"A Man Apart"

United States, 2003
U.S. Release Date: 4/4/03
Running Length: 1:47
MPAA Classification: R

Cast: Vin Diesel, Larenz Tate, Steve Eastin, Timothy Olyphant, Jacqueline Obradors, Geno Silva, Juan Fernadez
Director: F. Gary Gray
Producers: Robert John Degus, Vincent Newman, Joey Nittolo, Tucker Tooley
Screenplay: Christian Gudegast & Paul Scheuring
Cinematography: Jack N. Green

Ok, so maybe I’m biased – I’m not a big fan of Vin Diesel... And, I am female. So these are two very possible reasons why I wasn’t a big fan of the film A Man Apart.

Since I haven’t watched enough films with violence lately (a bit of sarcasm thrown in there) I have realized that it isn’t the violence I mind. As long as the film has something going for it other than it’s one-liners, massive explosions and action sequences, it’s an O.K. film with me.

Now, I may be giving away the ending here, so if you really don’t want to know I would recommend stopping here…

A Man Apart is your standard “good guy” out to get the “bad guy” movie – and not to be sassy, but why would be expect anything else from Vin Diesel? The film is about Sean Vetter (Diesel) who is a DEA agent south of the border. Sean has been chasing the same man for seven year – “Memo” Lucero (Geno Silva) who happens to be one of the largest drug lords, period. When Sean is put in control of a raid in Tijuana and pulls it off successfully, sending Memo to prison in California for life.

Memo is sure to make Sean pay and soon after, Sean’s wife Stacy (Jacqueline Obradors) is killed. The film continues as Memo attempts to keep his drug empire from total devastation. In comes Diablo – who is yet another powerful force in the drug world and is hard to identify because he could be either Hollywood Jack Slayton (Timothy Olyphant) or Mateo (Juan Fernández). Memo finds out that Diablo is out to kill his wife and children and tells Sean that Diablo was also the one who murdered his wife. Sean and his partner Demetrius (Larenz Tate) are out to find Diablo and will fight until justice is served.

I know that Vin Diesel is the new “action hero” and this movie does show that typical side we are used to seeing him deliver. The reason I wasn’t very impressed with this film is because it is the typical we are used to seeing. I think that Vin Diesel needs to be able to attain the different skills of acting – for example, emotion. When his wife is murdered, there is really no emotion of sadness. I mean he can do anger pretty well, but I would personally like to see him try to reach deeper into his character.

It wasn’t a terrible movie by any means, just typical. I think that it really is a film that would appeal much more to men than women for the action and testosterone that this movie exudes. Entertaining, sure; however, A Man Apart isn’t a film I would take a second look at.

Personal Rating: 1.5 out of 5

Further information can be found at IMDb.com