“Parker” is certainly not one of the best-known films with action star Jason Statham – the uncompromising revenge thriller is absolutely worth seeing. ProSieben is showing it today at 8:15 p.m., but we only recommend the nightly repeat.
The few scratches Bruce Willis gets in his signature role as John McClane in the previous Die Hard movies are a joke compared to what Jason Statham has to endure as the titular character in Parker!
Based on the Parker novel series, Taylor Hackford (“Ray”) delivers a grandiose, straightforward reminiscence of the 70s – exciting, rock-hard, and pleasantly humorless: Finally a gangster thriller without self-mockery à la Quentin Tarantino! It doesn’t always need a knowing wink – sometimes you just want an uncompromising old-school hit.
That’s what “Parker” is about
Parker (Jason Statham) is a professional criminal with strict principles. With his latest coup, a robbery at a folk festival in Ohio, everything initially goes according to plan. But on the run, new accomplice Melander (Michael Chiklis) suddenly suggests reinvesting the million-dollar loot directly into an even bigger coup…
… which Parker, who doesn’t like surprises at all, politely declines – and is then disposed of right on the side of the road by his supposed partners. But Parker can’t be killed with a few ridiculous bullets, and with a lot of anger in his stomach, he heads to Florida to exact revenge on his ex-partners. The support of the disillusioned real estate agent Leslie (Jennifer Lopez) comes in handy…
Not the first “Parker” film
Author Donald E. Westlake wrote a total of 24 “Parker” novels between 1962 and 2008 under the pseudonym Richard Stark. The plot is actually always the same: Parker is screwed – and takes revenge in a brutal but honest way. Eight of the books have been made into films by such illustrious directors as John Boorman (“Point Blank”), Brian Helgeland (“Payback”), and even Nouvelle vague genius Jean-Luc Godard (“Made in the USA”).
However, most the filmmakers have tried to get more out of the material than is actually in it. That’s why “Parker” with Jason Statham turned out so well – because everyone involved knows exactly what they are filming: a straightforward, uncompromising revenge fantasy, no more and no less.
Attention: ProSieben shows “Parker” (initially) cut
“Parker” was released by the FSK from the age of 16 when it was released in cinemas. This means that TV stations are only allowed to show the film in its entirety on free TV from 10 p.m. The prime time appointment at 8.15 p.m., therefore, means that As with previous broadcasts, ProSieben will first show a shortened version of the film – and we really can’t recommend that to you with a clear conscience in a film like this, where the impact of the action scenes is what counts.
That’s why we recommend you either one of the home cinema versions…
… or you just stay awake a few hours longer: The repetition of “Parker” from 12:25 a.m. is uncut – and the conclusion of the official DashFUN review applies to this without reservation:
“Parker” is an absolute must for fans of no-frills, stylish Charles Bronson tears like “Cold Breath” or “A Man Sees Red”: Jason Statham’s straightforwardness is just right in times of over-the-top action blockbusters!
