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Justice

5/10

Stars: Nicolas Cage, January Jones, Guy Pearce, Xander Berkeley, Jason Davis, IronE Singleton, Harold Perrineau, Joe Chrest, Jennifer Carpenter, Mike Pniewski

Director: Roger Donaldson

A pretty silly - but entertaining - thriller that posits the idea that there's a vigilante organisation out there that bumps off murderers and rapists at the behest of the victims or their relatives. Of course, there's a price to pay: the recipient of this free 'favour' soon has to perform an assassination at the organisation's demands.

Finding himself in just such a situation, English teacher Will Gerard (Cage), incensed after his wife (Jones) is raped, succumbs to the supplications of sinister Simon (Pearce), whose previous 'client' duly exterminates the rapist.

Six months later, Will receives orders to 'off' a paedophile. But, after the man is (accidentally) killed), Will discovers he was really an investigative journalist who was trying to expose Simon and his bosses. Will finds himself wanted for murder, but Simon plans to eliminate him before things get out of control.

You do wonder how Cage is going to get of this but, hey, where there's a Will, there's a way.

This really is film-making by numbers - it's the car chase, it's the bridge sequence, it's the deserted warehouse bit etc etc - with occasionally silly dialogue: 'There's a row of machines. Press the Forever bar twice.' C'mon!! But, for all that, this is not unenjoyable. You've seen a lot, lot worse (especially from Cage just lately). And remember: the Hungry Rabbit Jumps!

David Quinlan

USA 2011. UK Distributor: Momentum. Colour (unspecified).
104 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 1, Drugs 0, Swearing 2.

Review date: 13 Nov 2011