Assassination Games (2011)

Director:

Ernie Barbarash

Writer:

Aaron Rahsaan Thomas

Release Date:

19 January 2012 (Russia)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Plot:

Two assassins agree to work together as one tries to avenge his wife and the other collect a reward for a job.

Plot Keywords:

Assassin | Shootout | Hero | Bare Chested Male | Sniper Rifle

Cast

Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Vincent Brazil
Scott Adkins	...	Roland Flint
Ivan Kaye	...	Polo Yakur
Valentin Teodosiu	...	Blanchard
Alin Panc	...	Kovacs
Kevin Chapman	...	Culley
Serban Celea	...	Wilson Herrod
Michael Higgs	...	Godfrey
Kristopher Van Varenberg	...	Schell
Marija Karan	...	October
Bianca Bree	...	Anna Flint (as Bianca Van Varenberg)
Andrew French	...	Nalbandian
Attila Árpa	...	Telly
Marioara Sterian	...	Mrs. Pavlescu
George Remes	...	Bartok
Anghel Cristian	...	Bogdan (as Cristian Anghel)
Salahadine H. Beztout	...	Max (as Salahidine H. 'Max' Beztout)
Mario Marian	...	Danzo Yakur
Viscreanu Constantin	...	Police Officer (as Constantin Viscreanu)
Alexandra Apetrei	...	Rodica
Andrei Finti	...	Vadim Belsky
Serbanescu Florin	...	Belsky's Bodyguard (as Florin Serbanescu)
Loredana Groza	...	Loredana
Kateryna Zakharchenko	...	Lena Belskaya
Catalin Radu Tanase	...	Reporter
Justin Bursch	...	Ionescu
Maria-Antoaneta Tudor	...	Herrod's Wife
Mariya Guzeeva	...	Svetlana
Sabin Piso	...	Groom
Julian Burns	...	Groomsman
Manuela Pana	...	Wedding Guest
Florin Busuioc	...	Gregor Antonescu
Sorin Cristea	...	Milton Smythe
Iulia Lumânare	...	Maria Leonte (as Iulia Lumanare)
Ioana Pavelescu	...	Judge
Relu Poalelungi	...	Emil Lacroix
Ruxandra Stanciu	...	Adele Lacroix
Claudiu Trandafir	...	Doctor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ryan H. Jackson	...	Hit Man (uncredited)
Boy Prevos	...	Walton (uncredited)

Directed by
Ernie Barbarash

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Aaron Rahsaan Thomas

Produced by
Mark Bakunas	....	associate producer
Bianca Bree	....	co-producer (as Bianca Van Varenberg)
Justin Bursch	....	producer
Mike Callaghan	....	executive producer
Brad Krevoy	....	producer
Paul M. Leonard	....	co-producer
Reuben Liber	....	executive producer
Todd Moyer	....	co-producer
Patrick Newall	....	producer
Philip Poole	....	assistant producer
Gabriel Popescu	....	line producer
Alison Semenza	....	co-producer
Lane Shefter Bishop	....	co-producer
Nick Thurlow	....	executive producer
Jean-Claude Van Damme	....	executive producer
Gregory M. Walker	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Neal Acree

Cinematography by
Phil Parmet

Film Editing by
Peter Devaney Flanagan

Casting by
Carolyn McLeod

Production Design by
Paul Blanchard
John Welbanks

Art Direction by
Anca Perja

Costume Design by
Ioana Corciova

Makeup Department
Andreea Dardea	....	key makeup artist
Krystal Kershaw	....	key makeup artist: New Orleans
Adrienne Lynn	....	hair stylist
Manuela Pana	....	makeup artist
Margareta Stefan	....	hair stylist
Elena Tudor	....	hair stylist
Gino Zamprioli	....	makeup department head
Ilaria Zamprioli	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Patrick Newall	....	unit production manager
Anthony Rolfes	....	production supervisor
Cj Stewart	....	post-production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Florin Filipescu	....	second second assistant director
Mihaela Ionita	....	first assistant director: second unit
Christopher Landry	....	first assistant director
Ben Ledoux	....	second assistant director: New Orleans
Patrick Newall	....	second unit director
Maria Nita	....	second second assistant director
Letitia Rosculet	....	second assistant director
Stanimir Stamatov	....	action unit director

Art Department
Stelian Anghelescu	....	leadman
Marian Badea	....	swing gang
Paul Blanchard	....	set decorator: New Orleans
Gabriel Collins	....	set decorator: New Orleans
Viorel Constantinescu	....	props
Radu George	....	swing gang
Cornel Nastase	....	props
Vlad Panaitescu	....	set construction manager
Dan Toma	....	property master (as Daniel Toma)
Jeremy Woolsey	....	visual consultant
Brook Yeaton	....	property master: New Orleans

