12 ROUNDS

US, 2008, 108 minutes, Colour.
John Cena, Aiden Gillen, Ashley Scott, Steve Harris, Brian White.
Directed by Renny Harlin.

No, not a boxing or wrestling film – though it has been produced by a wrestling association because its star, John Cera, has been a professional wrestler. Nor is it a film, despite the title, about pub crawls. This is a police and crime thriller with stunts, chases, explosions and effects and a hero who is asked to be so alert that he is able to keep pace with a mastermind master criminal who sets his opponent 12 rounds of puzzles and a time limit to solve them, otherwise...

Actually, one of the most striking stars of the film is the city of New Orleans itself in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We see so many of the different neighbourhoods of the city which provide location and backdrop for the tasks.

The puzzles and solving them seem rather far-fetched. No, 'rather' is too subdued a word. They are very far-fetched. However, that is the point of the plot and of Renny Harlin's action-packed direction. Buildings are blown up. A fire engine careers through the street. The culmination takes place in a helicopter above the city. However, every review should mention a really exciting and well-filmed crisis: the breaks going on a streetcar which is full of passengers, rushing headlong along its tracks in the middle of the city with the policeman getting on the roof to try stop it by disconnecting the power. We can't help being and feeling on edge.

Harlin directed the second Die Hard film as well as Cliffhanger and The Long Kiss Goodnight so he knows how to do this kind of action no matter how wooden the hero, no matter how sneering and superior the villain (Aden Gillen), now matter how basic the script.

1.An action show? Rennie and his career and making this kind of film? The Die Hard style of film? For a wide audience?

2.The New Orleans settings, the extensive use of the city, the various neighbourhoods? The city coming alive as background to the action? The pounding musical score? The editing and pace, especially for the stunt work?

3.The introduction to Danny Fisher, at home with Molly? Their relationship? His role in the police force? His partnership with Hank? Riding together? The chance seeing of Miles Jackson and Erica? Turning round, the pursuit, the shootout, the crash? Erica’s death? Jackson’s arrest and his vowing vengeance?

4.The introduction to Miles Jackson, the set-up, the listening in, the FBI and the police checking on him? The man shooting him – and his having the bulletproof vest? The breaking of the bargain with the police? Jackson and his killing the man? His carefree attitude? His reputation, arms dealer? The extensive nature of his cruelty and barbaric killings? His presentation of himself, appearance, sensible, mad?

5.The year passing, Jackson escaping from jail? The contact with Danny Fisher? The set-up, bombing his house? Abducting his wife? His setting up the twelve rounds? The background scene where he showed his skill in chess, the way his mind worked?

6.Fisher and his personality, his concern? The threat to his brother’s firehouse? The burning bank? The deposit boxes? The explosives? The fire truck going to the waterfront?

7.The FBI agents, their background, personalities, clashing? Pursuing Jackson? Hank and his trying to find out more about him?

8.The elevator sequence, the large man? The short time, the elevator descending? Fisher getting out, the snapping of the cable? Jackson not being honest with the time?

9.The clues, Jackson’s phone calls? Fisher using his wits? Finding the portrait, the address on the back, his realising that the bus was the clue? On board, Molly, strapped with bombs? Jackson and his finger on the button? The getting out of the bus? Jackson taking Molly?

10.The FBI sniper? The failure? Miles taking Molly again? His threats and challenge?

11.The trolley car sequence, the people on board, the brakes going, the driver trying to control it? Fisher and the FBI agent in pursuit? The chase, trying to ring, being put on hold? Getting in front of the car, the crash? Fisher trying to get onto the roof, trying to disconnect the trolley from the electricity? The failure? The decision to crash into the main? The explosion and the power going off? The people safe?

12.Hank, the information about the associate of Jackson, their following him, into the factory? Jackson killing him?

13.Fisher and the assessment of the clues? Miles Jackson and his stealing from the bank? As the security guard, the disguise? Getting the money, killing the guards? Sending it out through the pipe and the water? Collecting it?

14.The helicopter, Molly and her piloting it? Fisher and the chase, leaping on? The struggle in the air? Molly keeping the helicopter steady? Fisher getting her to trust him? Their leaping out, into the swimming pool? Jackson and his being left on the helicopter, the explosion?

15.The happy resolution? The farfetched plot – but enjoyable for this kind of preposterous but entertaining action film?