Play Dirty is a fast-paced, well-woven thriller, which perfectly balances the gritty action with intelligent narration, all directed with a vastly skilled hand of Shane Black. The main character of the movie, Parker, a role taken with steel-like determination by Mark Wahlberg, is an anti-hero of a ruthless and morally ambiguous nature and his ruthless quest to avenge and right a wrong keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. The plot is developed through a chain of events and deceptions, and we can see a network of corruption with mobsters, mercenaries, and corrupt officials, which puts the audience in a tense atmosphere with a veil of morality ambiguity. The rate of the movie is also very fast, and each action scene, each revelation of the plot has the power of adrenaline that drives the movie forward.
The acting is very strong and Wahlberg presents the stoic but emotionally expressive character that is the key to the gritty nature of the film. LaKeith Stanfield and Rosa Salazar are good supporting parts, which make the whole web of loyalties and betrayals even deeper and richer. The direction of the film is bright in its stylish aesthetics and creative action films, combining both realistic effects and glossy frames, with an accent on the harsh and city atmosphere of New York and the conflict and snowy atmosphere of New Jersey. The score accentuates the tone of the film which is raucous where it is necessary and haunting at the time of reflection which enhances the emotional stakes.
The part that resonated with me most was the fact that the film discussed loyalty, revenge and moral compromise. The sheer brutality of the sense of justice that Parker is ruthless enough to take revenge on his dead comrades and defend his own, but it is outside the law. The movie left me in a state of excitement and disapproval, both excited by the slickness of the heists but also cognizant of the more sinister decisions of the characters. Play Dirty is a confident, gut-throbbing ride that makes an impression on you, and it combines intelligent story telling with nonstop action and complicated characters.