Sound Department
Joshua Adeniji	....	foley editor
Nicolae Comarzan	....	boom operator
Mirel Cristea	....	sound mixer
Naomi Dandridge	....	adr mixer
Dobre Daniel	....	cable puller
Jason Dotts	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Jason Dotts	....	sound designer
Cameron O. Galloway	....	adr editor
Cameron O. Galloway	....	dialogue editor
Jerry Gilbert	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steven Iba	....	adr mixer
Paul Knox	....	sound effects editor
Ferenc Lukacs	....	adr recordist
Liviu Lupsa	....	sound recordist: second unit
Florian Stoica	....	boom operator (second unit)
Lionel Strutt	....	adr coordinator
Cristian Tarnovetchi	....	sound mixer
Carlos Wilkerson	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Stegaru Adrian	....	special effects
Nick Allder	....	special effects supervisor
Liviu Lungu	....	special effects technician
Adrian Popescu	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Draghici Bogdan	....	visual effects artist
Aurelian Cojocaru	....	digital compositor
Nicolae-Gheorghe Cojocaru	....	visual effects artist
Felix Lepadatu	....	digital effects supervisor
Razvan Margineanu	....	digital compositor
Claudiu Olaru	....	matchmover
George Palcut	....	digital compositor
Alexandru Ion Radu	....	digital compositor
Jason Ripley	....	visual effects artist
Cosmin Sarbulescu	....	visual effects artist
D.J. Shea	....	visual effects supervisor: Post Matters
Juan Soto	....	visual effects coordinator
Lacramioara Vasiliu	....	visual effects producer
Aurelian Vulpasu	....	production manager
Tony Willis	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Mihai Diaconu	....	stunts
Marian Dumitru	....	stunts
Duma Iulian	....	stunts
Marin Petrica	....	stunt performer
Rasvan Puiu	....	stunt coordinator
Gabriel Serban	....	stunts
Stanimir Stamatov	....	fight choreographer
Stanimir Stamatov	....	stunt coordinator
Stanimir Stamatov	....	stunt double: Jean-Claude Van Damme
Andrei Vintileanu	....	stunts
Daniel Visan	....	stunt actor

Camera and Electrical Department
Cos Aelenei	....	still photographer
Roxana Ardelean	....	second assistant camera
Dragos Badea	....	video assistant
Doru Baicu	....	generator operator
Aurel Burtea	....	generator operator
Mihaela Buruiana	....	clapper loader
Joe Cassano	....	dolly grip: New Orleans
Gilly Charbonnet	....	key grip: New Orleans
Alexandru Chitoroaga	....	DIT technician
Fericean Cosmin	....	camera operator: second unit (as Cosmin Fericean)
Lucian Diaconu	....	gaffer
Bogdan Dumitru	....	DIT technician
Alexandru Enache	....	DIT technician
Gheorghe Enache	....	grip
Titi Gavrila	....	first assistant camera
Stefan Hillerin	....	camera operator: second unit
Marius Ivascu	....	camera operator
McKay Johnson	....	digital imaging technician: reshoots
Scott Luttrell	....	grip: New Orleans
Philippe Malita	....	second assistant camera
Stefan Mangar	....	camera operator
Mike McLaughlin	....	gaffer: New Orleans (as Michael McLaughlin)
Lee McLemore	....	best boy grip: New Orleans
Granaru Mihai	....	electrician
Aurel Militaru	....	electrician
Ionut Neculce	....	electrician
Mihai Parvu	....	electrician
Razvan Paslaru	....	key grip
Marian Pisau	....	grip
Alex Popescu	....	assistant camera
Alexandru Popescu	....	second assistant camera
Cornel Popescu	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Luke Porterfield	....	grip: New Orleans
Ivan Giany Roberto	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Trey Shaneyfelt	....	best boy electric: New Orleans
Jessica Sims	....	digital utility
Octavian Sotir	....	second assistant camera
Bogdan Stanciu	....	steadicam operator: "a" camera operator
Aurelian Stoica	....	best boy grip
Ionut Voicu	....	best boy electric
Toni Weick	....	camera utility

Casting Department
Mihai Ghior	....	casting: Romania
Laura Grosu	....	extras casting
Liliana Toma	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Laurentiu Alexe	....	dresser: Mr. Van Damme
Eli Calin	....	wardrobe supervisor
Jillian Kreiner	....	costume supervisor: New Orleans
Diana Sav	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Paul Abelkis	....	first assistant editor
Gerri Sax Bove	....	post-production coordinator (as Gerri Lynn Sax)
John Portnoy	....	colorist
Adam Rowe	....	on-line editor

