What Do The Critics Say?
"It's a highly watchable and occasionally hilarious action movie that's high on testosterone and low on pretension. Pleasurable performances and a barrage of amusing one-liners ensure that the overly conventional action movie aesthetic doesn't hinder the enjoyment factor. What makes The Losers such winning entertainment is its refusal to take the story or the characters too seriously, alongside a uniformly excellent cast who all step into the shallow boots of their characters with aplomb."
Ben Rawson-Jones DIGITAL SPY
"Lithe, bold, often funny and full of characters to cheer for, it never pretends to be anything more than a trigger-happy romp. If that's what you're after, The Losers offers plenty of explosive entertainment."
Janis White EMPIRE MAGAZINE
"What distinguishes this from a standard-issue action comedy is the comedy. The script by Peter Berg and James Vanderbilt keeps the killer lines flying as fast as the bullets."
FILM THREAT
"After watching this stylized comic-book action flick and admitting you thoroughly enjoyed yourself, you won't feel like a Loser at all."
Kit Bowen THE MOVIE KIT
"I walked in expecting to hate it, came away being thoroughly entertained."
Michelle Alexandria ECLIPSE MAGAZINE
"The result is an outrageous action romp the likes of which I haven't seen since Smoking Aces. Watching this series of adrenalin charged set pieces and plot twists feels like hurtling down a series of narrow one-way streets with tyre -screeching corners in between. The dialogue is nicely stylised, with jibes and comebacks flying as fast as the bullets."
Jason Di Rosso ABC MOVIE TIME
"Morgan makes a solid, likeable lead as Clay and he also has decent chemistry with Saldana, who's extremely sexy as Aisha, even if White does include a few more close-ups of her arse than are strictly necessary. In addition, Patric hams it up to great effect as Max and there's strong comic support from Evans and Short. As stylish as it is implausible, this is an enjoyable action/adventure romp with colourful performances and a decent script, though it probably doesn't pay to think about it too hard."
Matthew Turner VIEW LONDON
"The brisk, breezy energy of a good "B" movie; the pace never lags and the action looks terrific."
Jeffrey M. Anderson COMMON SENSE MEDIA
"Jeffrey Dean Morgan leads the group that includes the always excellent Idris Elba and Chris Evans (not that one) who provides the film's biggest laughs with lines like "So she wants to meet in a cemetary, well that's not at all foreboding". There is also Zoe Saldana, who if you thought looked sexy as a Na'vi just wait till you see her here. A great script, full of gags, that revels in ridiculousness and some OTT action to make one stupidly enjoyable film."
Alex Zane SUN ONLINE
"May very well be the most fun you'll have at the movies all year."
Jeffrey Lyles GAZETTE
"With a spunky, underdog spirit all of its own, endearing characters, explosive set-pieces and a self-aware, quippy sense of humour, it manages to hold its own against the Big Guns. Fantastic Four's Evans once again steals the show as the team's nerdy tech guy Jensen, while Watchmen star Morgan's 'antihero with a heart of gold' leader Clay trades blows and assured posturing with Saldana's Aisha to entertaining effect."
