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"ARMORED" (2009) (Columbus Short, Matt Dillon) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Moderate Heavy Extreme Moderate Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Extreme Moderate Heavy None Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate Mild Heavy Heavy Extreme QUICK TAKE: Action: A team of armored-car guards decides to stage a $42 million heist, but one member has second thoughts. PLOT: Ty Hackett (COLUMBUS SHORT) is an Iraqi War veteran, who has recently returned to the States following the death of his parents to raise his younger brother, Jimmy (ANDRE KINNEY). He follows in his father's footsteps by taking a job as an armored car guard where he is friends with fellow guard and Jimmy's godfather, Mike Cochrane (MATT DILLON). Ty is soon pressured by Mike and his team - which includes hothead Baines (LAURENCE FISHBURNE), European Quinn (Jean Reno), family man Dobbs (SKEET ULRICH), and tough guy Palmer (AMAURY NOLASCO) - to take part in a $42 million heist. Their plan is to stash the cash in an abandoned warehouse and fake that it was a team of armed carjackers who made off with the money. Things go wrong when they are observed by a stray homeless man (NICK JAMESON), who Mike and Baines shoot and kill. Ty, who was promised that no one would get hurt, tries to flee but is forced to hole himself up in one of the armored cars full of cash. Minutes later, a cop named Eckehart (MILO VENTIMIGLIA) shows up to investigate a disturbance and is promptly shot by Baines. The film then becomes a race against time, as the five crooked crew members try and gain access to Ty and Eckehart in the armored car (Ty has carried the wounded man into the vehicle after creating a diversion) all while aware of a 58-minute time window in which they will have to report back to headquarters. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Older teens may be drawn in by the action-heavy trailer and commercials. Columbus Short also has a following from his performance in "Stomp the Yard." WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For sequences of intense violence, some disturbing images and brief strong language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: COLUMBUS SHORT plays an Iraqi War veteran who has returned to the States to take care of his little brother, following the death of their parents. He is an honest man, saddled with his mother and father's debt and in danger of losing the family home and his brother to foster care. He reluctantly takes part in the heist, but then has a change of heart after a man is killed. He is a casual drinker. MATT DILLON plays the leader of the armored-car crew of guards, who is the mastermind behind the plan to steal $42 million in Federal Reserve cash and make it look like the guards were the victims. He curses often and is a casual drinker. LAURENCE FISHBURNE plays the most unstable member of the guards, a hothead who carries a large rifle. He drinks, uses much profanity, and sometimes naps on the job. He is also a smoker. SKEET ULRICH plays one of the guards and is the only one other than Ty who shows any remorse or regret when things go wrong. He tries to help Ty escape, putting his own like at risk. He is a casual drinker and a father of one son. JEAN RENO plays a vaguely European guard who is likely the oldest member of the crew. He is often the voice of reason in quarrels among the guards. His most heinous act in the film is kidnapping Ty's little brother who is then used as leverage to get Ty to come out of the locked armored car full of cash. He, too, is a casual drinker. AMAURY NOLASCO plays a tough-guy guard who is all for stealing the money and making it look like a fake heist. When one of the members is discovered to be a traitor, he is the one who executes him leading him to question whether God will have mercy on him. He is a casual drinker and smoker. FRED WARD plays the honorable commander of the armored-car guard crews. He is said to have foiled a similar heist years earlier by killing five men by himself who tried to heist his armored car. ANDRE KINNEY plays Ty's little brother, who regularly skips school and often gets in trouble for spray-painting his art in public places. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this action film that has been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of 1 "f" word and at least a dozen "s" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Some sexually related dialogue is present, as are some locker photos of women in suggestive poses. Violence consists of two people being shot, one of whom dies as a result. Two others are killed by explosives (which sets one of the men completely aflame), one is stabbed to death, and another dies from injuries in a spectacular vehicle crash. One man commits suicide by jumping off a roof. Some of this has fairly bloody results, and there are scenes and moments of extreme peril throughout that may be unsettling and/or suspenseful for various viewers. Bad attitudes are present, as is potentially imitative behavior, tense family material, and various thematic elements. Drinking is also present, as is some smoking. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed review for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there is one scene shot from the perspective of a man looking through his rearview car mirror as music plays shaking the mirror for a good half-minute of screen time. