Review by Doug Cooper
Stars Nicolas Cage, January Jones, Guy Pearce, Harold Perrineau, Xander Berkeley, Jennifer Carpenter, IronE Singleton, Joe Chrest, Jason Davis, Wayne Pere, Marcus Lyle Brown
Written by Robert Tannen & Yuri Zeltser
Certification UK 15 | US R
Runtime 104 minutes
Directed by Roger Donaldson
Cage need not be ashamed of this one. His choices are erratic at best but Justice is a sleek thriller that delivers. It's certainly a damn sight better than Trespass, released last week, but then again it could hardly be worse.
He doesn't make the most convincing teacher however, especially when lecturing his students on the poetry and meaning of Shakespeare, but as a confused and vengeful husband he can do the job well. Why is he out for revenge? His beautiful cello-playing wife (Jones) is brutally attacked and raped. While waiting in the hospital the night of his wife's ordeal he is approached by shady shaven-headed Pearce.
The stranger offers him a deal. The secret organisation he works for will find the cruel perpetrator and deliver swift vigilante justice if Cage will do a favour for them down the line. Quid pro quo. In his stressed state, the teacher agrees to this outlandish proposal. But soon events lead him to breaking pint. The company force him to trail another deviant and then murder him. But said deviant proves to be an investigative journalist and soon the beleaguered teacher is at his wits' end in whom to trust and how he can resolve his dilemma.
It's a fast-moving action thriller that keeps you on your toes. As soon as you think a cliche is on the horizon, the movie quickly upends your predictions. It's not that exciting however, despite the car chases and shoot outs, and none too convincing but is consistently watchable nevertheless. Roger Donaldson is a workmanlike director only as good as the script he's given. Justice is an entertaining time-filler. No great shakes but solid and satisfying.