Today’s quick review: Shot Caller. Jacob “Money” Harlon (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) was a banker and a family man until a decade in prison changed him into a ruthless gang member. Just released from prison, Harlon helps Shotgun (Jon Bernthal) arrange a weapons deal on behalf of The Beast (Holt McCallany). But as the deal comes together, Ed Kutcher (Omari Hardwick), Harlon’s parole officer, begins to suspect that Harlon has ulterior motives.
Shot Caller is a crime drama about a family man who becomes a gang member to survive his time in prison, alienating him from his wife Kate (Lake Bell) and son Joshua (Jonathon McClendon). The movie splits its time between the present, when a hardened Harlon does whatever it takes to make sure a gun deal does off without a hitch, and the past, as Harlon gradually sacrifices his humanity to the gang that offers him protection.
Shot Caller’s greatest strength is the mystery of what Harlon has planned. On the surface, he makes for an efficient gang member, enforcing discipline among his men and taking steps to keep the police off his trail. But in spite of his outward loyalty, there are hints that he is playing his own game. The mystery is not as cerebral or as compelling as other crime dramas, but the payoff is solid and ties into the question of who Harlon has become.
Still, Shot Caller misses opportunities to take its story farther. The movie takes pains not to tip its hand too early, resulting in a mystery that is too circumspect for its own good. Rather than the strong plot hooks of other crime dramas, Shot Caller relies on personal drama and indirect clues to keep the viewer engaged. The result is a movie with good ideas and a multifaceted main character, but one that’s short on direct impact.
Shot Caller is a fine pick for fans of the crime genre, carving out a place for itself with its capable character work and effective mystery. The movie brings something new to the table with its main character and the changes he undergoes. Even so, Shot Caller has a few issues holding it back. How much you get out of it will depend on your taste in storytelling. Give it a shot if you are interested in an indirect, personal story.
For a more emotionally potent crime drama about a man losing himself to his criminal lifestyle, try Donnie Brasco. For a similar moral struggle with a more grandiose plot, try The Godfather. For a crime drama about an ex-convict trying to go clean, try Carlito’s Way.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a solid character arc.