Author: George
From: Atlanta
Title: Worthy Adversary
Directed by: Joe Carnahan
Written by: Joe Carnahan
Music: Marc Streitenfeld
Cinematography: Ben Richardson
Production Design: Karl Juliusson
Editor: Chris Innis
Cast:
Elias Koteas as John Craven
Michael B. Jordan as Marcus “Dog” Reynolds
Jamal Woolard as Motown
Tagline: “In the unlikeliest place, find your destiny. Find yourself.”
Synopsis:
The doors clang open and shut with a thunderous echo. Yelling, screaming, and beatings can all be heard with equal shattering intensity. These people have a thirst for revenge and freedom that can only come through bloodshed. What is happening is a prison riot in D block, where the most dangerous criminals are kept. The under-staffed security squad in charge of controlling the prisoners is under massive attack. We suddenly come upon a tearful guard while a prisoner towers over him with a gun to his head. The guard pleads for his life, but the prisoner remains dominant. A gunshot is heard.
This is a culmination of events that has been 2 years in the making. Back then, a new prison guard, John Craven, was introduced to D block as a lowly mailman. Even though his duties were not supposed to cover prisoner punishment, he was often forced to fend for himself when it came to confrontations with prisoners. Also new to the prison is young Marcus “Dog” Reynolds, who has just been put in D block for eight years with his third drug offense. Because of his race and lowly socioeconomic standing, not only has he received the harshest punishment from the justice system, but is also continually beaten by established gang members in the prison as well.
After an eye-opening account of violence on both sides of the law, Craven tries to strike a deal with Reynolds, who he has consistently given his mail too. After he saves Reynolds from an attempted beating, Craven tells him his plan to put both of them on top of their respective totem poles. They will simultaneously help spawn a massive prison riot, one in which the gang leader of the prison will be killed by Reynolds, and the conflict supposedly stabilized by Craven, makes the warden lose his job in the process. Reynolds, too desperate to say no, agrees with Craven’s plan, even if it means extra jail time.
When the riot actually occurs, everything goes smoothly on both sides until Craven and Reynolds confront the head gang leader. Reynolds, unable to kill another person, steps away from his agreed duty. Craven, unable to accept Reynolds’ answer and his own continued position at the bottom of the social ladder, kills the gang leader himself, and then sets up Reynolds as the actual killer. Reynolds is now deemed prison royalty after his “killing” of the head gang leader (even if it meant 10 more years in prison) and Craven takes over the former warden’s position for “heroically” ending the feud. Both agree to make inside deals on their sides in order to maintain a balance of power beneficial to them both.
An ongoing cat-and-mouse game evolves between Craven and Reynolds in terms of ultimate power of the prisoners, which eventually leads to Craven weakening to Reynolds’ tactics. As this precarious balance of power reaches the boiling point in terms of discipline on both sides, Craven utilizes his most powerful card in the deck, and shows Reynolds something he never thought of: a stack of letters from his former girlfriend. Craven reveals that right as Reynolds came to prison, his girlfriend found out she was pregnant and consequently had his child. He kept this to himself in order to manipulate Reynolds to act out his plan two years earlier. Reynolds, struck with anger and tears, vows to gain revenge on Craven, to which Craven scoffs. Without Craven, Reynolds would not have his power, and vice versa, and not even knowledge of his child. They need each other to survive in this place.
However, another prison riot ensues soon afterward and Craven and Reynolds are pitted against each other in the open. Suddenly, in the midst of all the chaos, Craven bursts into tears, pouring his soul out to the armed Reynolds. He admits he is a sorry excuse for a man, too vain to see those around him suffering. He knows that saying sorry means nothing anymore, but that he is anyway; all he asks is for his life to be spared. Reynolds, tears welling up also in a mix of rage and pity, can’t kill him. But right as he lowers his gun, another prisoner suddenly shoots from behind Craven. Reynolds is left with his body, too tired to move. We then see him waiting in a cell to provide testimony about Craven’s actions as he writes a letter to his girlfriend and child, both of who have answered an earlier letter he sent.
