Homage to Action Films: Thrills, Threats, Theatrics
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MOVIE REVIEW
Mojave Diamonds
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Genre: Action
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 1h 38m
Director(s): Asif Akbar
Writer(s): Asif Akbar
Cast: Cowboy Cerrone, Chael Sonnen, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Weston Cage, Chris Maher, William McNamara
Where To Watch: Available now On Demand, Digital and DVD from Lionsgate
RAVING REVIEW: The blend of the sporting world and the glitzy glamour of cinema has been a daring venture, occasionally dishing out big hits and, other times, a swing and a miss. MOJAVE DIAMONDS, written and directed by Asif Akbar, is the latest player in this bold and exciting game.
With some raw, UFC-style athleticism MOJAVE DIAMONDS offers up a punch to the gut. This power-packed drama features three heavyweights of the UFC world, Cowboy Cerrone, Chael Sonnen, and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Taking center stage is Cerrone's character, Roy, an MMA fighter entangled in a menacing web of Vegas crime that threatens his family's safety. This storyline refers to the heydays of martial arts thrillers. In the modern era of action cinema, MOJAVE DIAMONDS thrusts UFC and MMA stars into the spotlight, keeping this time-honored tradition alive.
In this narrative, we find three brothers tossed into a chaotic whirlpool of criminal activity when their family's safety is compromised. The plot's adrenaline starts pumping when Roy Mason (Cerrone) finds himself at odds with a feared mob boss, Julian (Jackson). This volatile meeting spirals into chaos, forcing a tense rescue mission into action as Julian takes Joe's (Sonnen) family, hostage.
Despite its pitfalls and the crowd of lesser-known actors, MOJAVE DIAMONDS hooks its target audience effectively. The film pays a clear homage to the charm reminiscent of vintage action films – explosions, climactic face-offs, and repurposing real-life fighters for the big screen. The leading trio offers a variety of performances that span the range from understated intensity to bold theatrics; you can tell who has the chops to act and who would be better left in the octagon.
I would have liked to see more choreography and one-on-one fights, especially with the cast's pedigree of being trained fighters. MOJAVE DIAMONDS may not be the crowning jewel of cinematic achievement. Still, it serves up a sizeable portion of indie action, with flashy weapons and an infusion of MMA bravado. The performances may be mixed, but if you sit back and turn your brain off, you can still have fun with this. These minor flaws are easily overlooked as MOJAVE DIAMONDS whisks viewers back to simpler times when choosing a movie meant a nostalgic trip to the local video rental store. With its engaging storyline and over-the-top cast, MOJAVE DIAMONDS is a fun journey worth embarking upon, especially for fans of the UFC or MMA.
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[photo courtesy of LIONSGATE]
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I thought Cerrone during the scene where his gf meets the bad guys and him wanting to kill Rampage to next scene acting like that thing didn’t happen in the last scene.
How did you think Chael farred in his first lead role?
I was shocked, like I mentioned in the review, some of the new “actors” did remarkably, and others left a lot to be desired. It was interesting to see that translation