Dredd

Movie Name: Dredd
Year of Release: 2012

Director: Pete Travis

Stars: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey, Warrick Grier, Wood Harris, Rakie Ayola

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

After the dreadful adaptation of "Judge Dredd" at the hands of Danny Cannon in 1995, featuring another forgettable performance from Sylvester Stallone, director Pete Travis and writer Alex Garland (who collaborated with director Danny Boyle in the films "The Beach", "28 Days Later" and "Sunshine"), finally achieve a great adaptation of the gritty comic book character. The film follows the lead character, Judge Dredd, who in the future is part of the police force, who are tasked with multiple functions, including applying the law and executing it immediately. Dredd is assigned the evaluation of a new recruiter who has telepathic skills, and they both go investigate multiple murders in a problematic neighborhood. They end up locked up in a huge building, which is under the tutelage and control of Ma-Ma, the drug lord of the area.
Pete Travis, who has built a career on TV, first came to attention with the film "Vantage Point", which featured William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver and Dennis Quaid. His take on the Judge Dredd character is definitely grittier and closely resembling the tone and feel of the comic book. The film is more in tone with a polished B picture, but with a very intelligent screenplay and very good actors to anchor the action and suspense (Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby and Lena Headey give the film credibility and edge). The film also benefits from good visual effects and the cinematography of Anthony Dod Mantle, whose work is always fantastic, definitely place it as one of the most interesting action films of the year. The film smartly uses the claustrophobic setting of the apartment building to create a tense and menacing atmosphere. A good film not to be missed.