Jason Statham: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

5 Awesome Performances...

5. Luke Wright - Safe (2012)

Safe Jason Statham
Lionsgate

Safe didn't get enough attention or credit when it was released. Statham led the movie as Luke Wright, an ex-cop who lost his wife and is living in a hell perpetuated by the mob as they kill everyone that comes into contact with him. Wright finds new meaning in life when he comes across a young girl named Mei (Catherine Chan) who is a master of numbers. Dirty cops, the triad and the mob all want a piece of her, but Luke just won't have it.

The opening section of Safe is pretty powerful if you give yourself over to it: Wright comes home to find his wife murdered and her killers lying in wait for him. For those who accuse Statham of being a one-note actor, the counter-proof is here - he subtly and wholly convincingly conveys the horror and the pressure of the situation without over-flamboyance or hyperbole, and the success of the character is built on that grounding moment.

Safe also required Statham to play a more guarded character, who took no pleasure in the pain he inflicted. He was a reluctant hero and Statham brought this across nicely as well. He played a man that didn't want to fight, who was forced to make the step in order to protect not only himself, but also the little girl.

Contributor
Contributor

Jon Manson hasn't written a bio just yet, but if they had... it would appear here.