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Gina Carano, Michael Douglas, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Bill Paxton ... see more see more... , Channing Tatum , Michael Angarano , Antonio Banderas , Mathieu Kassovitz

This dynamic action-thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh boasts a talented cast that includes Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton, Michael Douglas, Micha... read more read more...el Angarano; and introduces MMA superstar Gina Carano as Mallory Kane, in a demanding lead role that has her performing her own high-adrenaline stunts. Mallory Kane is a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world. After successfully freeing a Chinese journalist held hostage, she is double crossed and left for dead by someone close to her in her own agency. Suddenly the target of skilled assassins who know her every move, Mallory must find the truth in order to stay alive. -- (C) Relativity Media

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41% liked it

30,321 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

166 critics

R, 1 hr. 33 min.

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh

Release Date: January 20, 2012

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DVD Release Date: May 1, 2012

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Flixster Reviews (3,941)

  • jlewis07
    May 27, 2012
    jlewis07
    Incredibly convoluted and with little dialogue to speak of to make sense of the story, but let's be honest: we are here for the action and it delivers. The fight scenes remind me of the Bourne series. They are long, brutal, and over the top, but in a good sort of way. Gina Carano... read more isn't the greatest actress to come along, but she sure can fight. We haven't had a woman action heroine like this other than Angelina Jolie in a long time. She's a welcome addition. Haywire is short, but I think it works in its favor. It doesn't over indulge and leaves you wanting more. In this case, that is a good thing.
  • MrMarakai
    May 23, 2012
    MrMarakai
    With a first-rate cast at his disposal director Steven Soderbergh, decides to have them play second-fiddle to his unknown lead, Gina Carano - a real, mixed martial arts fighter - who has never acted before. Soderbergh himself is also on new ground with his first foray in the acti... read moreon genre. And the results, I hear you say? The results, happen to be rather impressive. Soderbergh's gamble pays off.
    Mallory Kane (Gina Carano) is a no-nonsense, highly trained, black ops soldier who gets double-crossed during a government security mission. Assassins from across the globe target her every move and are out for the kill but Mallory turns the tables in her bid for the truth and her survival.
    Double-dealing's, back-stabbing and espionage across international locations have been done many times before - most recently in the Bourne series. This may leave you feeling that your time is being wasted but it's to Soderbergh's credit that he still finds some mileage in it. That's thanks in large, to his independent approach. The film is well shot throughout, with a minimal music score and excellently choreographed action set-pieces. The fisticuffs themselves are even delivered with the sound toned down, making them all the more realistic and Carano's fighting abilities are very apparent and impressive. Her acting chops may leave a little to be desired but at the end of the day, she's there to throw her weight around and that's exactly what she does. The very fine supporting cast also pitch in and Soderbergh manages to get them sharing scenes with one another. It's always a pet-hate of mine to see an excellently assembled cast that don't share any screen time. This fulfils on that front also. He's also knows not to overstay his welcome and with a running time of approx 90mins, this doesn't waste any time in getting down to the nitty-gritty.
    The story is old-hat and the film has come into some mixed reviews but with an eclectic supporting cast of first-rate actors and a heroine (without the use of CGI) that can genuinely bust a few heads, what more do you want from an action film that pretends to be nothing other than just that. Good quick fun.
  • axadntpron
    May 23, 2012
    axadntpron
    I love a good stylized thriller, but I found this one rather uninteresting. Which is surprising because Soderberg really managed to gather up an impressive stable of A-list actors...and unfortunately a C-List star. While the fights were well-choreographed, I just could not for th... read moree life of me get interested in the story. In fact, I was kind of bored throughout much of the film.
  • phubbs1
    May 10, 2012
    phubbs1
    Dear Mr Soderbergh, if you want to make a thrilling spy film then at least cast someone who can act in the lead! don't cast a so called mixed martial artist (this term is being banded around way too much these days), use them for stunt work. Yes Carano is fit firm and able to kic... read morek ass but her acting is wooden and stale which lets the whole thing down badly.

    This espionage thriller is slick and lean with no Hollywood nonsense, this ain't no Bay machine, this is more intone with 'Ronin' but even more watered down to a cut throat hands on take down. The action is sparse but fast with no special effects to get in the way, no explosions, no music and no cgi what so ever, this baby has been stripped for maximum performance just like the Evo that gets driven.

    That's not to say its without faults, the film starts slow after an initial bit of fisticuffs, Carano glares her way through the story as you start to feel...zzzzzzz!. Things do perk up quickly as the plot thickens...well somewhat, the plot is actually highly basic but the fights are nicely done, realistic without silly 'whallop!' sound effects (well almost). It amused me how Carano is able to take down heavy armoured police with leg kicks to body armour, she may be a good Muay Thai fighter but I doubt she would be able to do what she does but hey! I'm getting too picky aren't I.

