Today’s quick review: Chaos. Two months after getting suspended for his involvement in a fatal shooting, Detective Quentin Conners (Jason Statham) returns to the force to handle a bank robbery orchestrated by a man calling himself Lorenz (Wesley Snipes). As Conners and his new partner, rookie detective Shane Dekker (Ryan Phillippe), race to catch Lorenz and his men, they begin to suspect that there’s more to the robbery than meets the eye.
Chaos is a crime thriller about the fallout of a multi-layered bank robbery. Jason Statham stars as disgraced detective Quentin Conners, a proactive cop who’s willing to bend the law to get results. Ryan Phillippe joins him as Shane Dekker, a sharp rookie with an eye for detail. Wesley Snipes rounds out the cast as Lorenz, a clever bank robber who’s out for revenge. This trio of leads gives Chaos a solid foundation to build on.
Chaos’ most distinguishing feature is its plot. From the cryptic hints Lorenz drops at the beginning of the film to the revelations at the end, Chaos keeps the audience guessing throughout. There’s always a mystery in play, but its nature shifts as Conners and Dekker come closer to the truth. The script can’t match the best thrillers in the genre, but it has enough interesting ideas, twists, and tension to make Chaos an engaging watch.
The combination of a good cast and a thrilling plot will be enough to satisfy most fans of the crime genre. Skeptical viewers won’t find enough depth in its writing or its drama to win them over. But those hoping for a self-contained thriller that delivers on its promises will get exactly what they’re hoping for. For a crime thriller with a similar premise and better execution, try Inside Man, Heat, or Speed.
6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for an interesting plot and the quality to back it up.