Out of Reach (2004) (V)

Director:

Po-Chih Leong

Writer:

Trevor Miller (written by)

Release Date:

5 November 2004 (Romania)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

It's a split second between hit or miss.

Plot:

Billy Ray Lancing, a former covert agent turned survivalist, discovers that the foster program he is using to help a young girl is actually a human trafficking network. Lancing heads overseas to find the girl and shut down the operation.

Plot Keywords:

Orphanage | Chess | Brothel | United Nations | Illegal Trafficing

Cast

Steven Seagal	...	William Lansing
Ida Nowakowska	...	Irena Morawska
Agnieszka Wagner	...	Kasia Lato
Matt Schulze	...	Faisal
Krzysztof Pieczynski	...	Ibo
Robbie Gee	...	Lewis Morton
Murat Yilmaz	...	Azimi
Nick Brimble	...	Mister Elgin
Jan Plazalski	...	Nikki
Shawn Lawrence	...	Agent Shepherd
Hanna Dunowska	...	Rosie
Ola Hamkalo	...	Katya
Frank Hildebrandt	...	Postmaster (as Frank Hildebrand)
Klaudia Jakacka	...	Petra
Jan Janga-Tomaszewski	...	Uncle Pawel

Also Known As:

Poza zasiegiem (Poland)
The Rescue (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and some language.

Runtime:

Argentina:88 min

Country:

USA | Poland

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Germany:18 | Finland:K-15 | Iceland:16 | Sweden:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | New Zealand:R16 | Philippines:R-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Old Town, Warsaw, Poland

Company:

Franchise Pictures

Trivia:

During pre-production, this film was originally known as "The Rescue" and "The Package".

Goofs:

Continuity: The address on the envelope sent by Irena changes from the incorrect "Toronto, NO" to the correct "Toronto, ON" when delivered.

Quotes:

William Lancing: This is my favourit moment in life.
Faisal: What's that?
William Lancing: That's when the predator becomes the prey.
Faisal: Also my favourit moment, but it remains to be seen whose the predator and who is the prey.

A big improvement considering his recent previous features!

After the last two Seagal movies I saw, "Out to Kill" and the God-Awful "The Foreigner": I was pleasantly surprised by this offering. It seems that director Michael Oblowitz out of the way, (at least for now) Seagal movies may improve.

Of course, this is still a bad straight to video affair; in which the plot again is odd! William Lancing (Seagal) a former covert agent who now lives in some forest in the United States; looking after animals. He seems alone and his only form of friendship is (very disturbingly) his Pen Pal "friend"; a young girl through a Polish orphanage.

However, it becomes apparent that the foster orphanage is not what it seems. When the girl is taken out of the orphanage; the "pen pal" letter communication is intervened. Suspecting something is wrong and head to Poland to investigate! What follows from that plot; is actually return of Seagal's "best moves". I haven't seen Belly of the Beast fully yet; but after the two Oblowitz movies in 2003; this really seems as a "phase" on the correct track. Whether, it will bring Seagal back into the big screen and return to his glory "Warner Bros." days is doubtful. He still comes off as a sick old guy that has stunt doubles doing his work for him. But who knows?!

7/10 – A BIG IMPROVEMENT CONSIDERING HIS RECENT PREVIOUS FEATURES!