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) (as Richard Stark)

Stars:

Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Chiklis

1 nomination.

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 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 four other guys on a job. They pull it off flawlessly. They tell Parker that what they got can help them set up another job which will net them much more. But Parker doesn't want to join them and asks for his share. But they need it all so they try to kill him. They dispose of his body but someone finds him--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. Despite being told that they are working for a known mobster which he was not aware of, he still wants to go after them. He learns where they are and poses as a wealthy Texan looking to buy a house. So he hires a real estate agent, 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, ...

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Plot Keywords:

action hero | thief | heist | based on novel | bare breasts | 

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Taglines:

To get away clean, you have to play dirty.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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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:

Parker

Filming Locations:

Ohio State Fairgrounds, Columbus, Ohio, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,008,222, 27 January 2013, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$17,616,641

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$48,543,388

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat Dolby Surround 7.1 Dolby Atmos SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Hackford tells in the DVD bonus, film commentary, that the heist sequence was shot half in Ohio and the other half in Louisiana, because the fire sequence could have never been made in the middle of a crowd, the actual Ohio feast, carnival. So he explained that they used extras for the fire sequence in Louisiana and used the actual crowd in Ohio, where no one among the mob could recognize the actors such as Statham - who was disguised as a priest - Chiklis and so on...So the audience watched, during one minute, several shots made one thousand miles in between.

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Goofs

When Parker slides under the garage door as it is closing (twice) at Melander's house, he would have broken the infra red safety beam, so the door should have stopped and re-opened, alerting Mr. Rodrigo and his gang.

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Quotes

Parker: [to Leslie] Take off your clothes.

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Connections

Featured in Who Is 'Parker'? (2013)

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Soundtracks

My Heart Awakes Screaming
Written by Dax Riggs
Performed by Dax Riggs

User Reviews

Statham Doing What He Does Best - Kick Ass

Many people say the same things about Jason Statham, He's a typecast or he doesn't do anything different. Which is partly true, but he is good as an action star and in my opinion hes a better actor than what some say. I don't think he does get enough credit seeing how he got into movies almost by accident.

Anyways Parker has a good revenge/crime story its about a professional thief who lives by a simple code, don't steal from people who can't afford it and don't hurt people who don't deserve it. After a successful heist our man is left for dead by his partners. The movie has good action throughout. lots of hand to hand combat, and violent ones at that. It also has a better than usual cast and director for a statham action movie (Good villains + hot leading lady).

Overall, I got what I was expecting for $10 as a fan of Jason Statham and would recommend it for a good popcorn flick.

7/10