Music Department
Laurie Ann Haus	....	solo vocals
Christopher Violette	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Lucian Agradinaritei	....	driver
Cristi Albu	....	driver
Alexandru Badea	....	driver
Razvan Ciuraru	....	driver
Florin Costa	....	driver
Marian Crantea	....	driver
Sorin Dinu	....	transportation coordinator
Marian Florea	....	driver
Bogdan Ionita	....	driver
George Niculescu	....	driver
Andi Rosu	....	driver
Octav Tudor	....	picture car coordinator (as Octavian Tudor)
Stefan Tudose	....	driver
Cristian Tuta	....	driver

Other crew
Oana Babes	....	production coordinator
Petruta Baicu	....	caterer
Andra Barbuica	....	script supervisor
Liz Barker	....	set production assistant: New Orleans
Teo Bostanica	....	unit manager
Mihai Busuioc	....	production accountant
Andrew Cavaness	....	location assistant: New Orleans
Mona Coulter	....	travel agent
Zack Earl Edwards	....	additional set production assistant
Remus Enus	....	production assistant
Matthew Ford	....	set medic: New Orleans
Cristian Georgescu	....	craft service
Justin Groetsch	....	production coordinator: New Orleans
Mike Groner	....	insurance broker
Pamela Jones	....	post-production accountant
Yvette LaPlace	....	location manager
Amy Law	....	medic on set: New Orleans
Razvan Lazarescu	....	cashier
Irina Matei	....	script supervisor: second unit
Olteanu Mihai	....	production assistant (as Mihai Olteanu)
Patrick Mizell	....	location assistant: New Orleans
Elena Neascu	....	production assistant
Radu Nechita	....	extras coordinator
Sandy Parker	....	script supervisor: New Orleans
Cristian Popa	....	craft service
Ashley Romain	....	office production assistant: New Orleans
Viorel Scornea	....	caterer
A.J. Timmcke	....	assistant production coordinator: New Orleans
Jay Watt	....	set medic
Shadoe Knight	....	stand-in/photo double (uncredited)

Thanks
Jordan Bursch	....	special thanks
Mike Leeder	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Mediapro Studios
• Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA)
• Rodin Entertainment

Distributors

• Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA) (2011) (worldwide) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) (2011) (worldwide) (all media)
• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Australia) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2012) (Argentina) (all media)

Other Companies

• Act One Script Clearance  script research
• Central Casting Romania  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Hollywood Trucks  Entertainment Transportation
• Louisiana Media Productions  production services
• Post Matters  post-production facilities
• Postdigital  post-production sound services
• Silver Screen Supply  portable power systems and cables

Also Known As:

"Weapon" - USA (alternative title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong brutal and bloody violence, torture, language and some sexuality/nudity

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

USA:R | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Australia:MA15+ | Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:16 | UK:18 | South Korea:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Argentina:13 | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:18 | Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Bucharest, Romania

Company:

Mediapro Studios

Trivia:

During the scene where Flint visits Polo's 'hardware guy', he uses a laser-guided gun to target him. The sound effect used for the mechanical movement is taken from _Robocop (1987)_.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: When Scott Adkins is connecting a camera to his mobile phone, he is shown with a Nokia N96, but he then puts a Blackberry away in his pocket.

Quotes:

Vincent Brazil:This is my contract.
Roland Flint:It's personal.
Vincent Brazil:If you lose me my fee, that's personal to me!

The Best Film That You Probably Won't See This Summer

Wow! I really got lucky with this one! A Jean Claude Van Damme film released in theaters for the first time in the United States since 1998 if memory serves right! A very limited release mind you, but he's finally made it back to the big screen! It hasn't been advertised here at all which is a shame because Assassination Games is an excellent film! So where do I begin? Well, the film was shot for $4,000,000 dollars in some Eastern Block country which would normally scare me, but it actually ends up looking a lot better than the above stated price tag. Say around the 15 to 20,000,000 dollar range. The camera and editing work was very well done and the musical score is excellent, non pervasive and flows with the movie in a non intrusive way that adds to the dramatic effect instead of taking away from it. The story is pretty well done. I'd give the dialog a solid B for an action movie and there were no detectable plot holes that I could find.

The best actor in the film in my opinion was probably Andrew French who plays Nalbandian who plays Devil's Advocate to Van Damme fallowed by Maria Kaijan, Jean Claude, Scott Adkins and Ivan Kaye. In fact, the acting was pretty much all the way around solid except for the interpol agents who's dialog and delivery was extremely weak.

The film goes about 50/ 50 on the action to drama ratio. It drags a bit after the first 5 minutes or so but the fight scenes are interspersed throughout the film well and are also followable which is more than I could say for some larger budget films like the Transformers franchise and I would definitely have to say that Jean and Scott make an excellent action duo as they have the whole fire and ice thing going.

If you happen to be within an hours drive of any of the theaters listed on the movie website, go and check the film out. It isn't as good as JCVD or the new Universal Soldier, but it's a very close third. So go check it out or just wait for the DVD. It'll be worth it! Thank you Jean Claude! I never thought I'd see you on the big screen again!