Dredd (2012)
Director: Pete Travis
Starring: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey, Domhnall Gleeson
Primary genre: Action
Secondary genre: Science fiction
A modernized version of the 2000 AD comic, “Dredd” boasts the talent of writer Alex Garland (“28 Days Later“ (2002), “Sunshine“ (2007)) this time around aiming to distinguish itself from the ill fated (but fun) live action adaptation that saw Sylvester Stallone in the titular role back in 1995.
Garland chose to remain faithful to the spirit of the comic material wisely avoiding the traps of cinematic universes and a constant need for world building, employing a simplistic plot that restrains the action in a single location. Drawing similarities with Gareth Evan’s “The Raid” (2011), the film is like an extended set piece that occasionally slows down to give the audience some room to breath. Director Pete Travis stages efficiently several violent skirmishes between the Judges and the Ma-Ma clan that bear a slight John Woo touch but the small budget does not offer rich shoot-outs which might drive away purist action junkies.
Yet, incorporating the visually stunning slo-mo sequences that bear a poetic beauty of violence depiction elevate “Dredd” above your average action flicks. Travis does his best in visual story-telling in similar fashion to George Miller succeeding to incorporate elements that describe effectively characters and situations without a single word mirroring subtly problematic aspects of our reality. Embedded with a surprising sense of nihilism which might diminish any emotional depth for our protagonistic juggernaut, Dredd’s new protégé (Judge Anderson) does reflect the audience’s emotional core who essential grows during a most unusual situation ignoring moral based questions and thus remaining true to the spirit of the comic.
Despite the presence of glorified archetypes, these are brushed with a fresh cinematic paint that provides appropriate characterizations that seem relevant (and believable) within the film’s mythology but those who seek further development leave your expectations at the door. And when the time for the final confrontation arrives, it is a rather quick resolution due to the lack of a genuinely threatening villain. Lena Headey, a fantastic actress, is unfortunately not given enough material to work with in the anemic role of Ma-Ma lacking any standout scenes and most of the time she is being reduced to a staring bystander.
Nevertheless, the biggest strength of the film lies though in Karl Urban. Embodying Dredd perfectly, this is the role of a lifetime for the beloved Kiwi. He not only looks the part but makes the role his own providing excellent body language and voice tones. Delivering minimal dialogue with a twisted sense of humor, he shares great chemistry with Olivia Thirlby’s Judge Anderson as a black-and-white instructor in moments that involve sudden death, who could have been portrayed as a damsel in distress, but instead the script puts her as one of the finest female badasses in history. Their clashes with several henchmen are complemented nicely by the fitting industrial score of Paul Leonard-Morgan which provides steady musical momentum in every frame and has become since the release of the film, a collector’s item.
Relying on a career-best performance by Urban, “Dredd” pulls no punches with satisfying violence, witty one liners and an array of beautiful shots. It may lack expensive special effects and entertaining villains, but it gets the job done by respecting the source material, having a committed cast, a brilliant score and solid visual storytelling. Justice has been served.
Judgment day has come
+Urban as Dredd is perfection
+Thirbly is also great
+No damsell in distress
+Slo-mo sequences are a thing of beauty
+Perfect soundtrack
+Believable future
+Straightforward story
-Straightforward story
-Nothing new action wise
-Not enough Headey