Filmmaker/writer Mark Adams’ “Precious Cargo” is reminiscent of those ’80s late night action films you watched on cable long ago. One of those, “so bad, it’s good” films because of its unintended humor. So, many things go wrong with this film, but for those who enjoy popcorn action films, especially bad ones, then “Precious Cargo” is for you.
© 2016 Georgia Film Fund. All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: Precious Cargo
FILM RELEASE: 2016
DURATION: 90 Minutes
BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (2:40:1), English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Subtitles: English, English SDH and Spanish
COMPANY: Lionsgate
RATED: R (for Language Throughout, Some violence and Sexual Material)
Release Date: July 8, 2016
Directed by Max Adams
Written by Max Adams and Paul V. Seetachitt
Produced by Ryan Noto
Co-Producer: Elias Axume
Executive-Producer: Jack Campbell, Ron Gell, Tony Piantedosi, Steven Seagal
Cinematography by Anthony J. Rickert-Epstein
Music by Michael John Mollo
Edited by Robert A. Ferretti
Production Design: Dianne Millett
Starring:
Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Jack
Bruce Willis as Eddie
Claire Forlani as Karen
John Brotherton as Nicholas
Lydia Hull as Jenna
Daniel Bernardt as Smon
Ashley Kirk as Zoe
Tyler Jon Olson as Lucas
Jenna B. Kelly as Logan
Christopher Rob Bowen as Glenn
Sammi Barber as Apsara
Jean Clade Leuyer as Gustavo
Nick Loeb as Andrew Herzberg
Adrenaline-pumping chases and deadly double crosses electrify this twist-filled thriller. After a botched heist, thieves and ex-lovers Jack and Karen (Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Claire Forlani) are targeted by Eddie (Bruce Willis), a murderous crime boss. To escape with their lives, Jack and Karen must steal a cargo of precious gems. But when the job goes down, allegiances are betrayed and lines are crossed as Jack, Karen, and Eddie face off in a fateful showdown.
From writer Max Adams (“Heist”, “Extraction”) comes his directorial debut with the Lionsgate Premiere Canadian action film “Precious Cargo”.
Co-written with Paul V. Seetachitt (“Rock Jocks”, “UnderCover”), “Precious Cargo” would star Mark-Paul Gosselaar (“NYPD Blue”, “Saved by the Bell”, “Franklin & Bash”), Bruce Willis (“Die Hard” films, “The Sixth Sense”, “The Fifth Element”, “Armageddon”), Claire Forlani (“The Rock”, “Green Street Hooligans”, “Meet Joe Black”, “Mallrats”), John Brotherton (“The Conjuring”, “Furious 7”, “Guardians of the Galaxy”), Lydia hull (“Marauders”, “Van Wilder: Party Liaison”, “Escape Plan”), Daniel Bernhardt (“The Matrix Reloaded”, “John Wick”, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, “Parker”) and Jenna B. Kelly (“Extraction”).
And the film will be released on Blu-ray in July 2016.
The film begins with an introduction to Jack (portrayed by Mark-Paul Gosselaar), a criminal who has his own crew. But his crew, including the sharpshooter Logan (portrayed by Jenna B. Kelly) are concerned with his past-relationship with another criminal, a thief named Karen (portrayed by Claire Forlani).
Despite having a new girlfriend, a sweet veterinarian named Jenna (portrayed by Lydia Hull), Jack can’t get over Karen. He’s always loved her and she is a woman who never shown the same love towards him.
As for Karen, she and crime boss Eddie (portrayed by Bruce Willis) have been planning a multi-million dollar heist but something happens and she takes the money and now, Eddie wants her dead.
One afternoon, as Jack and his new girlfriend are spending a romantic moment, Karen shows up to his place and tells him that she is pregnant.
As both get into a little argument of Karen’s abrupt appearance, Eddie sends his men to Jack’s home to kill Karen.
But with the help of Jack, he is able to save her life.
Afteward, Karen asks for Jack’s help in trying to make good with Eddie by pulling off a major robbery of an armored car containing $30 million in diamonds, but in truth, the job was another being planned by Eddie and Karen found out about the plan.
Jack with the help of his sharpshooter Logan and their newly assembled team, decide to assist with Karen. For Jack, he feels that with Karen pregnant, there may be a chance that Karen will love him back, now that she is pregnant.
Will Jack be able to pull off this major heist and win Karen’s heart?
VIDEO:
“Precious Cargo” is presented in 1080p High Definition (2:40:1 aspect ratio). The film looks vibrant in outdoor scenes and close ups are full of detail. I didn’t notice any banding or artifacts during my viewing of the film. For the most part, picture quality for the film is very good.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“Precious Cargo” is presented in English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. As this is an action film, there is a lot of surround sound usage during the gun battle exchanges and also good use of LFE during the explosions. But overall, dialogue and sound effects are crystal clear.
Subtitles are in English, English SDH and Spanish.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Precious Cargo” comes with the following special features:
- The Making of Precious Cargo – (14:37) Filmmaker Mark Adams, the producers and the cast talk about making “Precious Cargo”.
- Cast/Crew Interviews – (43:54) Interviews with the cast members: Mark Paul Gosselaar, Claire Forlani, Jenna B. Kelly, director Mark Adams, co-writer Paul V. Seetachitt and producer Scott Mann.
- Precious Cargo Trailer
EXTRAS:
“Precious Cargo” comes with a slipcover and UltraViolet Digital HD code.
A tale of three criminals. Jack, the goodhearted criminal who loves Karen. Karen, the criminal and thief who loves stealing money and jewels and Eddie, a crime boss who wants revenge for Karen stealing money and jewels from jobs they collaborated on.
I have to admit that when I saw the trailer and the promotional image for “Precious Cargo”, I would have never expected to see a film collaboration between Bruce Willis and Mark-Paul Gosselaar.
Granted, Gosselaar has shed his “Saved by the Bell” past with starring roles in “NYPD Blue” and “Franklin and Bash”, but as an action role as the main protagonist against Bruce Willis, the main antagonist, needless to say, it’s an unexpected film collaboration.
The film plays out with standard banal popcorn action with unfortunate choices in writing, poor plot transitions, poor pacing, spotty acting and situations that make you want to say “are you f**#ing kidding me?”, despite the film’s problems, as a popcorn action film, in terms of 1-star films that I have reviewed, I have seen much worse.
If anything, “Precious Cargo” reminds me of 1980 indie films which I watched as young teen on HBO and Cinemax. Films that were so bad but yet you enjoyed it because they were so bad. No matter how many times Jack and his people are shot at, they managed to evade hundreds of bullets, survive after being shot and no matter how many times one is punched, blood and bad bruising never happens. That is until one is shot in the head and then we see blood.
But where I do give “Precious Cargo” credit is that Bruce Willis definitely does a good job of playing a villain (for the few minutes he does star in the film) and the action-scenes, the one chase scene in the water was cool, as well as a few of the more explosive scenes in the film as well. Enough action that worked within the confines of its budget of $10 million.
As for the Blu-ray release, picture quality is vibrant, up-close details were very good. Lossless audio utilized the surround channels and LFE quite well, and you also get a few special features included as well.
Overall, filmmaker/writer Mark Adams’ “Precious Cargo” is reminiscent of those ’80s late night action films you watched on cable long ago. One of those, “so bad, it’s good” films because of its unintended humor. So, many things go wrong with this film, but for those who enjoy popcorn action films, especially bad ones, then “Precious Cargo” is for you.
