When you finish watching A Score to Settle you’re left in a predicament. Have I just watched a really good movie? you may ask. The answer to that question compared to Cage’s recent films would be a resounding yes. Have I thou however watched an action movie which this film was sold to me as? the answer to that would be a resounding no.
The film revolves around Frank Carver (Cage) a man wrongfully accused of a death and imprisoned for 19 years. The first thing he wants to do when he leaves is getting revenge against his former gang members who set him up whilst at the same time playing catch-up with his estranged son Joey (Noah Le Gros). Another sub-plot weaves the tale as Frank only has months to live.
So the duration of the movie is a conflict of priorities between having a relationship with his son before he dies or seeking revenge. Frank chooses the latter.
Battling insomnia Frank dips in and out of consciousness. Flashing hallucinations of his late wife and other various scenes play out throughout A Score to Settle. The film seems so focused on the family dynamic and emotional depth that action plays very little part in this self-labelled ‘action’ flick.
Cage doesn’t really deliver in the action sequence department anymore but that’s okay. This is a Nicolas Cage film that I actually enjoyed but not as an action flick, but a film of self-discovery and a film of living life to the fullest and banishing old demons.
Overall
The script is all over the place, the plot is a little strange and the ending is borderline ridiculous but it’s still a good watch. If you want an action movie you won’t be seeing one here but it packs the punches in other areas.
Many action films fail to develop their characters and here we have characters who we can somewhat relate with. With a bit of development, this film could have been so much more than what it was intended. But for what it is, it ain’t all that bad.
A Score to Settle review by Sean Evans
Summary
An action film that packs a punch but certainly not in the way you’d imagine. This film not only address’s the rehabilitation of various characters intertwined within the story but there’s a strong focus on family, relationships and emotional depth with a few shots fired and punches thrown in between.
