Craig Zablo

The Pitch: ”Hey, let’s remake Agatha Christie’s ‘Ten Little Indians’ as a gritty thriller starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.”

“Are you kidding?  No one will come to see that.”

“They will if we cut the trailers to make it look like an action movie!”

“Let’s do it!”

The Tagline:  “Leave No Loose Ends”

The Overview:  Forget what you saw in the trailers… or at least what you think you saw.

The trailers made Sabotage appear as a movie about an elite team of DEA agents led by Arnold Schwarzenegger who take down a cartel kingpin.  In retaliation for the bust, the team is set up to look as if they stole $10 million of drug money and Arnold’s wife and son are kidnapped by the cartel.  Following the set-up of the trailer, we wonder if someone on the team stole the money and will the team go to Mexico and save Arnold’s wife and son.

Well… that’s not exactly what the movie is about.

*** Beware –  spoilers are found below ***

Arnold is the leader of an elite team of DEA agents, but we learn very quickly that his wife and son were kidnapped, tortured and killed by Mexican drug dealers months ago.  We then see Arnold lead his team into a major drug raid that is exciting and violent.  Before the rest of the DEA force is brought in, Arnold’s team steals and hides ten million dollars.

Things go sideways when Arnold’s team goes back to retrieve the money and it’s gone.  To make matters worse the DEA realizes ten million dollars is missing and Arnold’s crew is suspect.  In addition to dealing with everyone suspecting them of stealing the cash, Arnold’s team has to wonder if the cartel is on to them or if one of the team members took the loot.  The stakes are raised when one by one the team begins to turn up brutally murdered.

The Good

• David [Training Day, Street Kings] Ayer creates gritty cop thrillers and Sabotage is no exception.
• The supporting cast which includes Sam Worthington, Joe Manganiello, Josh Holloway, Terrence Howard, Max Martini, Mireille Enos and Olivia Williams are excellent.
• Sabotage gives us something different than expected.  I like that the trailer teased our expectations.
• The movie feels real.  It is full of violence, profane language, and takes us into a world where brutality and death are ways of life.  This isn’t an action movie where dozens of people get killed and the hero quips one-liners.
• I liked the ending.

The Bad:

• Some people are going to be put off by the violence and profanity.  From what I had heard I went in expecting it to be much worse than it was. [Not that I wanted more.]
• What happens when you cross drug dealers.
• What happens when you can no longer trust your team.

The Ugly:

• Parking on a train track.
• Hanging out on the ceiling.
• Not being able to see where you’re driving when you’re making an escape.

Rating: 4 out of 5