The Hard Corps (2006)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Sheldon Lettich

Writers (WGA):

Sheldon Lettich (written by) &
George Saunders (written by)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

Justice just hit the streets.

Plot:

An Army veteran assembles a team of bodyguards to protect a former boxer. Complications arise when the boxer suspects his sister may be romantically involved with the bodyguard.

Plot Keywords:

Bodyguard | Boxing | Fight | Corrupt Cop | Former Soldier

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Nov. 21

2:00 AM

USA

Cast

Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Phillippe Sauvage
Razaaq Adoti	...	Wayne Barclay (as Raz Adoti)
Vivica A. Fox	...	Tamara Barclay
Peter Bryant	...	Kendall Mullins
Ron Bottitta	...	Detective Teague
Viv Leacock	...	Terrell Singletery
Adrian Holmes	...	Cujo
Mark Griffin	...	Casey Bledsoe
Ron Selmour	...	Simcoe (as Ronald Selmour)
Aaron Au	...	Kim
Dexter Bell	...	High Dog
Julian Christopher	...	Clarence Bowden (as Julian D. Christopher)
Nneka Croal	...	Jessie Otero
Sharon Amos	...	Lydia
Doron Bell	...	Leonard (as Doron Bell Jr.)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

USA:110 min | Argentina:110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

USA:R | Finland:K-15 | Australia:MA | Argentina:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Brazil:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Italy:T | South Korea:18 | UK:15 | Netherlands:16 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Castel Film Studios, Bucharest, Romania

Company:

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Trivia:

Originally Steven Seagal was offered the leading role but he declined.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where Wayne Barclay has just had the second attempt on his life at his girlfriend Lydia's apartment, just as he's leaving, he has his arm around Lydia in the medium shots and is only holding her hand in the long shots. The arm position becomes noticeable because it cuts back and forth between medium and long shots a couple of times.

Quotes:

Tamara Barclay: Welcome to Wanye's world

Movie Connections:

References Cujo (1983)

Entertaining Van Damme/Lettich collaboration.

Hard Corps reunites Jean-Claude Van Damme with frequent collaborator Sheldon Lettich for the 4th time.The first time was 1991's Lionheart,followed by the classic Double impact,until 2001's interesting,but flawed The Order.Hard Corps is a nice return to form for the talented director who should clearly be making more movies than he has.

On one side we have battle-traumatized soldier Phillip Savuage(JCVD) who lands a gig as a bodyguard to a head-strong(but well to due) Boxer named Barclay(Raz Adoti) all the while answering to his sister played by Vivica Fox.Tensions arise when a Gangster with an army of thugs put away by Barclay is released from jail wanting serious payback.Can Savauge rise to occasion?

The production looks like a medium-budget movie.Good photography and locations add to the "american" look of the movie.

We get a lot of character detail.Some nice fights.especially the Savauge/Barclay throw-down.Some nice humor involving rap music form critic Savuage.A rather Macabe scene that revolves around the "feeding" of Singleterry's dogs.

HCs gives JCVD a fully rounded character for once.There is a nice sub-plot that is handled very well involving his character's battle record and misplaced guilt.He still has the chops that developed very well at the start of Replicant and shined through WoD.He is a way more subtle here though.Why can't Hollywood see this?

Vivica Fox is very commanding and reactive.Charming as well.She has some nice Chemistry with JCVD.Shame she does not get to go Kill Bill for a few scenes though.Raz Adoti is very likable as the Boxer-turned-entrepreneur.He gets better in every movie he is in. As gangster Singleterry Viv Leacock gets to set on the sidelines and bark orders and does not make that imposing of a villain.That part is left to the imposing Ron Selmore.The supporting cast is good.

The only real fault is that the action scenes are far and few between scenes.At 110 minutes you would think there would be more.A lot of opportunities end up wasted.I was expecting a little more myself after some of the stand-out action seen in Hell and WOD.

However no bad CGI Trains,helicopters,Jets,Moths,or bad slow-motion is nice for once.

7.5/10