Stream it now Maximum Risk 1996

 

I had very low expectations for this movie however I was suprised at how well the story was executed and how it wasn't all kicking people in the face, underrated Van Damme movie for sure.

Alain (Van Damme), a French police detective learns that he has a twin brother when the brother turns up violently murdered in Nice. Deciding to solve the mysterious death of the brother he never knew, Alain assumes his brother's identity and finds himself in the middle of a tangled conspiracy involving violent Russian mobsters, corrupt FBI agents and his brother's beautifu girlfriend (Henstridge).

"Maximum Risk" is a fast-paced action thriller with a well-written script that's performed by a talented cast. Although it is slightly predictable, the storyline is sensible and action-packed with expertly staged and photographed fight and chase scenes scattered evenly throughout the film.
(In fact, if I have a complaint, it's that there are too many chase scenes and car crashes in the film. By the time we get to final one, I'm a bit weary of crashing cars.)

However, the film makes up for this with an ending that's far more intelligent than what actions films usually offer up. Instead of offering a quip and then executing the villains in cold blood, Van Damme's character behaves a little more like the honest and good cop that he's supposed to be... and by letting those who are truly the most evil villains in the film live, he not only subjects them to the humaliation and disgrace of a trail but he also ensures that their partners in crime will suffer similar fates. (This is the exact opposite of the idiotic ending in "Transporter 3" where the bloodlust of the writers actually leads to justice not being served when a main witness against that film's real villains is murdered by the hero in cold blood.)

"Maximum Risk" is a well-crafted action film that, strangely, was deemed a failure when it first appeared in 1996 and is one of the film's that some analysts blame for damaging Van Damme's career. Why that is, I can't figure, because while the film did tank at the US box office, it went on to make more than twice what it cost to make in other countries. A movie as good as this that also ended up more than paying for itself should have helped Van Damme rather than hurt him. (Of course, I far from understand the business of movie making... I just know when I've just watched a good movie.)

Speeaking of which, if you want to get a copy of this underrated action film, you can order it from Amazon.com by clicking here. (This particular edition comes with a digital copy that can easily be transferred to a computer or some other device that you might want to view movies.)


Maximum Risk
Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Natasha Henstridge, Zach Grenier and Jean-Hughues Anglade
Director: Ringo Lam

I've not seen all Jean Claude Van Damme's movies, but here are a few of them.

Though it's easy to write off Jean-Claude Van Damme as yet another one-note action hero, Ringo Lam tried his best to turn that assumption around for the big guy. Maximum Risk, the first of a handful of Lam/Van Damme collaborations, manages to thrill and excite without the need for cheesy one-liners and gratuitous butt shots. The cast is solid, the action is intense, and Van Damme proves once and for all that he's actually capable of genuine human emotion when the script calls for it. Who knew? I simply adore this movie, despite the fact that it contains one of the most pointless sex scenes in cinematic history. However, since the nakedness in question involves the lovely Natasha Henstridge, all is forgiven. But, I digress. If you're in the mood for some serious Van Dammage without the bitter aftertaste, Maximum Risk is definitely a good place to start. Watching this, it's hard to tell where, exactly, Jean-Claude's career went wrong.

MAXIMUM RISK
(RINGO LAM, 1996)
R
1 HOUR 40 MINUTES

underated action film

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