    Overall casting was big but unrequired, I think the inclusion of Carano lowers the tone really, she comes across way too much like an action figure, almost like a 'Black Widow' type character. The inclusion of Fassbender in a pretty cliched role didn't help either, almost an audition for the next 'Bond'. Wasn't impressed with Ewan McGregor and his dodgy US accent, he really didn't seem to fit the bill for me whilst Banderas just seemed to be there to add more big names to the list as he does nothing, absolutely zero.

    I think this film tries a bit too hard to be something more serious, maybe more of a 'Bourne' vehicle perhaps, but under the bonnet its just a simple double cross thriller with some excellent direction, fights and editing...soooo yes it is good then, it just thinks a bit too highly of itself.

    Still not so sure why its called 'Haywire' though, makes you think its some kind of guns n explosion filled hyper action beast...but it isn't. I must add I hated the rather lame way Carano easily gets her man at the end on the beach, the rock bit, how on earth did he manage that!? lol!
    It is pretty good by the way, just incase your not sure what I think at the end here, just not THAT good.
  • hobster1
    May 9, 2012
    hobster1
    Haywire is Steven Soderbergh Lite. I suspect he never intended this to be some grand statement about the life of a secret agent. There's little in the way of innovation here. Female led action films can't call themselves cutting edge anymore simply by virtue of the protagonist's ... read moresex. Resident Evil, Underworld, Wanted, Salt and Hanna are just a few recent titles that fit this description. Take your pick, the trend is quite common (and profitable) these days. In the hands of a lesser director, this might have been less successful, but Soderbergh's artistic touches (cast, cinematography and music) manage to push this adventure into a satisfactory time filler.
  • fb1463751009
    May 8, 2012
    fb1463751009
    "Salt", move aside; "Haywire"'s a much better fit for me. Unlike "Salt", this movie's aggressive with strong performances throughout coupled with Steven Soderbergh's steady hands and none of the cheesy dialogue or story-arc.

    If you're gonna come into this to be blow away by the... read more story, think again. "Haywire" follows cliche after cliche, there's little to no character development, and there's hardly a narrative to build off from to be invested in, but it somehow takes the little substance it has and its brilliantly executed with a clever emphasis on slow burning, methodically tense build-ups to the raw, realistic, and intense action. And surprisingly, unlike the Bourne series, it drops the shaky cam and still manages to deliver the same type of in-your-face, hand-to-hand fight scenes. "Haywire" carries a very unique feel within the action-thriller genre that seeps into these intense fight scenes, which give it an enough original identity to stand out from the rest of the Michael-Bay-explosion-fest movies. WOOOOOO-WEEEEE! What a breath of fresh air to see some quality, knuckle-to-skull action; they're ferocious!

    The film, as a whole, may be lackluster to some or too "slow-burning" for most, but it delivers the fight scenes and style at such a veracity that I can't help but to be mesmerized and entertained. Of course the style is reminiscent to previous "Ocean's" films but it's still enough to stand up on its own two feet, instead of leaning on another previous film's successes.
  • fb619846742
    May 6, 2012
    fb619846742
    A stylish, beautifully photographed thriller from the always efficient Steven Soderbergh concerning an agent (Gina Carano) on the run after she realizes she had been set-up by her government, led by her former lover (Ewan McGregor) for reasons unknown. There's a lot of 'Bourne' i... read moren here, which is never a bad thing, as Carano accomplishes some eye-popping stunts that never case to amaze. The story is well constructed, if just a tad familiar, but it still remains a blast from start to finish. Soderbergh continues to be one of the most skilled, under-rated directors out there.
  • mmckellop
    May 2, 2012
    mmckellop
    Before Haywire, I wouldâ(TM)ve never pegged Steven Soderbergh as an action director. He certainly demonstrated an aptitude for staging intricately plotted, thrilling sequences in Traffic, The Limey and the Oceanâ(TM)s 11 films but for all of his best-in-his-field strengths, maste... read morerfully choreography and balletic action rhythms werenâ(TM)t among them. After Haywire, itâ(TM)s clear that Soderbergh is limited only by the human inevitabilities of eating, sleeping and death. With Haywire, Soderbergh has thrown down a gauntlet at the feet of the best action directors working.

