12 Rounds (2009)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Renny Harlin

Writer (WGA):

Daniel Kunka (written by)

Release Date:

27 March 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Plot:

Detective Danny Fisher discovers his girlfriend has been kidnapped by a ex-con tied to Fisher's past, and he'll have to successfully complete 12 challenges in order to secure her safe release. |

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Fight | Rescue | Time | Friend

Cast

John Cena	...	Det. Danny Fisher
Aidan Gillen	...	Miles Jackson
Ashley Scott	...	Molly Porter
Steve Harris	...	Special Agent George Aiken
Brian J. White	...	Det. Hank Carver (as Brian White)
Gonzalo Menendez	...	Special Agent Ray Santiago
Taylor Cole	...	Erica Kessen
Kyle Russell Clements	...	Dave Fisher (as Kyle Clements)
Peter Navy Tuiasosopo	...	Willie Dumaine
Travis Davis	...	Anthony Deluso
Nick Gomez	...	Samuel
Brian Stanton	...	FBI Agent Gator
Rosalind Rubin	...	FBI Agent Sheila
Billy Slaughter	...	Technician
Kim Collins	...	Phil the Plumber
Lara Grice	...	Cell Store Owner
Wayne Ferrara	...	Battallion Commander
Douglas M. Griffin	...	Peter Gerard
Vincent Flood	...	Det. Chuck Jansen
Robert Pralgo	...	Camoflague Agent
Wally Crowder	...	Streetcar Conductor
Luke Albright	...	Johnny 'Tube Sock' Jenkins
Bryan Johnson	...	Sleeping Streetcar Passenger
Luukas Harlin	...	Streetcar Kid
John Wilmot	...	Elderly Man
Louis Herthum	...	BEP Employee
David Frye	...	Officer Phelps
B. Martin Williams	...	Ferry Patrolman (as Bill Martin Williams)
J. Omar Castro	...	FBI Agent
Brandi Coleman	...	Pedestrian
Roy Huang	...	Sharpshooter
Mikki Val	...	Nurse
Jada K. Cox	...	Jesse Lou Mackie
Pauline Boudreaux	...	Medic
Hunter Burke	...	Hot Tub Man / Hotel Employee
Danie Coleman	...	Hot Tub Woman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Julia Adams	...	Carnival patron (uncredited)
Joseph Cintron	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Edward R. Cox	...	FBI Agent (uncredited)
Geraldine Glenn	...	Fair goer (uncredited)
Rodney Hebert	...	Ferry Passenger (uncredited)
Brent Henry	...	FBI Agent (uncredited)
Jaime San Andres	...	Sniper #2 (uncredited)
Laurie Lee	...	FBI Witness (uncredited)
Audrey Lynn	...	Police Detective / Computer Specialist (uncredited)
James B. McDaniel	...	Fleeing Citizen (uncredited)
Sam Medina	...	Henchmen (uncredited)
Tony Pallo	...	Curious Neighbor (uncredited)
Chaz Smith	...	Bellhop (uncredited)
Martha Twombly	...	Hospital Staff (uncredited)
Jearl Vinot	...	Street Car Passenger (uncredited)
Michael Wozniak	...	Foreman (uncredited)

Directed by
Renny Harlin

Writing credits (WGA)
Daniel Kunka		(written by)

Produced by
Becki Cross Trujillo	....	producer
Mark Gordon	....	producer
Renny Harlin	....	producer
Mike Lake	....	producer
Josh McLaughlin	....	producer
Vince McMahon	....	producer

Original Music by
Trevor Rabin

Cinematography by
David Boyd

Film Editing by
Brian Berdan

Casting by
John Papsidera

Production Design by
Nicholas Lundy

Set Decoration by
Leonard Spears		(decorator)

Costume Design by
Jill Newell

Makeup Department
Nikki I Brown	....	third makeup artist
Samantha M. Capps	....	additional makeup artist
Stacy Kelly	....	makeup department head (as Stacy Stewart Kelly)
Donita Miller	....	key hair stylist
Paige Reeves	....	key makeup artist
Donna Spahn	....	hair department head