Matt Risley SKY MOVIES
The Inside Story On The Making Of The Losers
Director Sylvain White succinctly sums up the appeal of the ex-special forces unit that comes to the big screen from the pages of the popular DC/Vertigo comic book series, by the team of writer Andy Diggle and artist Jock: "The Losers have fun while they kick butt." As a fan of the original comics, White wanted to capture the same irreverent style in the film "The Losers". "When I read the comics, the first thing that really struck me was the sense of humor Diggle and Jock were able to inject into a very action-driven story," he related. "It was such good source material, and I wanted to stay true to it by reflecting that tone in the movie." Producer Joel Silver ("Kiss Kiss Bang Bang") agrees. "The great thing about "The Losers" is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously, which originated with the comics, of course. But much of that attitude also came from the screenwriters, Peter Berg and James Vanderbilt, who brought so much to the table, and a lot came from Sylvain, who delivered a strong, visual cinematic style that I think feels fresh and hip and cool." Producer Akiva Goldsman ("Hancock" & "I Am Legend") was already familiar with Sylvain White’s work from the director’s feature film debut, "Stomp the Yard", a drama centered around a step-dancing competition. "And yet," Goldsman says, "there was a construct to the dancing in it that made it very much like martial arts, which spoke to the style he wanted to bring to this movie. Sylvain has a really good eye and a terrific sense of character and action. When he showed us what he wanted to do with "The Losers", we were all impressed." Employing his graphic arts background, White ("Quiet") had created a full storyboard for the film that told the producers all they needed to know. "Sylvain came in and gave us a dazzling presentation," producer Kerry Foster ("Dark Water") recalls. "He was so passionate and had such a clear vision for the movie that we knew he was the perfect choice to direct it." White says he not only drew inspiration from the original comic books but also from the screenplay. "It had a light tone paired with very gritty, visceral action. That can be a very difficult balance to maintain, but Peter and Jamie did it perfectly." James Vanderbilt ("Welcome to the Jungle"), who collaborated with Peter Berg on the screenplay notes: "I was raised on Joel Silver movies like "Die Hard", "Lethal Weapon" and "48 Hrs.", and that is my favorite type of action film: where there are real emotions; but not everything is so dire all of the time. The stakes are high, but the characters seem to be having a good time and we, have a good time with them." White affirms that "The Losers" are "fun; you want to hang out with them. They are not superheroes, they are real guys; in fact they’re underdogs who find themselves in what I would say is an extreme situation." Despite what they are called, "The Losers" started out as anything but. Rather, they were an elite black ops unit, who were called upon for only the most perilous missions. But in the jungles of Bolivia, while on a secret mission to eliminate a powerful drug and arms dealer, they are betrayed by a shadowy government operative named Max, who has his own reasons for wanting them eliminated and almost succeeds. "They’re left for dead and left taking the blame for the innocent lives that were lost on their mission," White remarked. "Now they have to find their way back into the U.S. and redeem their names." Fortunately, being presumed dead does have its advantages. But, although no one may be looking for them, five 'dead men' can’t exactly walk back into the country without drawing unwanted attention. They need help and they find it in an unlikely source.
That source is Aisha, She is as beautiful as she is mysterious. Before they can reclaim their lives, however, they will have to deal with Max. Each member of the team: Clay, Roque, Jensen, Pooch and Cougar; has a specialty that makes him individually strong. Together, they are unstoppable: or so they hope. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is Clay, The Losers man in command, whose entire identity had been wrapped up in being a soldier. After the team is betrayed, however, he is forced not only to fight for his country and his men but also his name. "His rank is colonel and that had defined him. Without that he has to question who he is, but he still has to lead this ragtag group. The leadership thing came naturally to me. It helped that I’m older than most of the guys in this movie, so I immediately wanted to kick their butts anyway," says Morgan, who played John Winchester in the hit TV series, "Supernatural". Sylvain White says he was sure Morgan was the right man for the role even before he actually met him. "He pulled up on his Harley and I knew instantly he was the guy. He’s got this very cool, mature energy about him, a kind of old soul quality that makes him a born leader. Jeffrey is very likeable, very approachable, but there is also a bit of a dark edge to him." Chris Evans ("Fantastic Four" & "Street Kings") plays Jensen, the team’s computer wizard, who can hack anything (or into anything) that comes his way. Even under cover on the other side of the world, he manages to keep up, via computer, with the standings of his niece's eight and under soccer team, The Petunias. Evans admits, "In terms of the family dynamic of the team, he is kind of the kid. He gets into mischief and cracks jokes at inappropriate times, but he cares about this group of people and loves what he does. He’s quick with a smile and has limitless energy." "Jensen is the geek