How Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham reinvented the heist thriller with Wrath of Man
In short: In this 2021 action thriller, a mysterious armored truck driver hides a lethal past and a singular motive: vengeance. Loosely based on a 2004 French film, the story unfolds in four distinct acts, trading Ritchie’s signature lighthearted banter for a darker, poker-faced exploration of violence and retribution.
Directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Jason Statham, Wrath of Man marks the duo's fourth collaboration and their first since 2005. The film follows Patrick Hill, a man who joins Fortico Security as an armored truck guard in Los Angeles. While his colleagues initially view him as an underwhelming recruit, his expert marksmanship during a robbery attempt reveals a far more dangerous identity. Hill is actually Mason Hargreaves, a notorious crime lord operating under an assumed name to infiltrate the company and identify the inside man responsible for his son Dougie’s death during a previous heist.
The narrative structure is notably non-linear, spanning five months before and after the opening robbery. It shifts perspectives to follow a group of disgruntled Afghanistan veterans who orchestrate a massive heist at the Fortico facility. The film’s tone is a departure from Ritchie’s earlier, fast-paced work like Snatch. Critics have compared its somber, un-ironic style to classic noir films such as The Killing and The Killers, as well as the stoic Westerns of Clint Eastwood. This shift toward a more sinister, voluptuous darkness was praised by some as a career-best effort, while others criticized the convoluted plot.
Commercially, the film grossed $104 million worldwide, with $27.5 million coming from the United States and Canada. Its release was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to multiple delays before its eventual premiere in May 2021. Despite mixed critical reception—ranging from four-star acclaim to dismissive reviews calling it forgettable—audiences were generally receptive, awarding it an A- grade on CinemaScore. The film’s technical execution, including a score by Christopher Benstead, emphasizes its gritty atmosphere, cementing its place as a distinct entry in the modern action genre.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Wrath of Man
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