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE The six main characters all drink beers together at a local bar. Dobbs pops pills from a bottle. Nothing illegal, probably some form of aspirin or vitamins. Baines, on several occasions, swigs from a metal flask. It is never said specifically what is in the flask, but clearly the implication is whiskey or some other alcoholic beverage. BLOOD/GORE Ty has a large shoulder scar, likely the result of a shrapnel injury. A homeless man is shot in the back and then the head. A fair amount of blood is visible, some of which gets on Ty who was trying to get the man some medical help when Mike delivered the fatal shot. Much blood is shown spurting from Eckehart's belly wound after being shot by Baines. Ty tries to treat the wound inside the armored car and blood gets pretty much everywhere. Dobbs' hand is injured by Palmer when he hammers a spike that Dobbs was holding and misses. Palmer uses a puddle of water to clean his bloody knife and hands. Jimmy has a bloody forehead wound after being kidnapped by Quinn. Mike has a bloodied face after an armored car explosion sends him flying. One character is seen amidst the wreckage of a crashed armored car, severely bloodied. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE On numerous occasions, Baines mocks Ty -- an Iraqi War veteran -- by calling him "Soldier Boy." Baines leaves a "For a good time, call" note in a jar meant to collect money for a dead co-worker's widow. When Baines' boss talks about transporting a "primary load" of money, Baines mutters, "I got your primary load" and motions to his crotch. Mike and the rest of the crew play a prank on Ty, making him think that a squad of armed gunmen are trying to blow up the armored truck he is riding in. Through dialogue, we learn that Jimmy regularly steals spray paints from his school. Ty, at first, doesn't approve. Then, the two share a laugh. Also through dialogue, we learn that Jimmy has been arrested on several occasions for spray-painting in public. Mike and the other armored-car guards plot to steal $42 million and fake that it was a heist by armed gunmen. Baines is shown napping on the job. Ty lies to his boss when checking in on the road that "everything is OK" as they are transporting the cash. When Ty refuses to continue taking part in the heist, Mike and the others conspire to kill him and lie that he sacrificed himself during the "robbery." FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed here and under "Violence," "Blood/Gore" and "Jump Scenes" may be unsettling and/or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. An armored car that Baines, Mike and Ty are riding in suddenly stalls under a deserted highway overpass. Suddenly, armed gunmen show up in a van and attach what appears to be a bomb to the backdoor of the armored car. As it turns out, it's just Mike and the rest of the guys playing a prank on Ty. Baines douses an armored car, inside which Ty and the wounded cop are holed up, with kerosene and is about to light the whole thing on fire when Mike stops him. Jimmy comes home and thinks that Ty is in the house. When he rounds a corner, he comes face to face with a menacing Quinn who kidnaps him. GUNS/WEAPONS Baines proudly carries an enormous shotgun. At several times, he is shown caressing it and muttering variations of "I wish someone would try something." All six of the main crew members are armed with pistols. Mike has his gun out of its holster as he and Ty make their way from one bank out onto the street and into their armored car with a supply of cash. Baines shoots a homeless man in the back with his rifle. Mike shoots the homeless man in the head with his service weapon. Eckehart is surprised by Mike and nearly takes his police-issued sidearm out of its holster. Baines shoots Eckehart in the stomach with his rifle. Quinn shoots his gun at the warehouse ceiling to break up a scuffle. Mike holds a gun to Jimmy's head and threatens to shoot him if Ty doesn't come out of the armored car. Palmer stabs one character in the stomach with a small, shank-like knife. The stabbing happens in the shadows of a dark room. Quinn shoots the armored car several times out of frustration. The bullets leave no damage. Palmer points a gun at Ty and threatens to shoot him for his disloyalty. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Shut your f*cking mouth," "Cut the sh*t," "Holy sh*t," "I'm gonna remember that sh*t," "Your promises don't mean sh*t," "Don't bullsh*t me," "Damn straight," "You damn moron," "Gotta take a leak," "The bigger the gun, the smaller the pistol," "I got his primary load," "I can't believe you let your sister marry this pig" and "Shut up." All of the action, stunts, etc. might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Mike picks Ty up at a bus stop in his car, but fakes like he is driving away several times as Ty goes to open the passenger door. Several of the men are shown sporting tattoos when changing out of their regular clothes into their uniforms. Dobbs especially has a lot, including tattooed spider webs on each elbow. Palmer has a large tattoo behind his right ear. Baines leaves a "For a good time, call" note in a jar meant to collect money for a dead co-worker's widow. Baines motions to his crotch after he jokes to his boss, "I got your primary load." Baines is fond of caressing his weapon and muttering variations of "I wish someone would try something." Ty's little brother, Jimmy, regularly skips school. We later learn, though, that he has been doing so to try and find a job to help Ty pay the bills. Through dialogue, we learn that Jimmy regularly steals spray paints from his school. Ty, at first, doesn't approve. Then, the two share a laugh. Also through dialogue, we learn that Jimmy has been arrested on several occasions for spray-painting in public. Ty talks with his