Production Management
Nancy Hirami	....	post-production supervisor
Regina Robb	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sherman Shelton Jr.	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
John Blanchard	....	construction foreman
Luke Cauthern	....	set dresser
Ryan Martin Dwyer	....	set dresser
Gregory T. Geniusz	....	set dresser
Jonathan Gesinski	....	visual consultant
Troy A. Johnson	....	construction buyer
Alexander Lasseigne III	....	set dresser
Twig Leveque	....	graphic designer
Andrew H. Lewis	....	set painter
Vinny Mazzarella	....	property master
Pat O'Connor	....	lead man
Cory Parker	....	on-set dresser
Joseph Pipes	....	set dresser
George Sanchez	....	painter
Michelle Schluter-Ford	....	assistant set decorator (as Michelle Schluter)
Maria Senger	....	art department assistant
Brent Stewart	....	gangboss
Chuck Stringer	....	construction coordinator
Denise Templeton	....	art department coordinator
Robert Thayer	....	assistant art director
Grant Widmer	....	props assistant
Cher Young	....	property assistant
Matthew Gatlin	....	assistant props: reshoots (uncredited)

Sound Department
Christopher S. Aud	....	sound designer
Christopher S. Aud	....	supervising sound editor
Bob Beher	....	foley supervising editor
Evan Daum	....	adr mixer
Ryan Farris	....	boom operator
Karyn Foster	....	dialogue editor
Dan Izen	....	additional sound mixer
Jason W. Jennings	....	sound effects editor
Adam Johnston	....	sound effects editor
Tim LeBlanc	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Ledford	....	production sound mixer
Mark L. Mangino	....	supervising dialogue editor
James Morioka	....	sound effects editor
Gregory H. Watkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris Welcker	....	sound utility
David Werntz	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Phillip Beck	....	special effects technician
James R. Bilz	....	special effects technician
Jeff Brink	....	special effects coordinator
Conrad V. Brink Jr.	....	special effects foreman
Shane Gross	....	special effects technician
Edward Joubert	....	special effects technician
Charlie Simunik	....	special effects foreman
Lisa Zito	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Ritesh Aggrawal	....	digital compositor
Anthony Barcelo	....	digital compositor
Praveen Bareria	....	digital compositor
Asif Bhushan	....	digital compositor
James David Hattin	....	digital compositor
Jiwoon Kim	....	digital compositor
Steven Lloyd	....	digital artist
George Macri	....	visual effects producer: Pixel Magic
Ray McIntyre Jr.	....	visual effects supervisor
Brad Moylan	....	digital compositor: Pixel Magic
Ben Myers	....	digital compositor: Frantic Films
Siddharthan Raman	....	roto/prep artist
Karthic Ramesh	....	visual effects artist
Christy Richmond	....	visual effects editor
Bobby Silman	....	digital compositor: Frantic Films

Stunts
Tom Akos	....	utility stunts
John Ashker	....	stunt driver
Kevin Beard	....	utility stunts
Rosie Bernhard	....	stunts
Chick Bernhardt	....	stunts
Pauline Boudreaux	....	precision driver
Gregg Brazzel	....	stunts
Jessika Brodosi	....	stunts
Mike Burke	....	stunt driver
Harold Burns	....	stunt performer
Laurence Chavez	....	stunts
Trace Cheramie	....	stunts
Lena Clark	....	stunts
Shawn Crowder	....	stunt driver
Wally Crowder	....	stunt performer
John Evanko	....	utility stunts
Chris J. Fanguy	....	stunt performer
Denise Gallo	....	stunt performer
Jeff Galpin	....	stunt driver
Lex D. Geddings	....	utility stunts
Tanner Gill	....	stunts
Russell M. Haeuser	....	precision driver
Jim Henry	....	stunts
Danny Cosmo Higginbottom	....	utility stunts (as Danny Cosmo)
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunt driver
Jacob Kabel	....	utility stunts
Tracy Keehn-Dashnaw	....	stunt double
Henry Kingi Jr.	....	stunt double: Brian J. White
Patrick Lahaie	....	utility stunts
Elton LeBlanc	....	precision driver
Michael Li	....	stunt rigger
Billy D. Lucas	....	stunt double
Khristian Lupo	....	stunt double: John Cena
Kyle McDuffie	....	stunts
Brandon Melendy	....	stunt double: Gonzalo Menendez
David Mueller	....	stunts
Eric Norris	....	stunts
Holly O'Quin	....	stunt performer
Bill Orsini	....	stunts
Dave Phillips	....	stunt rigger
Alec Rayme	....	stunts
Brieann Rich	....	stunt driver
Nicholas Rich	....	stunt driver
Steve Ritzi	....	stunt coordinator
Mike Ryan	....	stunt driver
Nick Stanner	....	utility stunts
Jill Stokesberry	....	stunts
Dustin Thompson	....	stunt driver
Russell Towery	....	stunts
Durk Tyndall	....	stunt rigger
Todd Warren	....	stunts
Arielle Zimmerman	....	stunts
John Zimmerman	....	stunt rigger

