Homefront is a 2013 American action neo-Western thriller film directed by Gary Fleder, screenplay written by Sylvester Stallone and released nationwide in theaters on November 27.[4] Based on the 2005 novel Homefront by Chuck Logan, the film stars Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder, and Kate Bosworth. Filming began on October 1, 2012 in New Orleans.
| Homefront | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Gary Fleder |
| Screenplay by | Sylvester Stallone |
| Based on | Homefront by Chuck Logan |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Theo van de Sande |
| Edited by | Padraic McKinley |
| Music by | Mark Isham |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Open Road Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $22 million[2] |
| Box office | $51.7 million[3] |
Plot
Two years after raiding a methamphetamine laboratory owned by biker gang boss Danny T, Phil Broker retires from the DEA and moves to a small Louisiana town with his daughter Maddy. One day, Maddy gets into a schoolyard fight with a bully named Teddy Klum, and Broker is called to her school. As they prepare to return home, Teddy's mother, Cassie, instigates a fight between her husband and Broker, which Broker wins easily. Enraged, Cassie later asks her brother Gator, a drug manufacturer, to intimidate Broker. Broker's friend Teedo warns him that the locals may engage in an old-school feud.
While Broker and Maddy go horse riding, Gator breaks into their house where he finds old DEA personnel files; he discovers that Broker was responsible for Danny T's arrest, which resulted in the death of Danny T's son. Hoping to expand his influence, Gator tips off Danny T, who sends members of his gang to kill Broker. Meanwhile, Broker attempts to smooth over the situation with Teddy's family, and Maddy invites Teddy to her birthday party. As tensions between the two families slowly ease, Gator warns Cassie to stay away from Broker.
Broker's DEA contacts warn him that Gator may be involved with Danny T. Broker then heads to Gator's meth lab and sabotages it, but he is subdued and tortured by Gator's thugs. Broker manages to escape and defeat his captors, but before he and Maddy can leave town, the gang members arrive. Though Broker ambushes and kills most of the gang members, Teedo is critically injured while helping Broker and Maddy escape. Meanwhile, Gator’s girlfriend Sheryl forces Maddy to leave with her; Maddy uses her cell phone to call Broker and from her descriptions, Broker realizes that she has been taken to Gator's meth lab.
Cassie arrives at Gator's warehouse after hearing news of the gunfight, and discovers Maddy there before accidentally setting off Broker's booby trap. Disgusted with her brother, Cassie attempts to flee with Maddy, leading to a struggle in which Gator accidentally shoots Cassie. Gator then flees with Maddy in his truck, with Broker in hot pursuit. When Broker crashes his car, Gator prepares to shoot him but is distracted by Maddy who he then attempts to force back into his truck. Taking advantage of the distraction, Broker frees himself, and savagely beats Gator before reuniting with Maddy. Gator and Sheryl are arrested, While Teedo and Cassie are taken to the hospital. Broker later visits Danny T in prison, letting him know that he will be around when Danny T is eventually released.
Cast
- Jason Statham as Phil Broker / Mason Christopher "M.C." Dalton
- James Franco as Morgan "Gator" Bodine
- Winona Ryder as Sheryl Marie Mott
- Marcus Hester as Jimmy Klum
- Kate Bosworth as Cassie Bodine Klum
- Chuck Zito as Danny "Danny T" Turrie
- Linds Edwards as Joe "JoJo" Turrie
- Frank Grillo as Cyrus Hanks
- Clancy Brown as Sheriff Keith Rodrigue
- Izabela Vidovic as Maddy Broker
- Rachelle Lefevre as Susan Hetch
- Christa Campbell as Lydia
- Stuart Greer as Lewis
- Owen Harn as Clay
- Omar Benson Miller as Teedo
- Pruitt Taylor Vince as Werks
- Austin Craig as Teddy Klum
- Christopher Alan Weaver as Terry
- Craig Stark as Cook
- Nicole Andrews as Mrs. Etherby
- Amin Joseph as Lead DEA Agent
- Lance E. Nichols as Senator DEA Agent
- Greg Sproles as Hitman #1
- Luke Hawx as Hitman #2
- Willie Weber as Hitman #3
- Michael Papajohn as Hitman #4
- Ron Surels as Hitman #5
- Michelle Celeste Assil as Michelle, Biker Chick (uncredited)
- Steffie Grote as Dancer (uncredited)
- Michelle McClendon as Tattoo Girl (uncredited)
- Michael Koske as Sam Willard (uncredited)
- Jamie Mackey as Herself (uncredited)
Production
Writing
The screenplay was written by Sylvester Stallone based on the novel of the same name by writer Chuck Logan.
Casting
It was originally intended as a starring role for Stallone but he passed on the role to Statham staying on as producer.[5]
Reception
Box office
Homefront grossed $6.9 million in its opening weekend, finishing in 5th place. It finished its theatrical run with a total gross of $51.7 million, against its $22 million production budget.[3]
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 43% based on 115 reviews, with an average rating of 4.97/10. The site's critical consensus states: "While it boasts a capable cast, the disappointingly dull Homefront hearkens back to classic action thrillers without adding anything to the genre."[6] On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 40 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[7] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.[8]
Scott Foundas of Variety magazine notes the reliable presence of Statham, but blames director Gary Fleder for "making an incoherent jumble of most of the action scenes". He calls Bosworth's performance the film's "greatest surprise", and Franco's performance as its "biggest disappointment". Foundas calls the film "surprisingly joyless" and "less than the sum of its parts."[5]
References
- ^ "HOMEFRONT (15)". Lions Gate Entertainment. British Board of Film Classification. October 9, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
- ^ "Homefront (2013)". Box Office Mojo. Internet Movie Database. November 27, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
- ^ a b "Homefront (2013) – Financial Information". The Numbers.
- ^ Open Films (June 20, 2013). "Open Road Pushes Back Machete Kills and Homefront". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
- ^ a b Scott Foundas (November 21, 2013). "Film Review: 'Homefront'". Variety magazine. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ "Homefront". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
- ^ "Homefront Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
- ^ "CinemaScore". Archived from the original on July 22, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.