Naija Review Blog: The Movie, PARKER - A Must Watch?

Parker

Director: Taylor Hackford

Editor: Mark Warner

Cast:

Jason Statham - Parker

Jennifer Lopez - Leslie Rogers

Michael Chiklis - Melander

Wendell Pierce - Carlson

Clifton Collins - Ross

Bobby Canavele - Jake Fernandez

Patti LuPone - Ascension

Carlos Carrasco - Norte

Micha Hauptman - August Hardwick

Story

Parker is a thief who doesn't steal from the poor, and he doesn't hurt innocent folks. He joins four other guys one of whom is related to a known mobster to pull off a hit flawlessly. Parker intends to split after the heist but the others try to kill him for refusing to join them for another job. Taking him for dead they leave his body but a farmer finds him and takes him to the hospital where he survives...recovering, he sets out to get back at those who tried to erase him.

Costume and Make-up

I used to think it was only movies from Africa; Nigeria actually that contained "slips and goofs". I always knew (Hollywood) movies contained errors, but not in this magnitude. Anyways, this is supposed to be a "review".

For costume, I really didn't take much “notes”; maybe because I was so engrossed in the details of the story or something...I’ll let that pass on this one.

Goofs and Slips

When the SUV goes out of control following the carnival heist and goes up on two wheels, one of the shots evidently shows the SUV's lights indicating it's in reverse, even though the car is always accelerating and moving forward throughout the scene.

After Parker breaks into the house, he hides two guns under the tables; one under a tiled table and one under a wooden table. Spaces between the wood pieces of the table top are obviously wide enough to see anything attached underneath. Didn't the director figure that out?

Continuity

After Parker steals clothing and items from the hotel room belonging to the hunters it's raining. The rain is obviously not real since the rain falls in an arc suggesting that it is not falling naturally. After he comes out of the hotel room Parker's moustache is visible, like it grew inside the room, when he didn't have any, but stubble on his face before going into the room - did he spend weeks in the room? Then he comes out of the room, enters the car and drives off. Two scenes later Parker’s moustache is gone...did he shave while driving?

Here's where I noticed so many flaws; like the crew don't note what happened in the scenes before the next. I became embarrassed; literally at some point. After Parker's stabbed hand is stitched-up, he's eating soup, but you don't see a bandage or the stitches on his cut hand.

Parker was attacked by an assassin sent to kill him in the hotel room. He was stabbed in the chest, towards his left shoulder but after he escapes to Jennifer Lopez mum's house, we don't see any injury in the chest; instead, he's holding his stomach. Oh Me Gawd!!!

Crew/Equipment Visible

When Jason is driving the Bentley and makes a turn and stops, a crew member and equipment is visible in the reflection of the door.

Errors

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Deputy wears the proper PBCSO uniform but his badge is from the West Palm Beach Police Department and not the County issued PBCSO larger Star badge.

Crew or equipment visible

Around 51 minutes into the movie, as Jennifer drives, the camera tow car are reflected in the buildings she passes.

Conclusion

On the average, even though I was disappointed on several occasions during the movie, I still think the movie didn't end badly at all. It contained the normal action characteristic of Statham’s movies. Plus, the mix of characters was really kind of unique or not too watery; with Jennifer Lopez playing a realtor alongside Jason Statham...if you don't have eyes like mine for observation, and don't worry too much about "goofs and flaws" in movies, Parker is an action movie you'll love to see...for real!