Haywire (2012)
Average Rating: 6.8/10
Reviews Counted: 178
Fresh: 142 | Rotten: 36
MMA star and first-time actress Gina Carano displays ample action-movie chops in Haywire, a fast-paced thriller with a top-notch cast and outstanding direction from Steven Soderbergh.
Average Rating: 6.9/10
Critic Reviews: 43
Fresh: 36 | Rotten: 7
MMA star and first-time actress Gina Carano displays ample action-movie chops in Haywire, a fast-paced thriller with a top-notch cast and outstanding direction from Steven Soderbergh.
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Movie Info
This dynamic action-thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh boasts a talented cast that includes Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton, Michael Douglas, Michael Angarano; and introduces MMA superstar Gina Carano as Mallory Kane, in a demanding lead role that has her performing her own high-adrenaline stunts. Mallory Kane is a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world.
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Cast
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Gina Carano
Mallory Kane -
Michael Douglas
Coblenz, Oliver -
Michael Fassbender
Paul -
Ewan McGregor
Jay, Kenneth -
Bill Paxton
Eric, Mr. Kane -
Channing Tatum
Aaron, Henry -
Michael Angarano
Jacob, Scott -
Antonio Banderas
Ramon, Rodrigo -
Mathieu Kassovitz
Studer, Tom
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Haywire Trailer & Photos
All Critics (178) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (146) | Rotten (36) | DVD (9)
Steven Soderbergh continues his occasional practice of using actors as found objects in his perfectly enjoyable formula action-thriller Haywire.
Top CriticMixed martial-arts star Carano puts major muscle, if minor acting ability, into this enjoyable action flick.
Carano is strong, fast, relentless. She's not much of an actress yet, but Soderbergh hides her weaknesses well...
There's a good deal of pleasure to be had in the clockwork precision of her hand-to-hand combat, which Soderbergh often shoots in profile to showcase her wall-climbing backflips.
Carano is nothing special as an actress - but darned if it matters when she's supported by a killer screenplay, a sharp cast, and Steven Soderbergh's unmistakably sly, mordant direction.
If "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" was a fancy top-shelf cocktail, this is Polish vodka, neat.
A maze that keeps leading to surprising places.
A lean and vastly entertaining picture.
Haywire rips along at a fair old pace, crunches all the right bones and is capable of drawing sharp intakes of breath during the fantastic fight scenes, so in that regard, Steven Soderbergh can call it a success.
Can Gina Carano cut it as a movie star?
"Don't think of her as a woman. That would be a mistake," says an s.o.b. late in this sexy, jazzy exercise, and he couldn't be more wrong. The action film as a love letter to a lethal goddess.
Those who like their action simple and straight-forward may find themselves disappointed in Haywire. But those who want something that's clever and unique whilst still managing to contain plenty of action, then you should make the effort to check this out
Haywires shortcomings don't detract from the minute to minute onscreen ride - featuring Carano's fresh (and uncompromising) action work.
The film does have style, but unfortunately the focus on that element seems to have come at too much of a cost.
Haywire is a Bourne Identity-inspired spy vs. spy action flick that isn't quite the kick in the head it should be.
It's impressive that something so utterly familiar can feel this refreshing. This is Le Samourai for the Steven Seagal crowd.
Gina Carano manages to display swift blows and quick thinking as well as masterful kicks to the guts of her enemies while retaining a sensuality that is just bold and absolutely irresistible.
Steven Soderbergh devised the film especially for his kickboxing champion leading lady Gina Carano, who kicks her way through a line of leading men, all coming off a poor second best.
If you're a fan of the action-thriller genre, Soderbergh superbly nails what thrills it takes for those films to work so well.
The movie is really only bursting at the seams during its fight scenes. Instead of rapid-fire cutting to accentuate the danger, the camera just stops and pays witness to the action.
... we just wait for her to click back into fight mode. Her body language tells us more about her character than any dialogue exchange.
Haywire is a tired spy thriller that meshes the three styles of Steven Soderbergh - pop, clinical and indie - into one messy, sometimes dull B-movie.
Steven Soderbergh is an interesting throwback to directors of yore, in that he is far less precious with his career than many of his contemporaries, and seems to regard the medium of film as inherently a place to explore.
While it remains to be seen where Carano goes from here in her film career, she certainly makes a memorable and quality first impression.
Audience Reviews for Haywire
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Kenneth: You should not think of her as a woman. That would be a mistake.
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- Mr. Kane: She called to tell me she was going to Barcelona.
- Kenneth: What did she say?
- Mr. Kane: I'm going to Barcelona.
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- Paul: I'm assuming the motive of everyone involved is strictly professional.
- Kenneth: Paul, the motive is money. The motive is always money...
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- Scott: There's a deer in the car.
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- Coblenz: Now we've got ourselves a real twizzler here.
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- Kenneth: You're the eye.
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Latest News on Haywire
May 1, 2012:
RT on DVD & Blu-ray: Haywire and Joyful NoiseThis week on home video brings us a couple of gems and a couple of duds. Some notable Blu-ray...
February 14, 2012:
Gina Carano Gets In the BloodThe John Stockwell project is being called "'Taken' with a female lead."
January 19, 2012:
Critics Consensus: Haywire is Certified FreshThis week at the movies, we've got a ferocious femme fatale (Haywire, starring Gina Carano and Ewan...
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Foreign Titles
- Piégée (FR)
- Indomable (ES)