    Haywire is a film that shouldnâ(TM)t work. Instead of an actress, Soderbergh cast former MMA fighter Gina Carano in the role of ex-Marine, now mercenary Mallory Kane who finds her life of wine drinking and casual murder for hire disrupted when her former lover and boss (Ewan McGregor) sets her up as the pasty for a political assassination. While given only the thinnest of character sketches to work with by screenwriter Lem Dobbs, Carano embodies the role of professional killer with the raw physicality and economy of presence that canâ(TM)t be taught in eight months with a Hollywood physical trainer. When you watch in hushed awe as Carano chokes out a man with her legs or dismantles two fully armed SWAT men with just her fists, you understand that sheâ(TM)s kind of woman Clint Eastwood would never call girly tough.

    The rest of the filmâ(TM)s cast shares in Caranoâ(TM)s quiet excellent, filling in the spaces lift by Caranoâ(TM)s lack of innate acting ability with the focused work of skilled professionals. McGregor, lean and unimposing, underplays his characterâ(TM)s anxiety and cruel intelligence giving his role a coiled menace. Bill Paxton is good as an old man without a hint of frenzy that marked his early performances. And Channing Tatum, usually a hunk of all American boring, is refreshingly relaxed as an idiotic henchman. Soderbergh was finally able to find the actor underneath all of Tatumâ(TM)s muscle. He was also able to make a female led action film work where so many of his contemporaries failed.

    Haywireâ(TM)s protagonist isnâ(TM)t motivated by sexual abuse like Lisbeth Salander nor is the lifelong machinations of an overprotective father like Hanna Heller. She has agency. Agency to leave McGregorâ(TM)s employ when she figures out what kind of man he, agency to initiate a sexual relationship with Tatumâ(TM)s dope and the agency and resourcefulness to slaughter all of her betrayers. Thatâ(TM)s not to say the Soderberghâ(TM)s camera never lingers on Caranoâ(TM)s curves a bit too long or doesnâ(TM)t acknowledge the fact that Carano is woman who can, gasp, kick ass but its sexual politics arenâ(TM)t something you have to apologize for before showing it to mixed company.
    Itâ(TM)s violent for the sake of being violent, not as critique on gender relations or the War on Terror but because itâ(TM)s incredibly satisfying to watch a professional go to work. The plot of is almost video game-ish in its utilitarianism. We learn that Carano is being hunted for something, through flashbacks we learn for what and finally we watch her redress her hunters. Thereâ(TM)s very little narrative depth to Haywire but a meticulous and thrilling efficiency.

    Haywire is as much a genre pastiche as Kill Bill but Soderbergh blends his influences more finely than Tarantino. David Holmesâ(TM) horn filled and wildly anachronistic score is a pointed retort to the pounding electronica of the Bourne series. Soderbergh understands that all of the convoluted spy stuff is fun set dressing but ultimately rather silly. He also eschews the crunchier impacts that make Paul Greengrass films so effective, choosing instead to give his violence a naturalistic halo that simultaneously grounds and distances the action. The fights are too graceful and choreographed to feel real but theyâ(TM)re also too meaty and syncopated to be fanciful. Like its fellow minimalist genre eight ball Drive, Haywireâ(TM)s aesthetic; feather light on plot, subtle character work and violence that explodes like a Pixies song, isnâ(TM)t a new one but utilized at this level of craftsmanship itâ(TM)s a notice to everyone that the days of gratuitous slow motion and interminable action set pieces are over.

    At one point in his career Soderbergh was the hot indie guy. Then he was the guy who made the really cool crime movies. Then he was the guy who was so good he got nominated for two directing Oscars in the same year. The he was the guy who made an old Rat Pack movie into a billion dollar franchise. Then he was the guy who made the four hour Che Guevara bio pic. Then he was the guy who legitimized a porn actress. Next he made a medical disaster film. Later this year heâ(TM)s making a movie with Channing Tatum about his days as a stripper. Next year heâ(TM)s doing a drug addiction drama with Rooney Mara and Jude Law. Soderbergh isnâ(TM)t a cool indie guy, prestige picture man or the next big thing in action cinema, heâ(TM)s the next Kubrick and heâ(TM)s upping the level of play with every film he makes.
  • allan913
    April 26, 2012
    allan913
    A dynamic, stylish and hard-boiled action-thriller. It`s a sexed-up Bourne. A slick cocktail of action, suspense, craft and cool. Director, Steven Soderbergh crafts an interesting, neat, heavey and taunt film with great craft and characters. One hell of an wickedly entertaining a... read morend explosive thrill-ride. It`s gritty, realistic and well-crafted. A soild and thrilling action movie with lots of charisma and a great all-star cast. It`s bursting with riveting fight sequences, thrilling chases and explosive gun-fights. It packs some intense puch as well as brains. Gina Carano is strong, fast, sexy and relentless. She is a capable and compelling action hero and perhaps promising actress. Ewan McGregor is excellent. I was thow slightly disapointed with the appearences of Tatum, Douglas and Banderas, it was great seeing them in this film even thow they had nothing dynamic to bring to the table. Michael Fassbender is terrific and does have a mysterious and cool role and not to mention a great fight scene with Carano. Michael Douglas and Antonio Banderas are exceptional. A relentlessly fun and pulse-pounding film.
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    February 12, 2012
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    "Haywire" is an interesting film from Soderbergh, who once again is at his more experimental. It's a dialogue heavy affair with bursts of action and surprising stylistic choices (from it's restrained cinematography and editing, too it's super cool score in the vein of 60s thrille... read morers), but there's definitely some hiccups along the way.

