Bullet to the Head 
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Momoa, Christian Slater, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Sung Kang, John Seda, Ronnie Earl
Directed by Walter Hill
Rated: R
Run Time: 91 mins
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Thriller
Opens February 1st
By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com
Hey Phoenix Film Fans! There is a few new released we checked out this week, one of them being “Bullet to the Head” starring Sylvester Stallone, Sug Kang and Christian Slater. Stallone shows no signs of slowing down in this gritty crime/action film and has had plenty of behind the scenes drama. Christian Slater has come out of a long hiatus to make an appearance in the film, being the first film he’s has a major theatrical role since 2005. Speaking of those who’ve had some time away from the set, this is Director Walter Hill’s first film in 10 years, so it’s fascinating to see how the final product comes out.
James Bonomo (Sylvester Stallone) and Louis Blanchard (Jon Seda) have been partners in crime, so to say, for the past 6 years. Their last hit together was on a crooked D.C. cop, Hank Greely (Holt McCallany), a man in many of the local crime syndicates pockets. Shortly after the job was complete, Blanchard was taken out by a local mercenary Keegan (Jasin Momoa). Bonomo was unable to take down Keegan and got to Blanchard before it was too late.
The next morning, another D.C. cop rolls into town, to verify the identity of Hank Greely. Officer Taylor Kwon (Sung Kang) was Greely’s partner before he went rogue, so his main focus is to find the person(s) responsible for the hit. Kwon’s arrival in Baton Rouge was not a welcoming sight for the local law enforcement as many of the local authorities are in with local crime boss/ real estate mogul Robert Nkomo Morel (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) and Marcus Baptiste (Christian Slater). The power over the city is up for grabs and Morel and Baptiste are salivating for the chance to take over.
Kwon’s life is in danger and Bonomo has come to his aid at the perfect moment. Although the two men have a strong dislike for each other, they must work together to find why Blanchard and Greely both had hits put out on their lives. The same people are now after Bonomo and Kwon, and they have very little time to find the men responsible before another loved one’s live is placed in danger, Bonomo’s daughter Lisa (Sarah Shahi).
If you’re looking for masterpiece theater type of film, you’re certainly in the wrong review. Using the same platform "The Expendables" is cut from, Stallone takes the same character type from the aforementioned film, dresses him down in a bad thug suit and has a cop for a partner. Only as Bonomo, he has more oriental zingers and clever one-liners aimed at his intended targets. What can be seen as just another Stallone action film, is actually a slow-to-start crime thriller that is pretty entertaining, and is aptly named “Bullet to the Head” as the unspoken character that chases Bonomo though the movie in most of his interactions with fellow lawbreakers. For someone as old as he is (67 years old?!), Stallone appears to be in terrific shape and still can bring it as an action star. If you’re a fan of The Expendables, you’ll whet your appetite for the big bang, blow-em-up action movies until the next one hits theaters. “Bullet to the Head” opens in theaters nationwide starting Friday February 1, 2013.
