Taglines: She has the code. He is the key.
Ex-cop and cage fighter Luke Wright (Jason Statham) unintentionally wins a fixed fight, angering Emile Docheski (Sándor Técsy), head of the Russian mafia. As punishment, Docheski’s son Vassily (Joseph Sikora) and his men kill Wright’s pregnant wife, then promise to kill anyone to whom he speaks regularly. Luke leaves his life behind, becoming a homeless tramp.
Meanwhile, in China, Mei (Catherine Chan), a young math genius, is kidnapped by men working for Triad boss Han Jiao (James Hong). Han wishes to use Mei as a mental calculator to eliminate his criminal enterprise’s traceable digital footprint. He sends her to New York City, in the care of brutal gangster Quan Chang (Reggie Lee).
One year later, Han arrives from China, asking Mei to memorize a long number. On the way to retrieve a second number, their vehicle is ambushed by the Russian mafia. Mei is taken to Emile, who demands the number, but Mei refuses. Before they can further interrogate her, they are interrupted by police, sent by the corrupt Captain Wolf (Robert John Burke), who works for Han. Mei escapes during the confusion, chased by the Russians to a nearby subway station, where Luke contemplates suicide.
Recognizing Chemyakin (Igor Jijikine), one of the men who killed his wife, and seeing Mei’s distress, Luke boards the train and kills Chemyakin and the other Russians. Mei flees at the next stop, only to be stopped by two corrupt detectives working for Wolf. Luke arrives and incapacitates the detectives, convincing Mei of his good intentions, before he also dispatches some Russians.
Hiding in a hotel, Mei explains the number to Luke, who guesses that it is the code to a combination safe. However, Quan tracks Mei down, through her cell phone, escaping with her during a diversion, as Luke fights through Quan’s men. Across town, Captain Wolf meets with Mayor Danny Tremello (Chris Sarandon), who has learned that Luke is involved.
He cautions Wolf, explaining that Luke wasn’t a regular cop, but a government assassin responsible for numerous black operations on the orders of his commanding officers in an effort to wipe out criminal organizations in the New York area, along with his former partner Alex Rosen (Anson Mount). Luke’s life of exile is not one of necessity, but rather of atonement for the things he did for the government.
Using Chemyakin’s phone, Luke sets up Vassily, whom he kidnaps. Emile reluctantly accepts a deal for his son’s life, explaining that Mei’s number unlocks a heavily guarded safe in Chinatown with $30 million, though he does not know the contents of a second safe. Needing a team to get to the safe, Luke recruits Wolf and his detectives. Together, they fight through numerous Triad gangsters to reach the safe.
As Luke is about to open it, Wolf attempts to betray him, but Luke kills the remaining detectives and takes Wolf hostage. Using the money, Luke bribes Alex Rosen, who now works for the mayor, into rescuing Mei. Alex reveals the second safe belongs to the mayor, containing a disc with data on his corrupt deals. Alex meets with Quan, showcasing his combat powers by killing Quan and his men as Mei watches. Elsewhere, Luke assaults the mayor and retrieves a copy of the mayor’s disc.
Safe is a 2012 American action thriller film written and directed by Boaz Yakin, produced by Lawrence Bender and Dana Brunetti, and starring Jason Statham, Chris Sarandon, Robert John Burke and James Hong. Statham plays Luke Wright, an ex-cop and former cage fighter who winds up protecting a gifted child who is being chased by the Russian mafia, Chinese Triads, and corrupt New York City police.
Safe was released by Lionsgate Films on April 27, 2012. Upon release, the film received generally negative reviews for its screenplay, writing and pace. However, the film received critical praise for the action sequences, direction, the cast (particularly Statham), music and stunts. In addition to a critical failure, the film was a box office disappointment with grossing $40.6 million worldwide against budget of $30 million.
Safe (2012)
Directed by: Boaz Yakin
Starring: Jason Statham, Chris Sarandon, Robert John Burke, James Hong, Catherine Chan, Anson Mount, Joseph Sikora, Igor Jijikine, Reggie Lee, James Colby, Barry Bradford, Jay Giannone
Screenplay by: Boaz Yakin
Production Design by: Joseph C. Nemec
Cinematography by: Stefan Czapsky
Film Editing by: Frédéric Thoraval
Costume Design by: Michelle Matland, Ann Roth
Set Decoration by: Bryony Foster
Art Direction by: Jesse Rosenthal
Music by: Mark Mothersbaugh
MPAA Rating: R for strong violence throughout, and for language.
Distributed by: Lionsgate Films
Release Date: April 27, 2012
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