be delivered. Here, I must grant the film that it does take some risks that are useful to the progress of an average viewer. One slap on the face of the viewers comes from a scene where they witness Robert Patrick, that ever dependable actor, go hardcore in a bloody violent scene. It’s not that the scene is too gory, it is the casualness in which it is done that is disturbing.

Returning to Patrick, he appears to be yet another American actor in the series along with Grillo. Patrick for sure could do this role in his sleep and yet still deliver some intensity to the role he plays. Even though the character does not have much screen time, mostly barking orders to subordinates, He injects a certain degree of menace into his character. He is well supported by James Elder and the reliable Matthew Marsh, casted as the shady looking President of United States.

Hounds of War is not the game design I was dreaming about, but I had fun nevertheless. For Florentine’s fans, it will be appreciated that he went into action, even though this particular body of work may not measure up to his career best efforts. Perhaps his next film, which stars Dolph Lundgren with whom he worked on Bridge of Dragons (1999) alongside Stephen Lang and Harvey Keitel, Hellfire could be the one, letting any worries go. Also in the underutilized role of Johnny Yong Bosch also stars. I hope such opportunities would also be extended to him professionally where his martial arts skills would be needed.

What I can promise is that we will not be deprived for long of the sight of Grillo on the screen. Not that he has finished season 2 of Tulsa King (2022) which is currently being aired but also has Long Gone Heroes (2024) which was released with Hounds of War on the same date. That’s a lot of Grillo! Long Gone Heroes is the fifth project together with writer/director John Swab. I am looking forward seeing this movie as it would be a contrasting pattern from the ones they have treated us with.

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