Criminal (2016)

In a last-ditch effort to stop a diabolical plot, a dead CIA operative's memories, secrets, and skills are implanted into a death-row inmate in hopes that he will complete the operative's mission.

Director:

Ariel Vromen

Writers:

Douglas Cook, David Weisberg

Stars:

Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Costner	...	Jerico Stewart
Gary Oldman	...	Quaker Wells
Tommy Lee Jones	...	Dr. Franks
Ryan Reynolds	...	Bill Pope
Jordi Mollà	...	Xavier Heimdahl (as Jordi Molla)
Gal Gadot	...	Jill Pope
Michael Pitt	...	Jan Strook - The Dutchman
Amaury Nolasco	...	Esteban Ruiza
Alice Eve	...	Marta Lynch
Antje Traue	...	Elsa Mueller
Scott Adkins	...	Pete Greensleeves
Lara Decaro	...	Emma Pope
Freddy Bosche	...	CIA Agent Pfeffer
Emmanuel Imani	...	CIA Agent #2
Harry Hepple	...	CIA Tech

Storyline

Bill Pope (Ryan Reynolds) is a CIA agent on a mission in London tracking down a shadowy hacker nicknamed "The Dutchman." When he gets mysteriously ambushed and killed, an experimental procedure is used to transfer his memories into dangerous convict Jericho Stewart (Kevin Costner). When he wakes up with the CIA agent's memories, his mission is to find The Dutchman and make the deal with him before the hacker launches ICBM's and starts World War III. But complications soon arise and the mission turns personal.

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Plot Keywords:

cia | husband wife relationship | violence | tied up while barefoot | memory | 

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Taglines:

Take me to the Dutchman.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and language throughout

Details

Official Sites:

Lionsgate Lionsgate Publicity

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English French

Release Date:

15 April 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mente implacable

Filming Locations:

Croydon College, College Road, Croydon, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$31,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,767,278, 17 April 2016, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$14,268,533, 8 May 2016

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$38,803,993

Company Credits

Production Co:

BenderSpink,Campbell Grobman Films,Criminal Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The moving bridge action car sequence was not originally scripted on a moving bridge, but a stationery one. It was a concept conceived by Ariel Vromen after he had to wait at an English airport, before going to the production office, and saw this bridge moving.

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Goofs

As the two agents are driving Jericho, it shows a police 'cage' between the front and back seats. Any vehicle designed to transfer prisoners would not allow the doors to be open from the backseat, although Jericho is able to.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jericho Stewart: [narrating] They messed with my brain. Thought they knew what they'd get, but they were wrong. They don't know me. I do not know what happens next, but this I do know: you hurt me... I hurt you worse.

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Connections

Referenced in Criminal Intent (2016)

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Soundtracks

Drift and Fall Again
Written by Brian Tyler, Keith Power, Yael Shoshana Cohen, Dekel Dvir, Mati Gilad, Gil Landau and Rami Osservaser
Performed by Madsonik featuring Lola Marsh
Published by Basso Profundo Music, Inc. (BMI), Madsonik Music Publishing (BMI), Conjure Music Publishing (SOCAN), Anova Music (ACUM)
By arrangement with Anova Music & Visions from the Roof
Courtesy of Lakeshore Records

User Reviews

The Ultimate Movie Review! - http://tss5078.blogspot.com - @tss5078

Twenty years ago, a similar film called Face Off debuted, and while the story seemed ridiculous, somehow it worked. Criminal is in the same boat, as audiences have been kept away by the complicated plot, which also seems to work quite well. The film starts with the brutal murder of a CIA agent, who has a secret vital to national security in his head. Out of desperation, the CIA turns to a doctor and an experimental procedure, which will allow the agents memories to be transferred into someone else's mind. The only problem is that the procedure requires a certain type of mind, the mind of a psychopath. Against his will, Jericho Stewart (Kevin Costner) is transferred to CIA headwaters and given the agents memories, but will he become the good agent and help save the world, or will he return to his murderous ways? Kevin Costner stars and reminds us all of what a terrific actor he truly is. It's hard to remember, considering that for the passed two decades he's done mostly romantic garbage, that you couldn't pay me to sit through. Costner returns to action as if he'd never been gone and does an amazing job playing this deeply conflicted, flawed man. Paired with an all-star cast, that features a ton of cameos, Criminal never slows down and will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time. It's not really the CIA crisis or the science fiction that keeps your interest throughout, it's the conflict growing in Jericho Stewart's brain, as he has essential turned into a person that is both good and evil. Yes, the story is a bit complicated, but it is fairly easy to follow, and Kevin Costner gives his best performance in at least a decade, making Criminal well worth the price of admission.