All pain, no gain

I had been hearing a lot from people about this latest Michael Bay action/black comedy, a lot of good mixed with an impressive amount of bad and thus decided it was time for me to have my opinion on the film.

Knowing the film is based on a true crime case (written up by Miami New Times journalist Pete Collins) meant that before I sat down to watch Pain & Gain I had to research every last detail. The more I discovered the more and more horrified I became.

Mark Wahlberg is Daniel Lugo, a Floridian fitness fanatic, bodybuilder and personal trainer, and former conman who believes life has cheated him out of his American dream. Inspired after a motivational seminar he decides to become "a doer" by getting rich quick with the help of two fellow gym members Adrian Doorbal (Anthony Mackie), and recently released convict and born again christian Paul Doyle (Dwayne Johnson). Dwayne's character is a combination of people involved and he shows terrific comedic timing and puts in a very rounded performance. Together they plot to kidnap Lugo's rich Columbian client and torture him until he signs over everything he owns, only after many failed attempts though.    

Time and time again the audience are reminded that although the events seem unbelievable; something only a crazy person would make up, it is a mostly true story with only 'minor' details changed. Well, apart from the fact that the Sun Gym Gang members were dangerous, murderous, relentless criminals, and the way they are depicted in the film is unjust to the surviving victim and the murdered victims' families.

Michael Bay. He brought us the likes of Pearl Harbour, Armageddon and the Transformers trilogy, all of which were interesting to say the least... He has a very distinct style, he knows what he likes and he knows what he wants, unfortunately he doesn't know what the audience wants. Explosions, excessive slow-motion shots, knee height tilted shots, plastic caucasian women, stereotypes, distasteful angles, quick cuts, that orange tint added to the visuals and longer than it should be - all present, as with every Michael Bay movie.

I really thought that just looking at the case it had the potential to be such a brilliant film. Another true story converted to film that springs to mind and that worked is Donnie Brasco, starring Johnny Depp, which I really enjoyed. I can't help but feel perhaps with the work of the Coen Brothers this would have been a much, much better film, minus the disrespect. Had this not been a true case maybe it might've worked a bit better as a black comedy from the criminals' point of view. However, it is not and therefore it doesn't work for me. If you want to see it, fine, but I wouldn't waste your money.