- Writers
- Michael Brandt(screenplay)
- Derek Haas(screenplay)
- Chris Morgan(screenplay)
- Stars
- Writers
- Michael Brandt(screenplay)
- Derek Haas(screenplay)
- Chris Morgan(screenplay)
- Stars
- Mr. X
- (as David Patrick O'Hara)
- The Exterminator
- (as Konstantin Khabensky)
- Man in the Limo
- (uncredited)
- Writers
- Michael Brandt(screenplay) (story)
- Derek Haas(screenplay) (story)
- Chris Morgan(screenplay)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJames McAvoy screentested for the lead role in early 2006, but was initially rejected, as the studio wanted a more "conventional" leading man. He was later recalled when the producers decided that his character was more "the runt of the litter." The studio ultimately changed its mind and wanted someone geeky. McAvoy got the part.
- GoofsAfter quitting his job, Wesley sees his and Fox's photo from the security camera, at the pharmacy, on the all newspapers' front pages. Once the incident at the pharmacy occurred, the police would have questioned the pharmacist who had Wesley's name for the prescription (and most likely his address also). The police would have picked him up before he went to work for questioning.
- Quotes
Janice: Jesus H. Fuckin' Popsicle! I still don't have my billing reports, but you've got time to sit there and Google your ass off? Well, I know one thing: you've got your review coming up next week, and I can't wait to start checking me off some big *fucking* *boxes*!
[clicks her stapler for emphasis. Wesley cringes at every click]
Janice: Attitude: *poor*. Performance: *poor*. Management skills: *poor*. Works well with others? Ha! That's a fucking joke.
[looks at Wesley's computer]
Janice: What is this bullshit; who's this prick? Some loser gets his head blown off in the Metropolitan...
Wesley: SHUT THE FUCK UP!
[the office grows quiet]
Wesley: [to co-workers] She has ONE, SINGLE iota of tenuous power! She thinks she can push everyone around?
[grabs Janice's stapler]
Wesley: You don't need this.
[throws the stapler against the wall of his cubicle, smashing it]
Wesley: I understand. Junior High must've been kind of tough, but it doesn't give you the right to treat your workers like horseshit, Janice. I know we laugh at you, Janice. We all know you keep a stash of jelly donuts in the top drawer of your desk.
[crouches down]
Wesley: But I want you to know, if you weren't such a bitch, we'd feel sorry for you. I do feel sorry for you. But as it stands, the way you behave - I feel I can speak for the entire office when I tell you... go fuck yourself.
- Crazy creditsThere are no opening credits. The title appears as a headline on a newspaper well into the movie.
- Alternate versionsThe Australian theatrical version cut a 10 second sequence where Wesley jams a gun through a dead man's mouth and uses his body as a shield while he shoots down other gunmen. This version was rated MA15+. Oddly enough, when the DVD came out, it had a sticker on the cover touting the film as "Uncut". While this was true -- and the violence in the gunfight had been re-instated -- the DVD carried the same MA15+ rating.
- SoundtracksHappy Birthday
Written by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill
Wanted was a Friday night rental and I cannot imagine it would work any other time than that. The plot is a mix between The Matrix and a warm turd (guess which side the loom is from) and it just about pulls a basic frame for lots of action, running, shouting, and gun pornography. There is not a point to expecting anything more than this because it offers nothing more, except maybe unintentional laughs at the sheer nonsense of the plot. This was not a particular problem for me in terms of words on paper but the delivery seemed to suggest that I should take it at least a little bit seriously and is a bit po-faced to the detriment of the film, which really needed to be played for sheer fun.
Because the action is reliant on the plot and characters to draw us in, it cannot save the film but it certainly provides a distraction. The excessive abilities of these humans is another turn off in regards "getting into it" but on the flipside it does provide some action sequences that are so outrageous that it is hard not to enjoy them for the sheer spectacle. Director Bekmambetov is probably a reasonable choice if this is the only aim as he also made that superficial vampire success the other year, but he cannot draw anything from the talented cast nor draw the audience in. I feel a little sorry for James McAvoy as he has solid roles under his belt and was due his "big action film" role, however this shows that when opportunity does knock you should probably answer with the door on the chain just in case. He has a fairly thankless role but throws himself into it well enough within the context of the film. Morgan Freeman dials in his performance but yet it still fits. Jolie has clearly just been told to pout and look sexy as much as possible because that is all she does. Personally I found her skinny frame to be alarmingly unsexy and wondered who she is surrounding herself with that nobody has taken her to side about how bad she looks in this film. The support cast offer little but their familiar faces and are a weird bunch of Stamp, Common, Warren and others.
Wanted is a fairly basic film then but one that has enough money thrown at the action to just about make it appeal to the teenage boy in us all. However it is impossible to ignore just how very daft it all is and how none of it really gets the heart going. Instantly forgettable stuff but if you're looking for something noisy and totally undemanding then this would fit that bill.
- bob the moo
- Sep 11, 2008
Details
Box office
- 1 hour 50 minutes