Charlie Valentine (2009)

Directed by: Jesse V. Johnson | 96 minutes | drama | Actors: Raymond J. Barry, Michael Weatherly, James Russo, Tom Berenger, Steven Bauer, Maxine Bahns, Valerie Dillman, Keith David, Dominiquie Vandenberg, Robert Blanche, Kevin Scott Allen, Randy Crowder, Glenn Taranto, Anthony Vitale, Vernon Wells

‘Charlie Valentine’ is a nice movie about the last working days of a gangster. Writer and director of this crime drama is Jesse V. Johnson. Johnson linked his name to such masterpieces as ‘Avatar’, ‘War of the Worlds’, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Charlie’s Angels’. But mind you, not as a director or writer. Johnson, originally British, was responsible for the stunts. Either way, it will have helped to make some name for himself in Hollywood as a director as well. In recent years, Johnson mainly made action films that were not always successful. A recurring theme in his work is the criminal who wants to put an end to the violent life he leads. So is ‘Charlie Valentine’.

‘Charlie Valentine’ is sometimes referred to by the makers as a tough ‘mafia film’. But anyone who thinks of ‘Godfather’ or ‘Goodfellas’ like scenes will be disappointed. The film contains too little psychological content, brilliant conversations and proper typecasting for that. In ‘Charlie Valentine’ there are no flamboyant Italians and luxuriously living families with a sense of honour. But the film should not be viewed in that daylight. The terms action and drama suffice during this rather one-track story. Johnson tries to give the character ‘Charlie Valentine’ a human face that brings the viewer to his side. Yet the character only slowly awakens that much-needed compassion. Because even though we are directly acquainted with the personal events in Charlie’s life, his history is not made visual. That requires some empathy from the viewer. The moment the bond with the main character takes shape, the final scene occurs. A shame for a film that should emphasize this dramatic theme.

In ‘Charlie Valentine’ we see good acting from Raymond J. Barry (“Training Day”, “Cold Case”) and Michael Weatherly (“NCIS”). Much care has also been taken with the camera work (including beautiful helicopter views) which, together with the sunny setting, create a sultry atmosphere. That production is rock solid. For the action buff, ‘Charlie Valentine’ is an open door to multiple shootings and gory beatings that are often very explicitly portrayed. Johnson could count on a large number of (lesser-known) nominations and awards for his film and thus received an appropriate appreciation for a decent but average film.