Parker (2013)

A thief with a unique code of professional ethics is double-crossed by his crew and left for dead. Assuming a new disguise and forming an unlikely alliance with a woman on the inside, he looks to hijack the score of the crew's latest heist.

Director:

Taylor Hackford

Writers:

John J. McLaughlin (screenplay), Donald E. Westlake (novel)

Stars:

Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Chiklis

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Statham	...	Parker
Jennifer Lopez	...	Leslie Rodgers
Michael Chiklis	...	Melander
Wendell Pierce	...	Carlson
Clifton Collins Jr.	...	Ross
Bobby Cannavale	...	Jake Fernandez
Patti LuPone	...	Ascension
Carlos Carrasco	...	Norte
Micah A. Hauptman	...	August Hardwicke
Emma Booth	...	Claire
Nick Nolte	...	Hurley
Daniel Bernhardt	...	Kroll
Billy Slaughter	...	Ohio State Fair Security Guard Ben
Jon Eyez	...	Jack
Carl J. Walker	...	Ohio State Fair Accounts Manager (as Carl Walker)

Storyline

Parker is a thief who has an unusual code. He doesn't steal from the poor and hurt innocent people. He is asked to join 4 other guys one of whom is related to a known mobster. They pull off the job flawlessly and Parker wants to part ways with them. But because he refused to join them for another job they try to kill him. They dispose of his body but someone finds him and he is still alive and takes him to the hospital. After recovering he sets out to get back at the ones who tried to kill him, another one of his codes. He learns where they are and poses as a wealthy Texan looking to buy a house. So he hires a Realtor, Leslie Rogers to show him around. He is actually trying to find out where they're holed up. And when he finds it, he sets out on his plan to get them. But when they learn he is alive, they contact the mobster to take care of him. So he sends a killer to take care of him.

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Plot Keywords:

heist | thief | left for dead | murder | broken rib | 

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Taglines:

To get away clean, you have to play dirty.

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Genres:

Action | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, language throughout and brief sexual content/nudity

Details

Official Sites:

FilmDistrict [United States] Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 January 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Parkeris

Filming Locations:

Boca Raton Resort & Club - 501 East Camino Real, Boca Raton, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$7,008,222 (USA) (25 January 2013)

Gross:

$17,609,982 (USA) (29 March 2013)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Incentive Filmed Entertainment, Sierra / Affinity, Alexander/ Mitchell Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the first adaptation of a Richard Stark/Parker novel to use the character name Parker. Although the following movies are based on the "Parker" novels, the name was always changed: Point Blank (Walker), The Split (McClain), The Outfit (Macklin), Slayground (Stone) and Payback (Porter).

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Goofs

When Jason is driving the Bentley and makes a U turn and stops, a crew member and the gear are visible in the door.

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Quotes

Parker: [points the gun] Do what I say and you won't get hurt.
Jack: [tried to take out gun from holster] Mine's bigger than yours.
Parker: [shoots him in the leg] It's not the size, it's how you use it.

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Connections

References Point Blank (1967)

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Soundtracks

"Corrido del Tigre Blanco"
Written by Jody Friedman (ASCAP)
Performed by Francisco Sarmiento
Courtesy of Music Dealers LLC

User Reviews

Statham Makes a Great Parker

As a fan of Donald Westlake's writing -- he did the Parker books under the pseudonym of Richard Stark -- I have long been bemused by the inability of film makers to adapt his work for the screen. Westlake wrote for the screen himself, and the Parker books are nothing but action and plot. Yes, there's character, but you figure it out from what Parker and his associates do.

With this, the fourth attempt to film a Parker novel, the film makers have found a practical if surprising choice for the title role. Jason Statham is not an actor of great oratorical powers, but he is a great physical actor, and he moves constantly like an angry tiger in a cage. The choice of a caper which is set largely in Palm Beach, with its artificial, pointless display of wealth and no other reason for existence is the perfect backdrop for the ferocity of Parker in his battle with Michael Chiklis' Melander; Jennifer Lopez' clueless Leslie, who gets caught up without understanding what is going on, gives the audience a good point of view.

Director Taylor Hackford is not a great director, but he is a highly competent one. Sixty years ago he would have been a major director for a studio, setting and working in the house style. Give him a story he can work with and he will hit all the notes, efficiently and effectively, and he has done so here. If the Parker of this movie is different from the Parker of the books, a bit more philosophical (although it comes down, in the end, to the tigerish "Do what I tell you and I will devour you last") we need to remember that a movie is not a book. This is not Donald Westlake's Parker, nor even the Parker I see when I read the books. However, it's still a very good one and worth your attention.