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RAVAGE
For all the movie's flaws, Ronnie Sorter's action film, RAVAGE, showcases ultra-violent action set pieces with such pure brutality that they made even this most jaded of critics flinch from their raw power and energy. Watching them I couldn't help but think how much money Hollywood spends for about one tenth the results.
Produced by Frank Alexander, Bryon Blakey, and Ronnie Sorter
Written, Edited, and Directed by Ronnie SorterGregory - Mark Brazeale
Charles/Samuel - Dan Rowland
Lydia - Dina Harris
And for a movie that's able to achieve such highs with it's nonexistent budget, the flaws should be forgivable, but I just couldn't get past some of the acting by the lead, Mark Brazeale. As a reviewer of ultra-independent cinema, I swore long ago that budget liabilities, specifically in regards to acting, were trivials that I would never dwell upon in a review. Often, ultra-indi's are merely a step up from who backyard hobbyists who find luxuries such as professional actors to be out of this world possibilities.
In all fairness, Mark Brazeale is an imposing figure who commands your attention no matter whether he's the focus of the scene or not. For a man built like a linebacker, he's very elegant in his movements and reactions, and he's able to put bad guys through walls with complete skull-crushing intensity. It's Brazeale's sense of pacing in the softer moments that I found so distracting. His pauses and beats were off and it annoyed me every time I tried to get into the movie. That's as much the fault of director Sorter as it is the actor. When long scenes of character development are being shot, especially those where the story hinges upon them, and those scenes aren't working with the master takes, cutaways and close-ups will do nicely to clean up some of those missed beats.
If it weren't for this one aspect, RAVAGE might possibly be the best film in Sub Rosa's recent wave of DVD releases. You've already read how I feel about the action. The story of revenge and obsession regarding a father who witnessed his family's murder and trails their killer is solid. The plot twists are Mammetian in delivery; viewers never know how the story is going to end, or even how you'll get there. Even the other actors work perfectly, especially Dan Rowland in duel roles, but I just couldn't get past Brazeale.
When you review a movie that has so much going for it, elements that don't work are going to stick out like a sore thumb. In the case of Mr. Brazeale, it's a real shame, and I hope if he reads this he doesn't take it personally. Lord knows the last thing I want is for the man to make like his character and get all vengeful on my front porch one day. Hell, I probably wouldn't have noticed those missed beats in a lesser movie, but damn it, the rest of RAVAGE just kicked so much ass that I hated being pulled out of the viewing experience like I was.
On the Sub Rosa DVD, listeners will find from where Sorter learned his style of action - Hong Kong. Listening to his commentary, it's easy to pick up on his fanboy enthusiasm for action cinema, especially his love of early John Woo. If you ever get the chance to talk to Sorter I suggest not bringing up American John Woo films. From his commentary, it seems to be a sore spot. To be honest, I miss the days of HARD BOILED and THE KILLER myself. Now that I think about it, RAVAGE has the same vibe as THE KILLER, only much grittier and nasty.
The rest of the Sub Rosa disc is on par with the likes of their splendid MARI-COOKIE disc. There's a second commentary with Sorter and the cast, which I admittedly didn't listen to for time's sake. The behind the scenes segments is particularly fascinating as Sorter and crew detail how many of the movie's intricate stunts and effects were pulled off with very little money and a large concern for safety.
There's also a section containing bloopers and outtakes.
A recent visit to the Sub Rosa message boards revealed that the company hopes to release other of Sorter's movies, and I'm looking forward to them regardless of whether Brazeale is in them or not. It turns out I have a production of Sorter's in my personal collection titled KITTY KILLERS that's gone unviewed for a few years. Come tomorrow I plan to remedy that.
Sub Rosa Studios
Ronnie Sortor: Borderline Entertainment