with a gun," White says. "Every character has moments of comic relief, but Jensen is probably the funniest guy in the movie." Idris Elba ("RocknRolla") plays Roque, an explosives expert, whose personal weapon of choice is a knife. And the bigger the better. Roque has been Clay’s brother in arms for years, although Clay’s dogged determination to exact revenge on Max, at any and all costs, is now causing friction between the two old friends. "Roque is a no-nonsense type of character," Elba, who played Detective Winn in "Prom Night", observes. "He’s a straight talker, very to the point. He’s an experienced soldier who’s not very emotional about the job; he just gets it done." 2009 Image Award winner Columbus Short ("Cadillac Records") was cast as Pooch, the group’s transportation expert. Pooch, Short said, "can rig, wire, fly, drive or commandeer any vehicle, and gets to shoot some pretty sweet weapons." He also has the highest motivation for wanting to return home. Short’s motivations for taking the role involved both the script and the director. "The storyline was great and the writing was very clever and witty; I laughed out loud reading some of the dialogue and I loved the action. Sylvain is a very collaborative director; he gave me the freedom to discover things about my character that weren’t necessarily in the dialogue. I couldn’t imagine a better experience than working with him again on this movie." "I knew Columbus was perfect for Pooch from the get-go," says White. "I didn’t even have to think about it. When I read the script for "The Losers", I felt that the character was the emotional anchor of the team. He’s the family man and the kind of guy you want as a friend. Columbus has a very warm soul and this sweet innocence about him that makes you care about him the second you meet him, so I pictured him as Pooch right off the bat." 2006 Goya Award and two time Toulouse Cinespaña Spanish Best Actor winner, Oscar Jaenada was cast as Cougar, the unit’s crack sniper.
Cougar can hit any target with a steady hand, a cool eye and a quiet calm. "I loved playing a character who is more about sight than sound, more visual than verbals. Cougar may be the quiet type, but he’s always there watching out for his team. He’s the strong, silent guy in the movie." "Cougar is the mystery man of the crew," says White. "I met Oscar and thought he was incredible; he has such an expressive face and an amazing presence. We needed someone who could act with his eyes, and that’s Oscar. He brought the character of Cougar to life in a way not many people could have." Despite their individual and combined skills, "The Losers" need help to sneak back into the U.S. undetected. That’s where Aisha comes in. Zoë Saldana plays the woman who proves to be either a formidable ally or a dangerous enemy: or both. It’s hard to know whose side she’s really on (other than her own) ,but Clay is about to learn she usually comes out on top. "Aisha appears to them out of nowhere just when the guys think there is no hope for them to get back home," says Saldana ("Vantage Point" & "The Terminal"). "When we started discussing the role of Aisha, I instantly thought of Zoë," says White who had been a fan of Saldana even before her recent roles in the sci-fi blockbusters "Avatar" and "Star Trek". "She has remarkable acting chops, but she also has the physicality the role demanded. Aisha is not the lady in distress; quite the contrary, she’s the badass who actually rescues the men. She’s very capable, very strong and very determined, and Zoë brought her own genuine strength to her performance. She also happens to look very much like the character in the comic book, so we were thrilled when she said yes." The man who targeted The Losers (and who will become their target) is Max, a shadowy and ruthless government operative, who is now operating by his own set of rules to keep America on top. And if a few billion dollars end up in his pocket along the way, even better. 2007 Stockholm Film Festival Best Actor Jason Patric ("Expired"), plays the baddie Max. "He has his own manifesto and a twisted sense of patriotism that I thought was funny and even a little topical today. Max has a bit of a swagger and an overconfidence, which I think he uses to hide the fact that he’s been beaten down in the past. But I just tried to have fun with it." "Max was probably the trickiest part to cast," White notes. "We wanted to cast against type, and Jason has never played a true bad guy in a movie before. He came in with some great ideas for the role, and I thought he would help me create a unique character who is different from other villains we’ve seen." Foster who also produced the upcoming "Jonah Hex" agrees. "Jason was terrific. He made Max menacing and eccentric and funny all at the same time. He’s a villain you love to hate." As is the case with all self-respecting villains, Max has the obligatory henchman, because, as Patric says, "Every bad guy should have a thug." Max's henchman Wade, is played by Holt McCallany ("Vantage Point"), who revealed that "Wade is a former special ops soldier, a very competent guy who has now kind of gone over to the dark side. He took all the skills he learned in the Special Forces and became a soldier of fortune. He’s a guy who’s essentially a mercenary. What makes him dangerous to "The Losers" is that he knows these guys." But, before the main cast could portray a Special Forces unit, they had to learn to behave like one. Former Navy SEAL Harry Humphries, who has served as the military advisor on a wide range of films, recently including "Iron Man" and "Transformers", came onboard the film’s military advisor and 'training officer'.
