Safe (2012)

Mei, a young girl whose memory holds a priceless numerical code, finds herself pursued by the Triads, the Russian mob, and corrupt NYC cops. Coming to her aid is an ex-cage fighter whose life was destroyed by the gangsters on Mei's trail.

Director:

Boaz Yakin

Writer:

Boaz Yakin

Stars:

Jason Statham, Catherine Chan, Chris Sarandon

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Statham	...	Luke Wright
Catherine Chan	...	Mei
Robert John Burke	...	Captain Wolf
James Hong	...	Han Jiao
Anson Mount	...	Alex Rosen
Chris Sarandon	...	Mayor Tremello
Sándor Técsy	...	Emile Docheski
Joseph Sikora	...	Vassily Docheski
Igor Jijikine	...	Chemyakin
Reggie Lee	...	Quan Chang
James Colby	...	Detective Mears
Matt O'Toole	...	Detective Lasky
Jack Gwaltney	...	Detective Reddick
Barry Bradford	...	Detective Benoit
Jay Giannone	...	Detective Kolfax

Storyline

In China, the girl Mei is a genius that looks like a computer in numbers. She is abducted by the Chinese Triads and the boss Han Jiao takes Mei to New York's Chinatown in order to help him in his criminal activities. Meanwhile, the fighter Luke Wright has his life destroyed when he wins a fight against the will of the Russian Mafia and accidentally kills his opponent. The Russian mobsters kill his wife and the alcoholic Luke wanders aimlessly on the streets and homeless shelters. One day, Han Jiao asks Mei to memorize a long number and soon the Russian Mafia abducts the girl from the Chinese mobs. She escapes from the mobsters and is chased by the Russians; by the corrupt detectives from the NYPD; and by the Triads. When Luke sees the girl fleeing from the Russian mobs in the subway, he protects the girl and discovers that the number she had memorized is the combination of a safe where the Triads keep 30 million dollars. Luke is an elite agent and uses his skills to protect the girl.

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Plot Keywords:

triad | russian mafia | bodyguard | gang war | protect the code breaker | 

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Taglines:

She has the code. He is the key.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence throughout, and for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scenes at the mayor's mansion were filmed at the Bloomfield estate in Villanova, Pennsylvania. On April 4th (less than one month before the film's release), the garage burst into flames, starting what would eventually become a four alarm fire that destroyed most of the third floor of the main house.

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Goofs

Inconsistent lighting from shot to shot during the meeting between Captain Wolf and Chang. When the camera is facing Chang, he's shown to be backlit by the sun. In the reverse angles, with the camera on Wolf, Chang is, like Wolf, standing out of direct sunlight.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Emile Docheski: You're lying to me.

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Connections

Referenced in Nostalgia Critic: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014 (2015)

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Soundtracks

Under the Belt
Written and Performed by Dror Mohar
Licensed by Arrangement with 13n Music
Courtesy of 13n Music

User Reviews

'SAFE' is a safe bet for Jason Statham fans!

'SAFE': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Jason Statham action vehicle written and directed by Boaz Yakin. Yakin's previous directing efforts include 'REMEMBER THE TITANS', 'UPTOWN GIRLS' and 'FRESH', so a B action film starring Jason Statham is an interesting choice for the filmmaker. The story revolves around Statham playing an ex-cagefighter who's made enemies with the Russian mob and corrupt NYC police department that comes to the aid of a young girl wanted by both. The movie is surprisingly unsentimental and a pretty hard hitting action film. Statham fans should be more than pleased.

Statham plays Luke Wright, a small time MMA fighter who fails to throw a fight and pisses off everyone who was betting against him, including the Russian mob. The mobsters kill his wife and threaten him with the knowledge that he'll always be watched and anyone he befriends or even comes in to contact with will be killed. So he travels the streets of New York City alone, depressed and ready to kill himself until he meets a young girl named Mei (Catherine Chan) in need of his help. Mei is an eleven-year-old mathematical genius who was forced to work for the Triad and now holds the code to an important safe in her head. She's wanted by the Triad, Russian Mafia and corrupt NYC cops. Luke takes it upon himself to help her and of course finds a new reason to live.

The premise and adds could lead you to believe that this is another cheesy and sappy action star befriending kid film but Jason Statham fans can rejoice in the fact that he doesn't take that path. Statham is a much more respectable and high moraled movie tough guy than the likes of The Rock and Vin Diesel. At least thus far in his career he can't be labeled a sellout. This film is about as violent and brutal as any film Statham has done. Thanks in large part to Yakin's decent directing. The script could have used some work; it's routine and lacking bite. The story of Statham befriending the little Chinease girl does still have some heart and emotion though, but just the right amount. As far as Statham action films go this one is about average. Exactly what I expect from one, no more and no less.

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Details

Official Sites:

Lionsgate [United States] Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English Mandarin Russian

Release Date:

27 April 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Safe

Filming Locations:

Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,892,539, 29 April 2012

Gross USA:

$17,142,080

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$41,564,670

Company Credits

Production Co:

IM Global, Lionsgate, Automatik Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1