A Score to Settle (2019)
Director: Shawn Ku
Writer: John Newman
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Benjamin Bratt, Noah Le Gros, Mohamed Karim, Karolina Wydra
Nicholas Cage is an actor who continues to divide fans, but like him or not he doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Returning in his latest revenge thriller A Score to Settle.
After being paid-off to take a murder rap, Frank (Nicolas Cage) receives an unexpected life sentence and spends the next two decades locked behind bars festering a need for revenge. When he is given a diagnosis of a terminal illness, he is released from prison to live out his final days as a free man.
Keeping his condition, a secret, Frank reunites with his estranged son Joey (Noah Le Gros). Their reunion is awkward because his son harbors resentment about being abandoned as a child. Frank tries to heal their relationship and they bond over expensive shopping trips and dinners, which are well beyond any legitimate means. Joey recognizes these extravagances are tied to Frank’s past and knows his father hasn’t changed.
With Joey threatening to leave, Frank is torn by the need to repair his relationship with his son and his need to exact vengeance against those who wronged him. When he discovers a truth withheld from him long ago, he races furiously against the ticking clock of his life, trying to expose lies from the past before it is too late. The choice between family, friendship, love and hate is no longer as clear as he once thought, and Frank is forced to face secrets he has spent years avoiding.
A Score to Settle is a new revenge thriller from Shawn Ku, who takes a different approach to what you might expect, especially when you consider it stars one of cinemas most animated actors, Nicholas Cage. With the film set up with Frank having served his time for a crime he didn’t commit you would be forgiven for expect this to be a full-on action thriller, with Cage at his most explosive seeking revenge. What Shawn delivers however is a more subdued direction, focusing more on the development of the characters and delving more into the psychological torment which continues to haunt Frank.
The film still has plenty of action scenes in which we see Frank taking action upon on those who wronged him, but the heart of the story is about Frank trying to bring together the fractured pieces of a life he left behind. Dealing with the loss of his wife whilst he was behind bars and trying to reconcile the relationship with his son, who with his own struggles found himself in his own prison of addiction.
It is often difficult to predict what we can expect from Cage, with both his temperament and performance changing so dramatically from one film the next. With that being said it was surprising to see Cage deliver such a deep and sombre performance in an action-thriller such as this. It is a moving delivery from Cage who following his released from prison has left a very different person from the man who went in. It is unusual to see Cage look so beaten and he does well to portray the burdening weight of the past on his shoulders. You don’t always empathise with his characters, but here he shows a real vulnerability which he continues to try and hide.
There are several stories occurring at once throughout the film which work really well to keep the film moving. In addition to seeking revenge on those that wronged him, Frank finds solace in the company of an escort, whose surprising benevolence helps him to not only reminisce but also mourn the loss of his wife. It is however his attempted reconnection with his son that becomes the backbone of the film. There is a brilliant on-screen chemistry between the two with Noah Le Gros proving just as engaging on screen when they are together. Both having trouble forgetting their trouble past as they try to move forwards.
Whilst it takes a unique approach, taking time to build on the emotions of the characters you begin to feel as though you know how the events are going to unfold before it suddenly throws in an unexpected twist that opens it up for the final act. It does seem promising, but unfortunately whilst the action does start to increase, like so many moments throughout where you expect them to release the Cage, it feels restrained and doesn’t quite move up in gears to the expected action-packed finale. In fairness to director Shawn Ku this does mean that the film maintains a consistent tone throughout, so although it may disappoint some fans you can understand why.
As I said earlier you never know what you are going to get with a Cage and once again he manages to adds his own unique quirks to the character that make him stand out. I’m not sure if its true, but it says on IMDB that Cage learned to play the piano for the role. Although not unusual for a film it does seem a strange move as the only piano scene in the film feels like a more impromptu moment, rather than something scripted. The same decision could be said during one of his revenge killings where he walks in armed and eating. It reminded me of Clive Owen with the ongoing joke in Shoot ‘Em Up (2007) with his obsession for carrots, although here he only does this in the one scene and it was not something added in for humour.
Taking a different approach to your standard thriller, A Score to Settle is replaces the action with a more character driven story. Concentrating more heavily on the relationships and performances than the action, it may not be for everyone, especially those who are expecting a more energetic performance from Cage. Whilst it may have some some shortfalls, it does have some memorable moment and once again Nicolas Cage delivers in this gritty revenge thriller.
Lionsgate UK presents A Score to Settle on Digital Download 23 September now and coming to DVD 30 September
A Score to Settle
Movie title: A Score to Settle
Movie description: An ex-enforcer for a local crime syndicate has vowed to enact retribution on his mob bosses after 22 years of wrongful imprisonment. The only thing diverting his violent plans is a new found relationship to his beloved son.
Director(s): Shawn Ku
Actor(s): Nicolas Cage, Benjamin Bratt, Noah Le Gros, Mohamed Karim, Karolina Wydra
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Action
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A Score to Settle
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
