'Wild Card' - for fans of neo-noir crime films (IANS Movie Review)
Feb 07,2015
Film: "Wild Card"; Director: Simon West; Cast: Jason Statham, Michael Angarano, Milo Ventimiglia, Dominik Garcia-Lorido, Anne Heche, Sofia Vergara, Max Casella, Jason Alexander, Stanley Tucci and Hope Davis; Rating: **1/2
"Wild Card" is a typical Hollywood potboiler based on William Goldman's 1985 novel "Heat".
It is a mildly glamorous portrait of Nicholas Wild (Jason Statham), a fearless man with an irrational personality trait. He is also known as Nick.
A fisticuff expert, living in the underbelly of sin-city Las Vegas, Nick is a freelance security consultant. He is a sucker for sob stories and gets equally drawn to the gambling table.
His ultimate goal in life is to collect $500,000 and move away to Italy -- to be far away from the rut that he is living in.
The narration rolls off establishing Nick's personality and gradually focuses on how; his gambling habit and his soft heart get in the way of his goal.
It is when his former girlfriend Holly, after being raped and brutally abused, pleads to him -- "I want my revenge Nicky" -- that he goes into a guilt trip and agrees to identify the culprits.
On figuring out the brute as Danny DeMarco, the son of a powerful crime lord, Nick feels compelled to help Holly. He feels instigated when his well-wisher tells him to stay away from the perpetrators to save his own life. After all he loves challenges, the riskier the better.
After delivering justice to Holly, Nick comes across a fortune that could realise his dreams. But then his impulsive instinct grinds him back into the roller-coaster. He is then bailed out by his one-time client a computer geek Cyrus Kinnick who had approached him to be his bodyguard. But in reality, Cyrus needed Nick to help him, "kill the fear" in him.
While this narration sounds meaningful, director Simon West's film, based on Goldman's screenplay, is chaotic and disappointing. Its racy plot with formulaic crime thriller tropes that consists of; buzzing casinos, seedy crime lords, shady hotels and desperate hustlers is a jigsaw puzzle that settles after the prolonged first act that meanders between two action scenes.
Also, the characters are not well rounded especially Cyrus's. Though he is a loveable character, his presence is jarring and noncontextual.
The dialogues are crisp and packed with snappy retorts spoken in an unconventionally delightful manner that makes you chuckle. But those are few and far between.
On the performance front, Jason Statham as the swift Nick flexing his muscles with agility is convincing. He is ably supported by fine actors like; Michael Angarano as Cyrus Kinnick with his goofy demeanour and gait, Miloo Ventimiglia as the sleazy Danny DeMarco, Dominik Garcia-Lorido as the battered and the revenge seeking Holly and Stanley Tucci as Baby, the mafia boss in Las Vegas.
Visually, cinematographer Shelly Johnson captures the action and drama with fine precision and West has used some dynamic metaphors that standout, especially in the scene that inter cuts Holly's narration of the abuse she had to go through.
These frames are brilliantly layered by editors Padriac McKinley and Thomas J. Nordberg. Their fine razor-sharp edits are worth a mention. And this is further evident in the fine swift action sequences, choreographed by Cory Yuen.
Overall, "Wild Card" is bound to appeal to those who are fond of neo-noir crime films.
Top Stories
Salman Khan Recalls Jail Days on Bigg Boss: '70 People Shared One Bathroom,' Emotional Story Goes Viral
Aug 03,2026
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan made a special appearance on the reality show 'Alliance', currently streaming on Prime Video, to support his brother Sohail Khan. During an interaction with contestants, Salman reflected on his past jail experiences, sharing details about the harsh
Bhumi Pednekar: Trolled over her reaction in support of PM Modi; users said, "You should stop thinking..."
Aug 03,2026
Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar has found herself at the center of a social media controversy after sharing a video criticizing the use of abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a recent protest. While some users supported her appeal for respectful public discourse,
Kangana Ranaut Shares Childhood Photo as Sita Amid CJP Row, Says 'Blessings to Liberals'
Jul 31,2026
Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has once again grabbed headlines after sharing childhood photographs of herself dressed as Goddess Sita on social media. The post comes amid her ongoing verbal exchanges surrounding the CJP controversy, with Kangana writing a brief but pointed caption: "My
'Jan Nayagan' Movie Review: Vijay's Final Film Is Overshadowed by Politics, 3-Hour Runtime Tests Patience
Jul 23,2026
Vijay's much-awaited farewell film, Jan Nayagan, arrives with massive expectations, marking the superstar's final appearance on the big screen before his full-time political journey. While fans hoped for an unforgettable send-off, director H. Vinoth delivers a film where political messag
Jantar Mantar Protest: From R. Madhavan to Alia Bhatt, Celebrities Rally Behind Students; Here's What They Said
Jul 23,2026
The nationwide outrage over the alleged NEET paper leak has intensified, with thousands of students staging protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and demonstrations spreading across Mumbai and several other cities. Protesters are demanding a transparent investigation into the examination cont
Vijay's 'Jana Nayagan' Creates Box Office Storm: Two Major Tamil Films Postponed as Fans Celebrate Thalapathy's Final Movie
Jul 16,2026
The excitement surrounding Thalapathy Vijay's highly anticipated film 'Jana Nayagan' has reached unprecedented levels ahead of its July 23, 2026 release. Widely believed to be Vijay's final film before entering full-time politics, the movie has prompted two Tamil filmmakers to postpone
Salman Khan’s New House Approved: Is He Finally Leaving Galaxy Apartments After 52 Years?
Jun 30,2026
Rumours about Salman Khan leaving his iconic Galaxy Apartments residence have been making headlines after reports claimed the Bollywood superstar was preparing to move into a new luxury home in Bandra. However, the reality is quite different. While the Khan family's sea-facing Bandra prop
Security Breach Involving Arbaaz Khan: Intruder Jumps Into Actor’s Car, Removed by Bouncer
Jun 17,2026
Actor Arbaaz Khan recently found himself at the center of a security scare during a public event in Kolkata. A video from the incident has gone viral on social media, showing an unidentified man allegedly forcing his way into the actor's car as he was leaving the venue.The unexpected inci
Entertainment News
Salman Khan’s New House Appr
Jun 30,2026
Security Breach Involving Arba
Jun 17,2026
‘Happy Birthday to the Queen
Jun 17,2026
Kangana Ranaut Breaks Silence
Jun 12,2026
Anupam Kher Scolds David Dhawa
Jun 04,2026