Lets make one thing crystal clear upfront.
Vince Vaughns luridly titled and exceedingly violentBrawl in Cell Block 99is not a film for everyone.
In fact, its not a movie for most.
But I also felt like I needed aSilkwoodshower when I left the theater.
Okay, so youve now been duly warned.
Hes quiet and still, like an M-80 is before its fuse is lit.
We can tell right off the bat that its only a matter of time before hes going to detonate.
But thats just the beginning of his misery.
And the cartel leader whose dope went missing in the botched deal wants restitution.
Unless, of course, Bradley does something for him while hes behind bars.
And he plays the part of the cigar-chomping amoral sadist like a Forty-Second Street Toscanini.
Meanwhile, Vaughn never lets his prison mates see his desperation.
That, in itself, is a small miracle of acting.
But Vaughns real achievement is his characters physicality.
Vaughn rarely lets you see his pulse rise.
Hes menacing without ever breaking a sweat.
Zahler has made as good a film as a film like this can be.
Whether or not theres an audience for something this extreme, though, is a totally different matter.
I suspect there isnt.
Im also a bit relieved there isnt.Brawl in Cell Block 99is being released without a rating.
So let me suggest one: CE, for Caveat Emptor.
