Lockout, the new sci-fi action film produced by Luc Besson (La Femme Nikita, Fifth Element, Taken) takes no prisoners in this adenaline-pumping space odyssey. It’s the story of secret service agent Snow (Guy Pearce), a man framed for a crime he did not commit, who is offered his freedom in exchange for rescuing the President’s daughter Emilie (Maggie Grace) from a maximum prison orbiting Earth, called MS One.
Snow is a like a future version of 007, a wise-cracking, extremely effective field agent who never gets in situations he can’t work his way out of. He must travel to obital MS One — where the prisoners are housed in a state of suspended animation until one of its inmates, the psychotic Hydell (Joseph Gilgun), is thawed out for questioning, manages to free and arm himself, sets free the remaining prisoners, arms them and settle in for a hostile revolt — and fight to stay alive.
Of course, there would be no story if someone didn’t do something stupid. And several people do very stupid things, resulting in some of the best action sequences and visualizations of space to hit the screen. In one instance, MS One is knocked out of orbit and smashes into a Space Station just above Earth. The carnage is amazing to watch. In another jaw-dropping scene, Snow and Emile “space dive” from MS One down to Earth’s surface, landing on a bridge. Captivating visuals.
The action is first-rate, and the plot moves along at a fast pace mostly due to Snow’s banter between action sequences. There are some holes in the story, but they’re not enough to detract from the overall thrill this film generates.
Lockout is directed by James Mather and Stephen St. Leger, and written by Mather, Leger, and Luc Besson. It stars Guy Pearce (THE HURT LOCKER, upcoming PROMETHEUS), along with Maggie Grace (TAKEN, ABC’s LOST) and Peter Stormare (ARMAGEDDON, upcoming HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION).
Lockout is in theaters now.
For more on Lockout, check out these sources:
Official Site: http://www.lockoutfilm.com/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/lockoutmovie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LockoutMovie