Levon Cade: When a Builder’s Past Comes Back to Haunt Him
Levon Cade (Jason Statham) is a construction worker who maintains a cordial relationship with his boss, Joy (Michael Peña), and his family, while also making time for his child. However, during a party, the boss’s daughter is kidnapped by unknown individuals, leading back to a city-wide mafia network. Joy implores Levon to find his daughter, and the builder agrees, reluctantly revisiting his violent past.
Jason Statham as Levon in “The мастер”
Following the success of “The Beekeeper,” the creative partnership between David Ayer and Jason Statham has proven fruitful, much to the envy of Guy Ritchie. The action movie veterans decided to explore other interesting roles for the actor – Statham as a construction worker is a new one. “The мастер” (originally titled “A Working Man”) isn’t a commentary on the plight of the blue-collar worker. As is often the case, the hero has a surprise up his sleeve: a special forces or military background that resurfaces. In “The Beekeeper,” the hero avenged a defrauded pensioner, but here, Statham is driven by virtue to rescue his boss’s daughter.
From Beekeeper to Builder: A Shift in Tone
Jason Statham as Levon in “The мастер”
However, “The мастер” is not “The Beekeeper.” Ayer opted for a more grounded approach, significantly lowering the intensity. There’s little of the wild self-awareness, and the film doesn’t feel like a lighthearted, fun romp. The film’s tone is closer to Statham’s action movies from the early 2010s – brutal, cold, and uncompromising. Sylvester Stallone’s involvement as a screenwriter may have contributed to this shift, as he’s not particularly fond of over-the-top antics, as seen in the somber “The Expendables” with Statham or the final “Rambo.” One might have hoped for more construction-related puns, but the hero doesn’t deliver, preferring to utter bland phrases like “I believe in biology” or “My interest is purely pharmaceutical.” Perhaps it’s time to cast him as a pharmacist?
Statham Delivers the Goods, But Something’s Missing
Jason Statham as Levon in “The мастер”
Statham certainly believes in biology, quickly figuring out how to deal with unfriendly inhabitants. Beatings, shootouts, interrogations – “The мастер” delivers classic Statham action. Levon Cade is not only a first-class fighter but also a detective, as director Ayer tries to demonstrate by constructing a chain of investigative events and having the hero follow the mafia’s trail. However, the film lacks momentum in places and misses a key ingredient: the characters need to feel like part of a larger meme. “The Beekeeper,” and Statham’s most high-octane films in general (think “Crank”), were always distinguished by a meta-dimension – the character seemed aware of internet jokes and continued in the same vein. While there’s a colorful villain played by Jason Flemyng, a long-time colleague of Statham’s from Guy Ritchie’s crime films, “The мастер” quickly disciplines itself and reverts to default mode. The gangsters, dialogue, plot, and even the signature acts of cruelty – after “The Beekeeper,” it all feels a bit autopilot.
Predictably, the action movie occasionally channels “John Wick,” sending the builder to neon-lit clubs, where beatdowns are more satisfying. Statham forms a connection, if not chemistry, with three characters: his daughter, whom he takes for walks; a fellow soldier, whom he visits (David Harbour); and a hulking drug dealer (Chidi Ajufo), with whom he communicates, always peppering the conversation with the word “brother” – perhaps the film’s most amusing arc.
Like the value of Pi, Statham never changes – an irrational phenomenon, but that’s why the actor is loved. “The мастер” will likely appeal to the actor’s loyal fans. Otherwise, Ayer’s film can be watched in the background, but it’s unlikely to emotionally connect with the audience and generate a box office frenzy. “The мастер” could easily get lost in the actor’s extensive filmography somewhere between “Parker” and “Safe,” but it’s always good to stay connected with Statham: he can fix a faucet, harvest honey, and build a house. Or destroy it.