Joey (Jason Statham) is an ex-Special Forces member turned full-time street bum, struggling to find meaning on the mean streets. He`s out to avenge the murder of an acquaintance, a path which leads him away from a chance at spiritual redemption, embodied in the form of Cristina (Agatha Buzek) a Polish nun working at the local soup kitchen (needless to say, subtle symbolism isn`t the movie`s strongest suit). Joey soon finds works as muscle for the local Chinese mafia element, which leads to complications in his burgeoning relationship with Cristina.
Redemption is a typical revenge thriller premise strung out on barbiturates, and we`re not making that comparison in a completely disparaging manner. The action sequences are brief -albeit satisfying- affairs, with the main draw of the movie coming from its excellent, noir-infused visuals, courtesy of cinematographer Chris Menges. There`s a particularly memorable, slightly ghoulish scene where Joey uses a tally counter to count off a shipment of illegal immigrants, their hands reaching out from within stacks crates in the half-light of an old warehouse.
It`s scenes like these that makes Statham`s character in Redemption compelling, and which helps audiences overlook the film`s slightly haphazard narrative. Forget therapists, Joey`s the sorta guy who deals with post traumatic stress disorder by breaking arms, taking names and living off the riches of an oblivious fashion photographer. It`s the perfect role for Statham, who infuses his character with the haunted edge of a man for whom amorality is a necessity, rather than a choice.
At the same time, one can`t shake the feeling that our flawed hero`s raison d`Ã