A MAN APART — * 1/2 — Vin Diesel, Larenz Tate, Timothy Olyphant, Geno Silva, Jacqueline Obradors, Juan Fernandez, Steve Eastin, George Sharperson; rated R (violence, profanity, gore, drugs, nudity, racial epithets, vulgarity, brief sex); see "Playing at local movie theaters" for complete listing of local theaters."A Man Apart" is the type of movie we're used to seeing star someone like Steven Seagal. Or Charles Bronson, when he was in his prime.
However, when Vin Diesel appears in something this unpleasant, this moronic, it makes the film seem even worse than it is. If that's what he wants to do with his career, fine. But it was just a year ago or so that he seemed destined for bigger and considerably better stuff than this.
Also, unlike most of Diesel's movies so far, this is really "hard" R-rated fare. Not only is it mean-spirited, it's also graphically violent (including violence against women). And it could be accused of sending out a rather distasteful message about the benefits of vigilante-style action.
"A Man Apart" is a revenge thriller with Diesel as Sean Vetters, a former L.A. gang member who is now a decorated officer with the Drug Enforcement Agency. He and his fellow officers have just taken down Memo Lucero (Geno Silva), a Mexican drug baron who has sworn vengeance.
So, when Vetters is attacked and his wife (Jacqueline Obradors) is killed, you can guess who Vetters goes after. But the imprisoned drug lord feigns innocence, claiming that in his absence, a new, even more violent gang, led by someone known only as Diablo, is moving in on his territory.
Vetters begins using tips from his former enemy, who has also suffered a tragedy, as he steps up attacks on Diablo. Unfortunately, that puts him at odds with Demetrius (Larenz Tate), his former partner, who wonders if his friend is going too far for "justice."
As awful as the material is here, it's fairly well directed by F. Gary Gray, whose taut pacing helps conceal some of the bigger holes in the story — but not the completely unsurprising plot twist at the end.
This is not one of Diesel's better performances, either. No wonder Tate seems to be looking for the exit.
"A Man Apart" is rated R for graphic scenes of violence (shootings, stabbings, explosive mayhem and a particularly brutal beating), frequent use of strong sex-related profanity, graphic gore, drugs (scenes of cocaine manufacturing, as well as some marijuana use), nudity (veiled female nudity and some nude artwork), occasional use of racial epithets and crude sexual slang terms, and some brief sexual contact. Running time: 109 minutes.
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