Maximum Conviction doesn’t stray beyond a typical direct-to-video release from a stitched together plot, wooden acting and bad dialogue, but with the charms (i.e. ass-kicker-y) that come with Steven Seagal and Steve Austin, it’s at least worth a rental especially if you’re fan of either individual.
Maximum Conviction (2012)
REVIEW NAVIGATION
The Movie | Special Features | Video Quality | Audio Quality | Overall
Genre(s): Action, Thriller
Anchor Bay | R – 98 min. – $34.99 | November 6, 2012
MOVIE INFO:
Directed by: Keoni Waxman
Writer(s): Richard Beattie (written by)
Cast: Steven Seagal, Steve Austin, Michael Pare, Bren Foster, Aliyah O’Brien, Steph Song
DISC INFO:
Features: Commentary, Featurettes
Number of Discs: 1
Audio: English (Dolby TrueHD 5.1)
Video: 1080p/Widescreen 1.78
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Disc Size: 21.7 GB
Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Region(s): A
THE MOVIE – 2.5/5
Plot Outline: For former Special Forces commando-turned-private-security-contractors Cross (STEVEN SEAGAL) and Manning (STEVE AUSTIN), it was supposed to be an easy assignment: clear a cellblock of detainees from a decommissioned top-secret military prison. But when a coldblooded team of mercenaries, led by a man named Blake (MICHAEL PARE), attempts a “targeted extraction” of two mysterious female inmates (STEPH SONG, ALIYAH O’BRIEN), the concrete fortress becomes a total kill-zone. Trained killers wait in every corner. The most dangerous convicts are out of their cells. And for two warriors who’ve survived dozens of battlefields, tonight will be the deadliest fight of their lives.
Quick Hit Review: The back cover has a quote from ‘Blogomatic3000’ stating “The two Steves together at last”. Really? How many people were clamoring to see these two shares the screen? I get why a movie filled with action heroes is appealing with the two Expendables movies (the first had Austin, the second had Seagal), but two fellas with stale acting and poor line-readings, especially on Seagal’s part, does not make a good time.
But what does make a good time is old fashioned ass-kicking which Maximum Conviction delivers in spades. Add in a countless number of bad guys just waiting to be mowed down in various fashions and you’ve got one hell of a movie. That being said, this still isn’t a particularly ‘good’ movie but tolerable enough considering the actors not to mention the fact this might be Seagal’s strongest film in a long, long time. Between the two of them and a thin plot, this might be worth renting.
SPECIAL FEATURES – 2.0/5
Audio Commentary features executive producer/director Keoni Waxman and Co-Executive Producer Binh Dang sitting down for a technical chat on filming locations, putting Seagal and Austin together and on-set anecdotes. All things considered, this is a lively and relatively entertaining commentary.
Maximum Conviction: Behind the Scenes (10:00; HD) – This featurette takes viewers behind the cameras and getting to hear from the cast about working on the movie and with one another. It’s a step above your typical EPK junket but not by much.
Maximum Conviction: Steve Austin (1:47; HD) has the co-star talking about his role. This was probably made to advertise the movie.
Maximum Conviction: Icons (1:41; HD) covers the teaming up of Seagal and Austin.
Maximum Conviction: Bren Foster (1:21; HD) features the martial arts/soap actor (“Days of Our Lives”) chatting about this part.
Previews – The Day, Hunt to Kill, The Stranger
A retail DVD Copy has also been included.
VIDEO – 4.25/5
Given this is a direct-to-video release, I thought the video transfer here, presented with a 1.78 widescreen aspect ratio, looks pretty dang good. It doesn’t quite have that film-like look to it meaning there’s little, if any, grain yet the detail levels are clear and the color array is well balanced as are the black levels.
AUDIO – 4.0/5
The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track is effective showing off especially during the numerous action sequences but also displaying crystal clear audio during any of the dialogue-related moments, as few as they are. It may not an immersive lossless track, but still more than enough given the movie.
OVERALL – 2.75/5
Overall, Maximum Conviction doesn’t stray beyond a typical direct-to-video release from a stitched together plot, wooden acting and bad dialogue, but with the charms (i.e. ass-kicker-y) that come with Steven Seagal and Steve Austin, it’s at least worth a rental especially if you’re fan of either individual.
The Movieman
Published: 11/04/2012