Break (2008) Reviews

• Great Indie Flick

  BobbyBlvd2009-03-25

  I saw Break in Seattle at a festival last year and I must say I'm glad I did. It was one of the only films at the festival with some good names and I was particularly interested in seeing it because I've been a Madsen fan for a long time, although I typically don't expect much from his lower budget projects. I was pleasantly surprised to see a lot more out of this film than the usual Madsen action movie. Madsen actually plays a supporting role (and gives a great performance) alongside some other really great actors like David Carradine, Charles Durning and the girl from Angel. The movie is a bit misleading at first, starting as more of a crime drama/love story, then halfway through morphs into a killer action flick with the introduction of Xin. The fight scenes are some of the most creative I've seen in an indie. There's so much going on in this movie in terms of characters (there's a lot) and side stories (there's several) and genres (crime/drama/action/dark comedy - and those are just the ones I picked up on) yet it all just works. I'm glad to see this movie finally being released and I would definitely recommend watching it if you're up for something original and fun.

• A slightly perverse comic-book film noir... with unexpected humor...

  introact2009-05-02

  Last night, we went to see a screening of a new film to see the on-screen debut of my long-time friend and collaborator, singer-songwriter Evyn Charles... a comic-book-styled film noir called "Break"... ... and it was good to see Chad Everett again, after all these years, in a pitch-perfect performance as The Man. ... and we laughed many times at bodyguard Haiku's haiku sentences, Michael Madson's enthusiasm for BIG women and especially at David Carradine's perverse epicurean sex-voyeur. ("Would you like to feed Rupert?") ... and we agreed that newcomer Xin Sarith Wuku has the makings of a martial-arts movie star with his muscular neo-Bruce-Lee fighting style. Though a bit uneven at times, this film certainly has its pleasures.

• good film- worth the watch

  joecat182011-11-09

  First off, thought this was a great action packed indie movie with unexpected humor. Second line into the movie and I was laughing. Good plot, believable characters in this scenario. Big fan of Michael Madsen, and wasn't let down! Michael Madsen brings his tough guy charm every time. Frank Krueger nails down the introverted pretty boy hit-man. A little disappointed that I didn't see more of David Carradine or his circus that surrounded him. Thought the Chinaman was a modern gangsta Bruce Lee on steroids which made awesome fighting scenes. All and all thought the director of the film did a great job bringing the story and characters together. Plus this movie kind of leaves you hanging and making you wonder at the end which was cool.

• Horrid. Total waste of time and effort. Utter crap.

  ragges-12009-08-06

  Bad acting. Really bad dialog. There's a character named haiku that speaks only in haikus. It is so bad that its even beyond those moments when your watching something like seventh heaven and you get those douche chills, this you only shake your head and say "what garbage!" This movie fails to elicit any emotional response. Its like a high budget high school movie. Daddy should not be giving his kid money to make this garbage. Please do not be curious and watch this movie to see how bad it is. Its just really dull. It one of those movies that is so bad that you waste your time writing ten lines of text to insure no one else makes the same mistake as you.

• Loved it!

  hoffmana432011-11-11

  I'm a big fan of these types of movies. I think you either love it or hate it! I loved Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, I think this movie has a little of both in it. Its mobster w/ martial arts; two things I love and its FUNNY on top of all that. Did NOT expect this movie to be funny. I don't think this movie was supposed to be taken too seriously, hence the Mo, Larry, Curly essence. The Chinaman kicks a** and this film needed this type of character to be taken seriously. Its a good indie action packed film, didn't expect it to be a blockbuster. Madsen is great as always, yeah we see him play this 'guy' a lot but he's great at it and you can't help but be a fan every time. James Russo is great. After Carradine passed, you see this flick and it kind a makes sense (maybe there was a little method acting in there, who knows?). Now for Frank Krueger- look, I get it, good looking mobster hit-man who falls in love, just wish he was a little less introverted kind of dulled it for me but regardless still a good movie. I rank it high because of the good intentions- talented director. You either get it or you don't. Let's see someone else try to make a film like this on a budget and actually finish it- that's what I say to the nay sayers!