Awards Campaign:
It seems more common than ever that gritty, indie films have claimed the top prize at the Oscars. Movies like No Country for Old Men, Slumdog Millionaire, and The Hurt Locker have shown that the critical favorite can take over the Academy’s minds as well. Now director Joe Carnahan brings another serious contender to the table with the gripping Worthy Adversary, a film that is as taut as it is thought provoking with two exceptional lead performances.
And the two leads, veteran Elias Koteas and rising star Michael B. Jordan give heart-wrenching and totally believable performances. It’s a credit to both that the drama never reaches melodrama or hysterics with Koteas’ trademark subtlety and Jordan’s charisma both played to perfection. Koteas is able to show incredible range by slowly turning into a villain while Jordan sheds his movie-star persona in the first third in order to show the hurt young man taken advantage of by both sides of the law. Jamal Woolard is equally effective as the reigning prison boss, Motown, in the beginning of the film.
Carnahan has finally realized the potential he showed with the electric Narc and his renaissance feature The Grey. Everything in the movie is ripe with danger and drama, much credit needing to go to cinematographer Ben Richardson and editor Chris Innis. Both of their experiences for Beasts of the Southern Wild and The Hurt Locker, respectively, meld perfectly with Carnahan’s raw script and directorial style. It’s exciting, tough, and ultimately rewarding.
But the film rises above its popcorn-style plot to explore the relationship between the two leads, one that would seem impossible anywhere else. Using prison as more than a metaphor for second chances (which it does well), it explores the notion of finding out who you really are in a place where your past doesn’t matter and is instrumental to your status simultaneously. In fact, Carnahan suggests a kind of cosmic linking between the two men, not only because of their need for power, but their yearning for companionship in a place where friends are more unlikely than freedom. One of the best films of the year.
FYC:
Best Picture
Best Actor (Elias Koteas)
Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan)
Best Director (Joe Carnahan)
Best Original Screenplay (Joe Carnahan)
Best Score
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Sound
From: Atlanta
Title: Worthy Adversary
Directed by: Joe Carnahan
Written by: Joe Carnahan
Music: Marc Streitenfeld
Cinematography: Ben Richardson
Production Design: Karl Juliusson
Editor: Chris Innis
Cast:
Elias Koteas as John Craven
Michael B. Jordan as Marcus “Dog” Reynolds
Jamal Woolard as Motown
Tagline: “In the unlikeliest place, find your destiny. Find yourself.”
Synopsis:
The doors clang open and shut with a thunderous echo. Yelling, screaming, and beatings can all be heard with equal shattering intensity. These people have a thirst for revenge and freedom that can only come through bloodshed. What is happening is a prison riot in D block, where the most dangerous criminals are kept. The under-staffed security squad in charge of controlling the prisoners is under massive attack. We suddenly come upon a tearful guard while a prisoner towers over him with a gun to his head. The guard pleads for his life, but the prisoner remains dominant. A gunshot is heard.
This is a culmination of events that has been 2 years in the making. Back then, a new prison guard, John Craven, was introduced to D block as a lowly mailman. Even though his duties were not supposed to cover prisoner punishment, he was often forced to fend for himself when it came to confrontations with prisoners. Also new to the prison is young Marcus “Dog” Reynolds, who has just been put in D block for eight years with his third drug offense. Because of his race and lowly socioeconomic standing, not only has he received the harshest punishment from the justice system, but is also continually beaten by established gang members in the prison as well.
After an eye-opening account of violence on both sides of the law, Craven tries to strike a deal with Reynolds, who he has consistently given his mail too. After he saves Reynolds from an attempted beating, Craven tells him his plan to put both of them on top of their respective totem poles. They will simultaneously help spawn a massive prison riot, one in which the gang leader of the prison will be killed by Reynolds, and the conflict supposedly stabilized by Craven, makes the warden lose his job in the process. Reynolds, too desperate to say no, agrees with Craven’s plan, even if it means extra jail time.