Camera and Electrical Department
David Akin	....	epk videographer
Adam Bandera	....	lighting technician
Brandon Baudier	....	electrician
Bob Boccaccio	....	EPK camera
Doug Caire	....	rigging best boy electric
Chip Carey	....	rigging gaffer
Jarrid Clinkinbeard	....	rigging electrician
Willie Estrada	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Sean Finnegan	....	gaffer
Tim Hawn	....	lighting technician
Brian Heller	....	aerial cinematographer
Penelope Helmer	....	second assistant camera
Richard T. Hoover	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
Jerry M. Jacob	....	camera operator
Kyle Jenkins	....	video utility
McKay Johnson	....	second assistant camera
Michael D. Kennedy	....	video utility
Ryan Lamy	....	rigging electric
Alan J. Mehlbrech	....	additional camera operator
Robert Morrison	....	dolly grip
Robert Morrison	....	underwater grip
Christopher Murphy	....	key digital video assist operator
Meiklejohn Pate	....	grip
Patti Perret	....	still photographer
Kenny Rivenbark	....	camera operator
Declan Ryan	....	lighting technician
Bily Salazar	....	video assistant
Anthony Schrader	....	electrician
Codie Scott	....	rigger
Wayne Sharp	....	dolly grip
James Allen Sheppard	....	second video assist: re-shoots
Tiffani L. Stephenson	....	loader
Nathan Tape	....	lighting technician
Lee Vickery	....	first assistant green camera
Jason Vowell	....	video assistant
Joe Waistell	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Alex Willson	....	lighting technician
Scott Zuchowski	....	best boy electric

Casting Department
Elizabeth Coulon	....	casting: Louisiana
Jennifer Cram	....	casting associate
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Dylan Jury	....	casting assistant
Matthew Paul Spriggs	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tracey Dundas	....	costumer
Annette Farnsworth	....	costumer
Loretta Harper	....	key set costumer
Ashley Martin	....	costume buyer
Meagan McLaughlin	....	key costumer
Ann Walters	....	costume supervisor
Lesley D. Wickham	....	costume ager/dyer

Editorial Department
Steven Cuellar	....	editorial production assistant
Tom Dailey	....	first assistant editor
Doug Delaney	....	digital intermediate colorist
Matthew W. Johnson	....	digital intermediate editor

Music Department
Robb Boyd	....	music editor
Steve Kempster	....	music recordist: orchestra
Paul Linford	....	composer: additional music
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor
Booker White	....	head of music preparation

Transportation Department
Keith N. Collis	....	transportation captain
Anthony Forester	....	picture car coordinator
Chuck Graydon	....	driver: production van
Teresa Haney	....	transportation
Lance Leis	....	driver
Danny Mortenson	....	transportation coordinator
Gwendalane Ramos	....	transportation dispatcher
Bob 'Smitty' Smith	....	driver: hair/make-up trailer
Oranz Walker	....	driver captain

