Probably qualifies as JCVD's first actual "movie", or at least the first one with a budget above six figures or where he's not playing the karate tournament guy ('No Retreat, No Surrender', 'Bloodsport', 'Kickboxer'). Written by David S. Goyer (Yes, that David S. Goyer, his first sold screenplay), it's got clichés and contrivances galore, but it's also got flashes of wit rare for the genre and moves along at a brisk, fat free clip. Speaking of fat free, this is JCVD at the height of his JCVDness, and though his normal screen charm (and I mean that) is buttoned down here thanks to the prison setting, he brings the physical goods. Co-star Robert Guillaume helps class things up a bit and it's stylishly directed by the otherwise unremarkable Daren Sarafian ('Terminal Velocity'). Not a great film by even the loosest standards, but much better than you'd expect.
Review of Death Warrant
