Sean Vetter (Vin Diesel), a DEA agent, arrests the leader of a major drug Cartel, in Mexico. With Memo Lucero (Geno Silva) in prison, a new player emerges as the top dog in the drug business, a man known only as Diablo. A hit is placed on Vetter, and while the attempt to murder Vetter is thwarted, his wife Stacy (Jacqueline Obradors) is killed. Together with his partner, Demetrius Hicks (Larenz Tate), Vetter sets out for revenge and to bring down the Cartel’s and Diablo once and for all. They enlist the services of Memo Lucero to help track the new player, but things aren’t always as they appear.
A Man Apart wanted badly to reach four stars, and it was on the verge of doing so repeatedly. All the performances were well done; Vin Diesel and Larenz Tate both did a great job with their characters, and the same can be said for Hollywood Jack (Timothy Olyphant). While the acting is in order, and the directing for the most part is as well, the thing that ends up hurting the film and preventing it from reaching four stars in my opinion is the pacing. More specifically, it’s a little thing called “rushing”.
The writers and director seemed to be in to big a hurry to get to the action, so they rushed over moments that should’ve been critical in character growth. Moments in the movie that should’ve been expanded to help the audience connect more with the stars, but instead weren’t. Yes, you can feel for the Sean Vetter character, but let’s be real here, the death/kidnapping of a loved one is the basis for most movies like this one. They could’ve at least offered a little more dramatic and emotional depth to the film, especially in the beginning, because there was plenty of action.
With that said though, it gets 3 stars because the action and stunts were top notch. Watching Vetter beat the guy who killed his “bitch wife” to death with his bare hands was a powerful moment in the film, though again the aftermath could’ve used a little more depth. It’s certainly worth adding to your collection, whether you’re a Diesel fan or not (and I am). It’s recommended viewing for sure, so go give it a rent if you haven’t seen it.
A Man Apart gets a three out of five: GOOD.
