The Channel

A fun, shoestring-budget type, heist movie that borrows heavily from superior films in the genre. Namely and obviously the 199x movie "Heat". It's almost like the writers of this movie just finished Breaking Bad and then watched Heat directly preceding receiving the inspiration for writing this film. All that said, you could do worse than Breaking Bad and Heat for touchstones imo. The acting is not great (especially from the dude who played the good bro and the dude who played Pacino's cop character) and some of the lines are just awful but I found it enjoyable. Lots of gunfights and sincere but laughably terrible attempts at N'Orlins accents. I have definitely seen worse.

Going into this film with low expectations and unfamiliarity with the cast, I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly impressed by what unfolded. The movie, which I initially underestimated, proved to be a captivating experience filled with intense action and compelling performances.

From the start, the film grips you with its high-stakes heist plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The actors, though not household names, brought their characters to life with authenticity and vigor that rivaled seasoned stars. Their portrayal of the classic "good guys against the bad guys" scenario was fresh and engaging, making every moment count.

The action sequences were well choreographed, showcasing a blend of strategy and adrenaline that is often hard to balance in heist films. Each scene was crafted with precision, making the action not just exciting but believable.

Overall, this film is a hidden gem that deserves more attention. It's a must-watch for anyone who loves action-packed, edge-of-your-seat thrillers. The movie not only met but exceeded my expectations, earning my full respect and a high recommendation.

In New Orleans, two brothers and their military brothers form a bank robbery crew. They use their military skills to the fullest, but they are surprised by the unexpected arrival of a SWAT team. The FBI is leading the charge as the city is on high alert for the surviving crew members. Ava is their inside woman at the bank. They are lifelong companions from the Irish Channel neighborhood of New Orleans.

There are some good action sequences. The opening bank robbery is good. There is a great section where they are captured by a black crime lord. The rest is a bit of a struggle. The robbery crew does a passable job at being hard. The opening joke reminds me of the inappropriate humor from Predator. The action reminds me of the kinetic energy of Heat. It's obvious that this film is pulling inspiration from some of the best action thrillers around. Problem is that it's beyond their abilities. I would really cut back on the cops in this cops and robbers drama. The actors and filmmaker do struggle at times outside of the bloody gun violence.

Never mind the clearly bogus high reviews, and this film is certainly more deserving than the 1/10's, so here's an honest real review; it's a decent and one-time watchable B-Film. The story is nothing new, but has a nice flow and continuity to it, with very little plot and technical issues, and decent action. The 100 min runtime could've used a 10-15 min trim to get rid of some of the filler. Pacing was decent, as was the cinematography and score, especially for a B film. I've never heard of any of the actors, but they performed fairly decent, although the Walter White looking guy and the lead FBI agent Nicoye Banks could've had better casting choices. Nevertheless, it's no 10 and certainly not a 1, but a fair 7/10 for one of the better watchable B films I've seen in a while.

What a great surprise - i only gave this a chance because Clayne Crawford is in it, terrific edgy actor (the talented one from TV series Lethal Weapon, the wonderful Rectify, and several acclaimed indie movies including The Killing Of Two Lovers and The Integrity Of Joseph Chambers), and was shocked by how good it was. A genuinely tremendous opening set-piece, in which a heist goes wrong, comes pretty close to the wonders of Michael Mann's Heat with an intense and prolonged shootout. The film is beautifully shot, well-acted with muscular and committed direction, tight and straightforward - it may not be Shakespeare, but for action fans it delivers what it promises and more, a gripping, visceral heist movie made with real style and quality. Highly recommended.