'A Working Man' review: Jason Statham mixes 'Taken' with 'John Wick'

Apnews - Mar 26th, 2025
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In 'A Working Man,' Jason Statham takes on the role of Levon Cade, a former anti-terrorist commando turned construction laborer. Directed by David Ayer and co-written by Sylvester Stallone, the film follows Cade as he is reluctantly pulled back into a life of violence after the teenage daughter of his boss is kidnapped in Chicago. Despite his initial resistance to returning to his old ways, a visit from an old military buddy, played by David Harbour, convinces him to take action. The movie showcases Statham's signature action-packed style as he navigates through an underworld of Russian mobsters, corrupt cops, and vicious biker gangs in a quest to rescue the girl.

The film taps into the blue-collar aesthetic, contrasting the gritty, working-class ethos of Statham's character against the wealthy, villainous elites he confronts. Set against a backdrop of societal themes like PTSD and the exploitation of the working class, the movie not only delivers high-octane action but also reflects on issues relevant to contemporary America. 'A Working Man' offers audiences a mix of thrilling action and a critique of modern socio-economic dynamics, with a narrative that celebrates the resilience and moral compass of the everyday worker. The film features intense scenes and showcases Statham's prowess in action sequences, making it a quintessential action film with a deeper message.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.0
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a clear and engaging overview of the film "A Working Man," focusing on its action elements and Jason Statham's role. Its strengths lie in its readability and timeliness, offering an accessible narrative that aligns with current entertainment interests. However, the article could benefit from improved transparency and source quality, as it lacks citations and detailed explanations of its claims.

While the article effectively captures the film's entertainment value, its exploration of deeper themes is limited, resulting in moderate public interest and impact. The narrative is balanced in its portrayal of action and themes but could offer a broader perspective by including more about other cinematic elements.

Overall, the article serves its purpose as a film review but would gain in credibility and depth with more thorough sourcing and exploration of the film's societal implications.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story presents a detailed narrative of the film "A Working Man," starring Jason Statham, incorporating specific plot elements and character roles. The accuracy of these details is generally supported by the film's promotional materials and other sources. For instance, the depiction of Statham's character, Levon Cade, as a former UK Royal Marine turned construction worker aligns with the film's storyline. However, certain plot descriptions, such as the specifics of the Russian mobsters and their attire, may be exaggerated for dramatic effect, as is common in film reviews.

The article also accurately mentions the collaboration between Jason Statham and David Ayer, which is a verifiable fact. However, the claim about Sylvester Stallone's involvement as a co-writer would require further verification, as this is not widely reported in other sources. Additionally, while the article describes the film's themes and violent content, these elements are subjective and may vary in interpretation.

Overall, the story's factual basis is solid, but some areas, like characterizations and thematic interpretations, could benefit from additional context or verification.

6
Balance

The article primarily focuses on the film's plot and action sequences, with a clear emphasis on Jason Statham's role and the film's blue-collar themes. This focus may lead to a somewhat imbalanced perspective, as it does not extensively explore other aspects of the film, such as its cinematography, direction, or performances by other cast members.

While the article does mention other characters, such as David Harbour's role, it predominantly highlights Statham's character and the action elements. This could result in a skewed representation that favors the film's action-oriented aspects over its potential deeper themes or artistic merits.

Overall, the article provides a reasonably balanced view of the film's action and themes but could benefit from a broader exploration of other cinematic elements and perspectives.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, with a logical flow that guides the reader through the film's plot and key elements. The language is accessible and engaging, effectively conveying the film's themes and action sequences.

The tone is consistent with that of a film review, balancing informative content with a touch of entertainment. The use of vivid descriptions, such as the portrayal of action scenes and character dynamics, enhances the reader's understanding and engagement.

Overall, the article's clarity is a strength, with well-organized content and a style that is easy to follow, making it accessible to a broad audience.

5
Source quality

The article does not cite specific sources or references, which limits the ability to assess the credibility and reliability of the information presented. The narrative appears to be based on a combination of film promotional materials and the author's interpretation.

Without explicit attribution to interviews, press releases, or other authoritative sources, the article's source quality is difficult to evaluate. This lack of source transparency can affect the perceived impartiality and reliability of the reporting.

Enhancing the article with clear references to interviews with the filmmakers or actors, or citing reviews from film critics, would improve the source quality and provide a more robust foundation for the claims made.

4
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of disclosing the basis for its claims and interpretations. There is no clear explanation of the methodology used to gather information or any potential conflicts of interest that might affect the reporting.

The narrative is presented as a straightforward review or critique of the film, but it does not provide insight into how the conclusions were reached or the sources of specific details. This lack of transparency can hinder readers' ability to assess the impartiality and credibility of the article.

Improving transparency by including explanations of the information-gathering process or disclosing any affiliations with the film's production would enhance the article's credibility and trustworthiness.

Sources

  1. https://www.slashfilm.com/1819749/a-working-man-jason-statham-movie-review/
  2. https://screenrant.com/a-working-man-jason-statham-sommelier-steal-john-wick-2-factoid/
  3. https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/working-man/
  4. https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a64272242/a-working-man-review-jason-statham/
  5. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_working_man