Hero Wanted (2008)

"...very good and the outcome is genuinely unexpected...hard-boiled characters and dialogue...  Clint Morris, MovieHole
"...a unique approach, some decent acting and a nice chunk of action makes Hero Wanted worth picking up.  The Other View

Editor's Note The directorial debut of stunt actor Brian Smrz is a fast-paced action feature that focuses on the rocky existence of a lowly trash collector named Liam Case (Cuba Gooding Jr.). Case is desperate to win over the girl of his dreams, and he gets a chance to prove his heroic qualities as he seeks revenge on the shadowy figures who hospitalized him during a bank robbery. But Case finds himself in trouble with the law as he takes justice into his own hands, and it's not long before Detective Terry Subcott (Ray Liotta) is hot on his heels. Subcott's interference leaves Case with little time to get the job done, sparking some frantic and harrowing moments.

	Christa Campbell
	Cuba Gooding, Jr.
	Jean Smart
	Kim Coates
	Norman Reedus
	Ray Liotta
	Steven Kozlowski
	Tommy Flanagan
	Avi Lerner - Executive Producer
	Brian Smrz - Director
	Carlos Silva Da Silva - Production Designer
	Chad Law - Writer
	Evan Law - Writer
	Kenneth Burgomaster - Original Music By
	Larry Blanford - Cinematographer
	Richard Salvatore - Producer
	Sonya Savova - Art Director
	Tim Anderson - Editor

The Other View 8 of 10
The story in Hero Wanted plays out like a puzzle, where the past and present are like pieces of a puzzle and the entire picture doesn't become clear until all the pieces come together. Everything is played out through flashbacks and watching it the first time, is a bit disorienting...I give kudos to director Brian Smrz for handling such a unique approach, I know a film such as this couldn't have been easy to handle, but I believe he pulled it off. Also a round of applause as this is Brian's first outing as director (According to IMDB) and I think it's a job well done. Writers Chad and Evan Law also deserve some accolades as the writing is pretty tight and the actors handled the dialogue with ease, everyone falling into their roles nicely...The film is rounded out with a great cast. Ray Liotta makes an appearance as Detective Terry Subcott, but he comes off more like comic relief than a serious cop trying to investigate a murder. His character doesn't do a lot and really isn't integral to the story, but he hams it up nicely when he is on screen. Jean Smart, who plays Kayla's mom Melanie, also does some fine work...Hero Wanted is not the greatest story ever told, and it certainly won't win any major awards, but it's definitely worth the price admission. With a unique approach, some decent acting and a nice chunk of action makes Hero Wanted worth picking up.