What's It All About?
 Clay, Jensen, Roque, Pooch and Cougar, on a blacks-ops mission in the Bolivian jungle involving a major drug baron, are about to be betrayed. Locating his compound, they send off the co-ordinates and wait for the bombing run that will wipe out any trace the drug operation ever existed. But with only minutes to go, they spot a school bus. Loaded with children it enters the compound. Frantically, they try to call of the approaching jet. Their pleas ignored, they attempt a rescue. Just in the nick of time, they effect the rescue of the kids. After beating the odds and surviving that ordeal, they are betrayed again. Back in the U.S.A. they have been declared dead. In a strange country, with no back-up, they try to come-up with answers. A sexy operative named Aisha, reveals the man who betrayed them: known only as Max; is about to spark a war that could plunge the entire globe into chaos. Now the Special Forces unit everyone assumed is dead, arms themselves to the teeth and prepares to strike back with a vengeance.
The Verdict
"There's a distinct comic book feel about "The Losers" that ensures this film is not only fun to watch but retains its roots. Punctuated with humour, action and heart, "The Losers", thanks to a highly likeable cast who do great justice to the characters they play, is both unpretentious and very entertaining. Led by Jeffrey Dean Morgan (who played Edward Blake a.k.a the Comedian in Zack Snyder's "Watchmen"), the film moves at a rippa pace. "Avatar" star Zoë Saldana as Aisha, provides the love interest and features in a spectacular scene involving a shootout in a hotel room with Morgan. The scene originaly pitched her character to be nude, but Saldana put her foot down and had the scene rewritten after convincing the production team that there was no artistic value in her appearing on-screen in anything less than her bra and panties. Parade reports Salana told the director: "If I am going to do this scene, there is no way I’m going to be nude because it just isn’t necessary or even believable. So there was a negotiation and I ended up in my bra and panties. I don’t mind using my physical assets as a weapon, but there’s a limit." I have to agree with Salana's assessment. The scene is still smokin' hot! Kudos must also go to both Sylvain White (for his direction) and Scott Kevan (for his stunning cinematography). Hopefully we'll see more of "The Losers" in the future. After all, it would be a pity if a sequel didn't eventuate! Recommended. 4 STARS."
The Production Team
Director
Screenplay
characters
Producers
Original Music
Cinematography
Film Editors
Casting
Production Design
Art Direction
Set Decoration
Costume Design
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Sylvain White
Peter Berg & James Vanderbilt
created by Andy Diggle
Kerry Foster/Akiva Goldsman/Joel Silver
John Ottman
Scott Kevan
David Checel & James Herbert
Venus Kanani & Mary Vernieu
by Aaron Osborne
Erin Cochran
Monica Monserrate
Magali Guidasci
Who Is Playing Who?
Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Zoë Saldana
Chris Evans
Idris Elba
Columbus Short
Óscar Jaenada
Jason Patric
Holt McCallany
Peter Macdissi
Peter Francis James
Tanee McCall
Ernesto Morales
Noel Estrella
Gunner Wright
Robert Slavonia
Debbie Ann Rivera
Alanis M. Salinas
Manuel O. Velazquez
Thomas R. Nunan III
John Galindez
Rafael Lopez Diaz
Norman Grant
Krissy Korn
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Clay
Aisha
Jensen
Roque
Pooch
Cougar
Max
Wade
Vikram
Fadhil
Jolene
Nabil
Indian Thug Leader
Jet Pilot
Mr Anderson
Mr Anderson's Secretary
Little Girl at Compound
Boy with Teddy Bear
Pentagon Offical
MIG Pilot
Short Indian Scientist
Delivery Room Doctor
Referee
Run Time 107 minutes
Rated M [AUST]
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