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The Tournament
2009 95 min United Kingdom, United States of America, Bahrain R 16+
★6.2
Horror, Action, Thriller
Director: Scott Mann
Trailers
Description
Every seven years, in an unsuspecting town, The Tournament takes place. A battle royale between 30 of the world's deadliest assassins. The last man standing receives the $10,000,000 cash prize and the title of World's No. 1 Assassin, which itself carries the legendary million dollar-a-bullet price tag.
Budget:
$8M
Starring
Ving Rhames
Actor
Robert Carlyle
Actor
Kelly Hu
Actor
Key opinion
The Tournament is widely viewed as a derivative, B-movie style action film that relies on familiar tropes and a thin plot. While the storytelling and character depth are frequently criticized as predictable and bland, viewers largely agree that the film succeeds as a functional, high-energy spectacle featuring impressive stunt work and choreography.
| Originality | The film functions as a predictable, B-movie style action piece that prioritizes relentless violence and spectacle over narrative substance. | |
| Direction | Action sequences, including the strip-club melee and parkour stunts, are expertly choreographed and impressive given the film's modest budget. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay relies on tired, stereotypical character archetypes and a derivative lethal-tournament premise. | |
| Acting | Opinions on the cast are divided: some appreciate the diverse ensemble and standout performances from Ian Somerhalder and Robert Carlyle, while others find the characters flat and the actors miscast. |