FILM

USA 2011 93 mins Dir: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Gina Carano, Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, Michael Douglas, Antonio Banderas

There are two Steven Soderberghs. One makes high-minded arthouse films. The other delivers multiplex adrenaline rushes of pure enjoyment. Hard on the heels of 'Contagion', 'Haywire' is clearly another entry in the latter category. A taut assassin flick boasting a convoluted, globe-trotting plotline that nonetheless feels a tad familiar, its trump card is the casting of newcomer Gina Carano in the lead role. Who she? Well, the internet tells us that Ms. Carano comes from the world of mixed martial arts (i.e. cage fighting). On screen, she not only whups ass with an agility and conviction that eludes the likes of Angelina Jolie, but also manages to pull off some light acting work convincingly.

Carano gets to demonstrate her chops literally in an opening diner scene where she knocks seven shades of crap out of Channing Tatum. A series of flashbacks then explain what's been going on up to this point. It seems she works for some kind of shadowy security contractor, her main point of contact being shifty Ewan McGregor. After freeing a kidnapped Chinese journalist in Barcelona, she was sent to Dublin on a mission with Michael Fassbender, but quickly realised she was being set up.

Soderbergh delivers rather too many of his hip Oceans-style montages cut to David Holmes' jazzy score, but Lem Dobbs's screenplay is agreeably playful, killing off a big name when you least expect it. A strong supporting cast includes Michael Douglas in another of his Evil Suit roles and a beardy Antonio Banderas. But the whole thing belongs to comely bone-cruncher Carano, who has a touch of the Noomi Rapaces about her and clearly does all her own stunt work - including a terrific chase across Dublin rooftops. (Robin Askew)

Website http://haywiremovie.com/

Opens: January 20

Copyright Robin Askew 2012