    For a film that almost succeeds as a completely satisfying and straightforward exercise in style, "Haywire" is overwritten; even frustrating at times. The script is muddled and feels unnecessarily convoluted, which takes away some of the fun attributed to a film like this. I wanted to focus on the genre thrills, not disjointed plotting. Though the customary explanations do occur, a tighter narrative would more suitably match the length and spirit of the film.

    Ultimately, what really makes "Haywire" work isn't it's generic plot or been there done that premise; it's Gina Carano. She has a great charisma and screen presence! Carano, in nearly every scene, is quite striking in that she has such a unique, hard edged beauty and is so utterly convincing in both the brawls and dramatic scenes. She's simply intriguing to watch and keeps us invested. The film's greatest asset without question.

    It's also great watching the big names show up (McGregor, Douglas, banderas, Fassbender, Paxton)... Even if they don't have anything really dynamic to do (other than fight Carano). The combative scene between Carano and Fassbender in particular is really impressive, and the brutal highlight of the film. There's something so enjoyable about watching this human wrecking ball who just so happens to be a woman lay such a beat-down; especially when it's done with such conviction!

    No, "Haywire" isn't Soderbergh's next great film, and because of certain decisions in both the writing and directorial process it isn't that accessible or audience-friendly either. But I appreciated Soderbergh's unique, layed-back, and classy approach to what is after all a pretty routine story. Through art house flourishes, Soderbergh sells it, and the potentially star making debut of Gina Carano leaves an impression.

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Critic Reviews

Roger Moore
March 23, 2012
Roger Moore, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Gina Carano has a face that can hold a Hollywood close-up and a fist that can hold your nose until it comes clean off. Full Review

David Denby
January 24, 2012
David Denby, New Yorker

Carano is strong, fast, relentless. She's not much of an actress yet, but Soderbergh hides her weaknesses well... Full Review

J. R. Jones
January 23, 2012
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

There's a good deal of pleasure to be had in the clockwork precision of her hand-to-hand combat, which Soderbergh often shoots in profile to showcase her wall-climbing backflips. Full Review

Eric D. Snider
January 21, 2012
Eric D. Snider, Film.com

Carano is nothing special as an actress - but darned if it matters when she's supported by a killer screenplay, a sharp cast, and Steven Soderbergh's unmistakably sly, mordant direction. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
January 20, 2012
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

If "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" was a fancy top-shelf cocktail, this is Polish vodka, neat. Full Review

Dana Stevens
January 20, 2012
Dana Stevens, Slate

Though Carano isn't without a certain glowering charisma, her flat line readings and apparent discomfort with dialogue-heavy exchanges make her seem like a refugee from a different, schlockier movie... Full Review

Liam Lacey
January 20, 2012
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Hand it to a wily indie veteran like Soderbergh to find a fresh twist to an old genre: The fighting isn't faked, but the acting is. Full Review

Adam Graham
January 20, 2012
Adam Graham, Detroit News

"Haywire" isn't a by-the-numbers action vehicle, it's a crafty thriller that works to undo beat-em-up clichés. In short, it's a livewire. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
January 20, 2012
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

"Haywire" stays true to its low-rent B-movie principles, right down to the fast, strong and quietly competent heroine at its center. Full Review

Kyle Smith
January 20, 2012
Kyle Smith, New York Post

'Haywire" is a wannabe, or rather a wanna-B, and that B is for "Bourne." Full Review

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    • Coblenz: Now we've got ourselves a real twizzler here.
    • Kenneth: You're the eye.
    • Mallory Kane: Keep your eyes open.
    • Mr. Kane: I haven't closed my eyes since you were born.
    • Mallory Kane: You better run.
    • Kenneth: You shouldn't think of her as being a woman. That would be your first mistake.
    • Tom: I need this to happen.
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  • Name the song that plays when the radios go haywire in Final Destination 3. It plays when some one is about to die.  Answer »
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