Why You Need to Pay Attention to Joe Carnahan’s Latest Action Thriller

Joe Carnahan is easily one of Hollywood’s most understated yet captivating directors. He goes about his business with relative silence and humility, but has delivered some of the best action films and thrillers over the years. To celebrate the release of his latest film, Shadow Force, we’ve highlighted 5 of the best Joe Carnahan films to check out:

The Grey

Based on the book of the same name and starring Liam Neeson, The Grey is so much more than your traditional man vs. wild movie. It does tell the story of a number of workers who end up stranded in the Alaskan wilderness as they are hunted by a pack of vicious wolves, but it is actually really about the strength and resilience of human will against all odds. A harrowing look at the ability to survive, The Grey is a stunning film with incredible music, cinematography, and tension that everyone should see.

Smokin’ Aces

Smokin’ Aces has to be one of the best (and more underrated) action movies of the mid 2000s. The film has an all-star cast, including Ryan Reynolds, Ben Affleck, Jeremy Piven, and Andy García, and follows a magician-turned-state witness who is being hunted by a number of notorious criminals after a one-million-dollar bounty is put on his head. It’s stylish, intricate, and has a number of standout performances from the cast. A must-watch for any crime-thriller fan.

Boss Level

Anything starring Frank Grillo is going to be an action-packed fun ride, and Boss Level is no different, bringing an over-the-top, chaotic, and funny adventure for anyone who loves the likes of Crank and Shoot-’em-Up. The film follows Roy, a former soldier who is stuck in a time loop and given a ‘restart’ every time he is killed (much like a video game). Roy’s only route to salvation to close the loop is to work out how to defeat a number of deadly enemies in one sequential order without dying.

Copshop

Copshop is one of 2021’s most underrated films, and one of Gerard Butler’s best. Carnahan helmed this crime-caper which sees a wily con artist on the run from a lethal assassin. After hiding inside a small-town police station for safety, the hitman turns up, flipping the once-safe haven of a police station into absolute chaos. Copshop is a great thriller that’s funny, witty and tense with some solid performances from Butler, Frank Grillo, Toby Huss and Alexis Louder.

The A-Team

The A-Team movie doesn’t get enough credit for how faithful and enjoyable of an adaptation it is. Starring Bradley Cooper, Liam Neeson, Rampage Jackson, and Sharlto Copley, The A-Team is a blast from start to finish, lives up to the milieu of the 1980s show, and brings a gritty new life to the iconic and beloved characters.

What’s next?

Shadow Force

Carnahan’s next film is Shadow Force, releasing in cinemas on 9 May. It stars Kerry Washington and Omar Sy as an estranged couple with a bounty on their heads, who must go on the run with their son to avoid their former employer, a unit of shadow ops that has been sent to kill them. The film also stars Mark Strong, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Cliff “Method Man” Smith. It looks like a gritty and interesting action movie that will definitely have a little something for everybody.

What’s your favourite movie from Carnahan? Are you excited to see Shadow Force? Let us know by tweeting @MenStuffZA, posting on our Facebook page, or commenting below.