The Tax Collector Review: 4 Ups & 6 Downs

By Jack Pooley /

1. It's Surprisingly Boring

RLJE Films

The worst thing about The Tax Collector isn't that it's a shameless grab-bag of gang thriller cliches, but that it's so joyless, so bland, and yes, so damn boring.

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Despite its focus on testosterone-fuelled ego-checks, execution-style killings, kidnappings, and all the usual genre accoutrements, this is such a lifeless, dull movie with a fatal lack of energy despite its seemingly breezy 95-minute runtime.

It comes down to the fact that Ayer has assembled a talented cast in a seedy world and given them so little of interest to do. As a viewer, nobody could be blamed for being mentally checked out long before the over-the-top finale rears its head.

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As disappointing as the movie is, though, it's far from a total disaster. Here's what Ayer actually gets right...