When the riot actually occurs, everything goes smoothly on both sides until Craven and Reynolds confront the head gang leader. Reynolds, unable to kill another person, steps away from his agreed duty. Craven, unable to accept Reynolds’ answer and his own continued position at the bottom of the social ladder, kills the gang leader himself, and then sets up Reynolds as the actual killer. Reynolds is now deemed prison royalty after his “killing” of the head gang leader (even if it meant 10 more years in prison) and Craven takes over the former warden’s position for “heroically” ending the feud. Both agree to make inside deals on their sides in order to maintain a balance of power beneficial to them both.
An ongoing cat-and-mouse game evolves between Craven and Reynolds in terms of ultimate power of the prisoners, which eventually leads to Craven weakening to Reynolds’ tactics. As this precarious balance of power reaches the boiling point in terms of discipline on both sides, Craven utilizes his most powerful card in the deck, and shows Reynolds something he never thought of: a stack of letters from his former girlfriend. Craven reveals that right as Reynolds came to prison, his girlfriend found out she was pregnant and consequently had his child. He kept this to himself in order to manipulate Reynolds to act out his plan two years earlier. Reynolds, struck with anger and tears, vows to gain revenge on Craven, to which Craven scoffs. Without Craven, Reynolds would not have his power, and vice versa, and not even knowledge of his child. They need each other to survive in this place.
However, another prison riot ensues soon afterward and Craven and Reynolds are pitted against each other in the open. Suddenly, in the midst of all the chaos, Craven bursts into tears, pouring his soul out to the armed Reynolds. He admits he is a sorry excuse for a man, too vain to see those around him suffering. He knows that saying sorry means nothing anymore, but that he is anyway; all he asks is for his life to be spared. Reynolds, tears welling up also in a mix of rage and pity, can’t kill him. But right as he lowers his gun, another prisoner suddenly shoots from behind Craven. Reynolds is left with his body, too tired to move. We then see him waiting in a cell to provide testimony about Craven’s actions as he writes a letter to his girlfriend and child, both of who have answered an earlier letter he sent.
Awards Campaign:
It seems more common than ever that gritty, indie films have claimed the top prize at the Oscars. Movies like No Country for Old Men, Slumdog Millionaire, and The Hurt Locker have shown that the critical favorite can take over the Academy’s minds as well. Now director Joe Carnahan brings another serious contender to the table with the gripping Worthy Adversary, a film that is as taut as it is thought provoking with two exceptional lead performances.
And the two leads, veteran Elias Koteas and rising star Michael B. Jordan give heart-wrenching and totally believable performances. It’s a credit to both that the drama never reaches melodrama or hysterics with Koteas’ trademark subtlety and Jordan’s charisma both played to perfection. Koteas is able to show incredible range by slowly turning into a villain while Jordan sheds his movie-star persona in the first third in order to show the hurt young man taken advantage of by both sides of the law. Jamal Woolard is equally effective as the reigning prison boss, Motown, in the beginning of the film.
Carnahan has finally realized the potential he showed with the electric Narc and his renaissance feature The Grey. Everything in the movie is ripe with danger and drama, much credit needing to go to cinematographer Ben Richardson and editor Chris Innis. Both of their experiences for Beasts of the Southern Wild and The Hurt Locker, respectively, meld perfectly with Carnahan’s raw script and directorial style. It’s exciting, tough, and ultimately rewarding.
But the film rises above its popcorn-style plot to explore the relationship between the two leads, one that would seem impossible anywhere else. Using prison as more than a metaphor for second chances (which it does well), it explores the notion of finding out who you really are in a place where your past doesn’t matter and is instrumental to your status simultaneously. In fact, Carnahan suggests a kind of cosmic linking between the two men, not only because of their need for power, but their yearning for companionship in a place where friends are more unlikely than freedom. One of the best films of the year.
FYC:
Best Picture
Best Actor (Elias Koteas)
Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan)
Best Director (Joe Carnahan)
Best Original Screenplay (Joe Carnahan)
Best Score
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Sound