Brick Mansions (2014)
Certified: 15
Duration: 90 minutes
Directed by: Camille Delamarre
Starring: Paul Walker, David Belle, RZA, Catalina Denis, Robert Maillet, Carlo Rota, Kwasi Songui, Aylia Issa
KRS release
In the very near 2018, the city of Detroit has become a very dangerous place, with a wall built around its most dangerous area. The Brick Mansions, the historic structures where the city’s rich and influent people used to live, now house Tremaine (RZA), a Mob lord who has the guards at the wall’s checkpoint in his pockets.
Things get hairy when Lino (David Belle), a local boy, ex-convict and hero, manages to steal a cocaine batch that was meant for Tremaine. The drug lord thus gathers his forces and sets the violent Rayzah (Ayisha Issa) and the ruthless K2 (Gouchy Boy) on Lino’s trail. The two end up taking his former girlfriend, Lola (Catalina Denis), hostage.
The pacing of the movie is frenetic, action-oriented and dynamic
On the other side of the wall, undercover policeman Damien (Paul Walker) is sent by Detroit’s mayor (Bruce Ramsay) on an undercover mission into the neighbourhood. He is to join Lino and face off with Tremaine in order to diffuse a neutron bomb that the criminal had stolen from the government. Damien also has a personal motive: Tremaine had killed his father, a well-known cop.
Brick Mansions is one of Walker’s completed movies just before his untimely death. The Fast and Furious star has always had a relaxed and likeable screen presence that gave him his cinematic footprint. And this remake of the French classic District B13 (2004) is a perfect action buddy movie for him.
Like in many of his films, Luc Besson takes over writing and production duties. The setting in itself is over the top and at times cartoonishly silly but the action choreography is visually mind-blowing and is impressive in its verve and kinetic energy.
Walker’s team-up with Belle is simply spot on. The latter is one of the originators of parkour, a type of training that originated from military training obstacles and is focused on holistic body movement. He is also an action choreographer/actor in various films including the original District B13.
The pacing of the movie, as directed by Camille Delamarre and helped by Christophe Collette’s cinematography, is frenetic, action-oriented and dynamic as it moves relentlessly with all types of stunts, bullets whizzing by and all other kinds of weaponry on show.
The action is fresh and inspired, making up for what the film lacks in its dialogue which is never Besson’s strongpoint.
In the end Brick Mansions is a reminder that Walker left this earthly plane way too soon and yet there is one scene here when he is behind the wheel of a car looking totally relaxed.
This is a very fitting image to remember him by.