In movies, crime bosses often waste a lot of bullets when they kill someone, even when it’s unnecessary. This might seem unrealistic, as it’s wasteful and messy. Crime bosses don’t seem to care about the cost or effort of using so much ammo, and it’s unclear who they’re trying to impress by overdoing it. Surely, other criminals present know it only takes a few shots to kill someone.
“Bring Him to Me” deserves some credit for attempting to introduce new elements to the familiar crime movie formula, despite the genre’s tendency to rely heavily on spectacle rather than substance.
Barry Pepper plays a seasoned veteran in the movie, with a weathered face and a beard. He’s the driver for a heist, but he’s never given a name, which is a bit cliché. The heist itself is shown in flashbacks as Pepper’s character is tasked with delivering one of the robbers, who brutalized a victim, to their boss. The robber isn’t named either, though Pepper’s character calls him “Kid.”
The Driver is concerned about why they’re meeting the boss and what trouble the “Kid” might be in. Both characters are made more relatable by being fathers; Pepper has a teenage son in Pittsburgh, while the “Kid” has a young daughter who is with him when Pepper picks him up.
Played by Jamie Costa, Passenger comes across as wide-eyed and somewhat innocent, despite his involvement in criminal activities. He’s talkative, but the Driver prefers to keep things brief to avoid getting too attached to someone who might be in danger. At first, it seems like the movie might focus mainly on their conversations in the car, similar to “Locke,” although without the same level of writing, or perhaps like “Sympathy for the Devil,” albeit not as successful.
The movie doesn’t stay in the car all the time. It takes us outside during various scenes, including flashbacks to the heist where Sam Neill plays a furious hostage and Rachel Griffiths appears as one of the characters they encounter off-road. It’s worth noting that this is an Australian production. Despite some clichés, the twists in “Bring Him to Me” keep the audience engaged.
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Crime Boss Bullet Wastefulness | In movies, crime bosses often waste ammo when killing someone, despite it being unnecessary and messy. It’s unclear who they’re trying to impress. |
| “Bring Him to Me” Attempt | The movie introduces new elements to the crime genre, trying to add substance to the familiar formula, though it still relies on spectacle. |
| Barry Pepper’s Character | Pepper plays a seasoned veteran without a name, serving as the driver for a heist. Flashbacks reveal his involvement in delivering a brutalized robber to their boss. |
| Relatable Characters | Both Pepper’s character and the “Kid” are made relatable by being fathers, with Pepper having a son and the “Kid” having a daughter. |
| Passenger’s Innocence | Played by Jamie Costa, Passenger appears innocent despite his criminal involvement. He’s talkative, contrasting with the Driver’s preference for brevity. |
| Movie Dynamics | Initially, the movie seems to focus on conversations in the car, akin to “Locke” or “Sympathy for the Devil,” but it also ventures outside during flashbacks and encounters with other characters. |
| Australian Production | Notably, “Bring Him to Me” is an Australian production. Despite clichés, the twists keep the audience engaged. |
