<p>Wild Card<br /><br />English (A) **<br /><br />Cast: Jason Statham, Stanley Tucci, Sofia Vergara, Milo Ventimiglia <br /><br />Director: Simon West<br /><br />It’s got the punch, but lacks panache. In essence, Wild Card is an exercise in futility. <br /><br /></p>.<p>A jaded thriller styled on noir genre, Wild Card is vacuous, trying to showcase Jason Statham’s strengths. The fights are aplenty, and Statham does justice to his billing. <br /><br />However, the film turns out to be a date with deja vu. Like Statham’s Nick Wilde — who goes about in a lackadaisical manner — Wild Card lacks verve.<br /><br />Based on William Goldman’s Heat, the film has Statham trying to put his life back on track, weaning himself from gambling addiction. But an irresistible paycheck offered by a jackass billionaire to chauffer him around Las Vegas sees him suck up to it. <br /><br />A man with quicksilver hands — with implements like credit card, spoon and fork — Statham is forced to pack a few punches, especially when gangster Danny Demarco roughs up his girlfriend. She wants to get the man’s b…s as revenge for her near-death experience.<br /><br />Despite its nuanced narrative structure and Statham’s heroics, Wild Card is a desultory outing. </p>
<p>Wild Card<br /><br />English (A) **<br /><br />Cast: Jason Statham, Stanley Tucci, Sofia Vergara, Milo Ventimiglia <br /><br />Director: Simon West<br /><br />It’s got the punch, but lacks panache. In essence, Wild Card is an exercise in futility. <br /><br /></p>.<p>A jaded thriller styled on noir genre, Wild Card is vacuous, trying to showcase Jason Statham’s strengths. The fights are aplenty, and Statham does justice to his billing. <br /><br />However, the film turns out to be a date with deja vu. Like Statham’s Nick Wilde — who goes about in a lackadaisical manner — Wild Card lacks verve.<br /><br />Based on William Goldman’s Heat, the film has Statham trying to put his life back on track, weaning himself from gambling addiction. But an irresistible paycheck offered by a jackass billionaire to chauffer him around Las Vegas sees him suck up to it. <br /><br />A man with quicksilver hands — with implements like credit card, spoon and fork — Statham is forced to pack a few punches, especially when gangster Danny Demarco roughs up his girlfriend. She wants to get the man’s b…s as revenge for her near-death experience.<br /><br />Despite its nuanced narrative structure and Statham’s heroics, Wild Card is a desultory outing. </p>
