I watched the original on Christmas night, and saw this a few days later….The original was incredible, i was kinda shocked how good it was, it was dark and ugly, well directed and shot, tension and desperation emits from every scene. Loved the cast, and the ending was perfect, bleak and unforgiving as the rest of the movie indicated.
The remake plays it a lot safer, and says different things about life, and people in general while keeping a lot of the originals broader plot points and themes….I really enjoyed the remake, it is a strong movie, with it's own merits. Walhberg's performance is a serious cut above any of his recent output, and may be a contender for his best role, if I am not forgetting too much of his earlier filmography. He has a different take on the character, but doesn't make it a bad one. John Goodman's performance was amazing, and I loved every second he was on screen, his monologue about the 'fukk you position' was brilliant writing and delivery, as well as his first meeting with Walhberg. I could write an entire other essay about Michael K. Wiliams as a character actor, in these type of movies. I will just say he was very good, but so limited by the script, and the way Hollywood writes these characters. Brie Larson, who I loved in 'Short Term 12' doesn't have much to do, or much conviction to do it with, and besides the ending, which I didn't care for mostly….her character was very unneeded. Her characters very purpose was not needed. The movie is well directed, and written, and keeps the tension and anxiety moving, aside from a few minor scenes, and classroom speeches by Walhberg, that could have been clipped.
What I didn't like, was much of the 'Hollywood' gloss about everything, esp. the criminals, the casino, the way K. Williams character was handled, the overly stylized touches of limousine convoys and vast warehouse torture chambers, the Asian thugs beating up Walhberg with Muy Thai or whatever that was, over stylized and too much. Goodman's character was by far the most grounded performance, and best portrayal of that world. Also, the end. If they didn't want to go bleak or dark….thats fine, but they pile on the cliches in the final act, and over bet their hand, by the last frame I was rolling my eyes….if it has ended just a second before, I would be less critical, but they hit on 19 and went way over. But, overall, it doesn't detract from a sleek but grimy drama thriller, with more then it appears to say about life, desperation, and 'fukk you' money.