Other crew
Les Arceneaux	....	assistant location manager
Barbara Babb	....	set production assistant
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances
Sean F. Barth	....	product placement
Leigh Brumley	....	stand-in
Richard E. Carter II	....	set production assistant
Delma Cupit	....	production assistant
Sid Deleon	....	set medic
Jessica Dwyer	....	additional production assistant
Brian Evans	....	first assistant accountant
Gina Hendrick	....	production accountant
Vanessa Hickey	....	production assistant
Sam Horton	....	production assistant
Sam Horton	....	production secretary
Justin C. Hosp	....	production assistant
Kirk W. Johnson	....	production assistant
Kirk W. Johnson	....	set production assistant: Additional Photography
Zak Kadison	....	production executive
Lauren Leach	....	assistant production coordinator
Lauren Leach	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Julie Lopinto	....	second assistant accountant
Ryan Lough	....	set production assistant
R.O. Mackey	....	stand-in
David Ross McCarty	....	location manager
John A. Mmahat Jr.	....	assistant location manager
Holly O'Quin	....	set medic
Gretchen Oyster	....	key set production assistant
Nathan Parker	....	key set production assistant: additional photography
Shannon Parker	....	production assistant
Brieann Rich	....	rescue diver
Nicholas Rich	....	rescue diver
Michael Riley	....	title designer
Anthony Rossi III	....	production coordinator
Anthony Rossi III	....	production supervisor: additional photography
Derek A. Schwebel	....	craft service
Shane B. Scott	....	script supervisor
Allyson Seeger	....	assistant: Mr. Gordon
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances
Nikki Stanghetti	....	assistant: Renny Harlin
Shayne Tingle	....	photo double
Derrick Bentley Wells	....	production assistant
Kurt Wetherill	....	set production assistant
Alexander B. Williams	....	additional craft service
Nichole Wleklinski	....	production assistant
Gretchen E. Wulf	....	extras wrangler

Production Companies

• Mark Gordon Company, The
• Midnight Sun Pictures
• WWE Films (as WWE Studios)

Distributors

• Fox Atomic (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2009) (UK) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2009) (Malaysia) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox C.I.S. (2009) (Russia) (theatrical)
• United Motion Pictures (2009) (Egypt) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Future Film (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Odeon (2009) (Greece) (all media)

Special Effects

• Exit 8 Productions
• Wintergreen Productions

Other Companies

• Behind the Scenes Freight  shipping by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera car
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  hydrascope telescoping crane arm
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  stabilized remote camera systems
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Global Tactical Services  security services
• Hollywood Trucks  entertainment transportation
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Paramount Transportation Services  transportation services
• Pictorvision  aerial camera system
• Post Logic Studios  digital intermediate services

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44875) | Australia:M | Singapore:PG | New Zealand:M | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-13 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | UK:12A (cut) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Ireland:12A | Mexico:B | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Mark Gordon Company, The

Trivia:

During filming, John Cena reduced his wrestling schedule to only appearing at pay-per-views and Monday Night Raw tapings.

Quotes:

Det. Danny Fisher: I'm training the world's most dominant pug. He's going through a bulking phase.

Movie Connections:

References "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960)

Soundtrack:

Start Today

The Marine + Speed + Die Hard: With a Vengeance + Renny Harlin = Good old fashioned, fun action flick.

This type of movies are predictable. Good guy vs. Bad guy. Yes, from the trailer we've all seen it before. We know what's gonna happen next. But what's refreshing about "12 Rounds", the latest John Cena outing, is that it has solid action scenes, that were filmed for real, thus giving the movie an extra edge. All of this is thanks to director Renny Harlin.

I am not ashamed to call myself a fan of Renny Harlin. He, as you may know, is a director who puts his heart in crafting white-knuckle action. Think "Die Hard 2", "Cliffhanger", and "The Long Kiss Goodnight". All of those films contain many thrilling action, most of them filmed practically, without CGI. The film's plot, although a blatant but forgivable rip-off of "DH3" and with elements of "The Marine" works well with Harlin because it is what he does best - making solid action FOR REAL. Two action sequences deserve mention here; Cena's character (unintentionally...I think) using a fire engine to destroy part of New Orleans faster than Hurricane Katrina ever will, and a sequence involving a tram, which is impressive.

As for the acting, it's pretty mediocre at best, but with action movies, it's normal nowadays. John "Matt Damon on steroids" Cena here, however, is a step up from his previous "Marine", here he's more flexible and believable. Brian J. White is okay as his partner, as per his sweetheart, Ashley Scott. The villain played by Aiden Gillen, is what could be the first time I've seen a movie villain be intelligent and annoying at the same time. The rest of the cast, especially the FBI agents, fall flat.

And finally, as far as believability goes, the film is not nearly as ridiculous as "The Marine", it's more realistic. Sure, there are few "ok that's bull" scenes, but there's very little of that, in fact in a scene I thought Cena would become Evel Knievel but thankfully he didn't.

So in short, it's a big, loud, dumb, and fun time waster. See it for the action only. It's a big breath of fresh air after CGI laden DTV nonsense. Glad to see Harlin back doing what he does best; old school action.

Entertainment value: 7.5/10

Overall: 6/10