Armored (2009) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

USA 2009
Director: Nimród Antal
Cast: Columbus Short, Matt Dillon, Laurence Fishburne, Amaury Nolasco, Milo Ventimiglia, Skeet Ulrich, Jean Reno
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: 4 December 2009
Running Time: 1 hour 28 minutes

The Movie Review

Armored film still 1


ARMORED
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

Carrying a load of money from one place to another sure is a job that needs full dedication from the transporter, which includes honesty. You trust the wrong person, you're screwed. That's basically the premise of Armored. An action film which I looked forward into seeing it mostly not because of the moth-eaten old premise but because of the director. His previous film, a horror, Vacancy (2007), surely thrilling with fast pacing. And by looking at the cast which comprises of many well-known actors, I surely had hoped Armored would be a quick action-fix for lazy afternoon.

Ty Hackett (Columbus Short) is an Iraq war veteran who deeply despises his past for killing many innocent people. He is now trying to work as a member of Eagle Shield security, a company that transports money in huge sum. Ty is taken under the wings of Mike Cochrane (Matt Dillon), an old friend of Ty's dad. Both of them work in the same team with Baines (Laurence Fishburne), Palmer (Amaury Nolasco), Quinn (Jean Reno), and Dobbs (Skeet Ulrich). But though Ty's work is involving a lot of money he's positively broke with her house in jeopardy to be taken by a bank that ironically he's securing the money for and his little brother with a possibility to be taken to foster care. One night, Mike asks him to steal the money on tomorrow delivery from the Federal Reserve to the local banks along with the team. It's a quick fix for Ty's financial problem but it also comes with harsh consequences. What will Ty do?

Armored is a heist film written by first time screenwriter James V. Simpson. And for his first work, I could say that he's got potential though Armored comes with several flaws. The pacing feels slow at first with the purpose to get us to know the characters better, and this part could be trimmed more, seeing that it's not very interesting after all. The action mostly takes place in one area, an abandoned still mill which unfortunately a very very (and very) boring place to see. Armored is basically a game of chess with each opposing faction trying to outsmart one another, with a scene probably inspired by Entrapment (1999) and some scenes reminded me of MacGyver's. If you're hoping to see many gunfights and explosion, you would be highly disappointed. If only the script had contained light humor and more interesting characters such as Wesley Snipes' 7 Seconds (2005), then Armored would've been more enjoyable. And if not for Laurence Fishburne's character who injects 'life' into relationship, this action movie would be even duller. It's a waste that those great actors were put for minimum effect, but Columbus Short could handle his role neatly.

The sad thing is, the trailer already gives away everything! The twist, the important scenes, even the ending, Everything! So I suggest that you don't watch the trailer if you want to see Armored. Although I advice you find the cheapest way to see the movie.