Today’s quick review: Acts of Vengeance. When his wife and daughter are murdered, defense attorney Frank Valera (Antonio Banderas) takes a vow of silence until he can avenge their deaths. He gets himself in shape, learns how to fight, and sets about solving a case that even the police have given up on. The few clues point to the Russian mob, but to identify the killer, he will need the help of Alma (Paz Vega), a kindly ER nurse he meets along the way.
Acts of Vengeance is a crime drama with a touch of action. The movie follows Frank Valera as he reinvents himself from a smooth-talking, irresponsible lawyer to a mute seeker of justice. Acts of Vengeance sets up a decent mystery and a well-considered transformation for its main character. Frank Valera is far from an invincible action hero, but his training gives him enough of an edge to make it through several violent situations.
However, Acts of Vengeance has little to set it apart. Frank’s vow of silence works well on paper but doesn’t matter much in practice. Likewise, his adoption of Stoic philosophy is closer to window dressing than anything profound. The handful of action scenes fit well with the realistic style of the movie, but they are less frequent and less impressive than the ones found in dedicated action movies. The plot is fine but nothing special.
Give Acts of Vengeance a shot when you’re in the mood for a short, tidy crime story with few frills. Acts of Vengeance gets the basics right, but it is outclassed by other, more elaborate mysteries and action movies that have more flair. For a violent action movie with a nearly mute protagonist, try Drive. For a darker crime drama with a similar premise, try Rage. For a more involved take on a similar premise, try Seeking Justice.
5.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for a good story but little more.