Mercenary For Justice (2006)

If nothing else, Mercenary for Justice has one of the best titles of all of Seagal’s movies, and not just because it harkens back to Out for Justice — Seagal’s finest venture and one of the towering artistic achievements of the 20th century. A ‘mercenary’ is defined as an individual who works for monetary reward, so the movie’s title is already an oxymoron. Saying someone is a “mercenary for justice” is like saying someone is a “dentist of fingernails” or a “Jew for Jesus.” But let’s forget that for second and ponder what a “mercenary for justice” would theoretically do. Maybe they rescue a VIP from a prison camp and,...

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The Music of Steven Seagal

The enigma of Steven Seagal is deepened immeasurably by the existence of his music. By 2005, the world already had two Steven Seagals: the ass-kicking movies star and the sexist douchebag bully he is purported to be in real life. But his two albums, Songs From the Crystal Cave (2005) and Mojo Priest (2006), add a third version into the mix: Steven Seagal as soulful, philosophical troubadour wandering the world with his guitar and healing us with his love. Of course, that’s the persona he tries to cultivate, but the one he actually creates is wildly different. Instead, his music solidifies his status...

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HARD TO KILL

Action star Steven Seagal crosses Rip Van Winkle with Clint Eastwood in this belabored revenge odyssey. Seagal plays L.A. Detective Mason Storm and, over the opening credits , Storm is seed busily eavesdropping on crooked politician Vernon Trent (William Sadler). Once he has the goods on Trent, Storm phones his partner Kevin O`Malley (Frederick Coffin) to report on his progress. Unfortunately, crooked cops in the same room pick up the extension phone and listen in, thereby dooming Storm. Soon killers show up at Storm`s home and blow away Storm`s wife Felicia (Bonnie Burroughs) and their young son. Storm himself is also assumed dead, but...

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