mouth full of hot dog. Mike and the other armored-car guards plot to steal $42 million and fake that it was a heist by armed gunmen. Ty lies to his boss when checking in on the road that "everything is OK" as they are transporting the cash. Baines is shown napping on the job. Mike lies to Eckehart in an attempt to get him to leave the factory and not discover the theft they have committed. Grief-stricken over the wrong he has done, one character wonders if "God will forgive" him just before he jumps off the roof of a tall building. JUMP SCENES Jimmy comes home and thinks that Ty is in the house. When he rounds a corner, he comes face to face with a menacing Quinn who kidnaps him. Ty turns on the siren of his wrecked armored car, alerting Eckehart outside that something is amiss inside. This is followed immediately by Baines shooting Eckehart in a shocking moment. Two characters open up a metal transport cart full of stolen cash only to find a bomb Ty has set. The explosive goes off right in their faces, obliterating them, and blowing out the back door of the armored car. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A fairly large amount of tense music plays throughout the film, thanks to John Murphy's rather loud score. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 1 "f" word, 12 "s" words, 1 slang term used for male genitals ("pistol"), 3 damns, 2 hells, 2 uses of "G-damn," and 1 use each of "My God" and "Oh God." SEX/NUDITY Ty sleeps shirtless, as does Mike. The film opens with both men waking up in their respective homes. Ty looks at Baines' large rifle and makes a penis-size joke: "You know what they say, 'The bigger the gun, the smaller the pistol.'" Several of the main characters have lockers with photos of women in suggestive poses taped to the inside doors. No overt nudity, though. Baines leaves a "For a good time, call" note in a jar meant to collect money for a dead co-worker's widow. When Baines' boss talks about transporting a "primary load" of money, Baines mutters, "I got your primary load" and motions to his crotch. SMOKING Baines is shown smoking in his first scene. At a neighborhood bar, at least two of the six main characters are shown smoking. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Through dialogue, we learn that brothers Ty and Jimmy lost their parents earlier in the year (cause of death is never revealed). The two died leaving a lot of debt and two mortgages on the family house. A woman from social services threatens to put Jimmy in foster care after the state learns that Ty is having financial problems, that Jimmy has been skipping school, and that he has been arrested on numerous occasions for spray-painting. Mike is Jimmy's godfather. Mike uses this family tie to convince Ty to trust him with regards to the heist plot. Mike has Quinn kidnap Jimmy. He then puts a gun to Jimmy's head and forces Ty to come out of the armored truck. After Mike, Baines and Palmer discover that Dobbs has been planning to help Ty escape, he breaks down and cries, wailing that he only wants to go home and see his son. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The dangers and temptations of working in a profession where one personally handles large sums of money every day. How war veterans often feel ignored, mistreated and disrespected when they have to assimilate into normal, everyday civilian life. How and why certain professions like law enforcement tend to attract generations of family members. VIOLENCE Mike relates a story of how his commander once foiled a heist by shooting and killing five thieves after his own crew had all been wiped out. A homeless man is chased around a warehouse by the six main characters and leaps from some scaffolding, landing hard a couple of floors down. Baines shoots the homeless man in the back with his rifle. Mike then shoots the homeless man in the head as Ty is trying to carry him to get medical help. Mike and Ty engage in an armored car chase around the grounds of an abandoned industrial complex. Mike slams his car several times into Ty's and eventually forces Ty to crash right back at the point where he started. Baines shoots Eckehart in the stomach with his rifle. Mike and the others drag a bleeding Eckehart through the warehouse, with his head banging each step on the way down a flight of stairs. Mike stops Baines from lighting the armored car on fire with Ty and Eckehart (and the cash) inside. A scuffle ensues, with Baines punching Dobbs and the others jostling each other until Quinn shoots his pistol at the ceiling. Quinn and the others manhandle Jimmy, who has a hood over his head. Mike eventually holds a gun to the boy's head and threatens to shoot him if Ty doesn't come out of the armored car. Palmer stabs one character in the stomach. The stabbing happens in the shadows of a dark room. One character commits suicide by jumping off a roof. We don't see or hear him land, though. Baines head-butts Ty, manhandles him and kicks him hard in the groin. Two characters open up a metal transport cart full of stolen cash only to find a bomb Ty has set. The explosive goes off right in their faces and blows out the back door of the armored car. Mike is standing near the door and is thrust backwards violently. One of the two men inside briefly staggers out of the destroyed car completely engulfed in flames and dies a few seconds later. Mike crashes an armored car into the police car that Ty was hoping to drive away in. Ty flees on foot as Mike chases him in the armored car, culminating in a spectacular crash that kills one of the men. Reviewed December 4, 2009 / Posted December 4, 2009

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