Hey! Look At This: CENTURION

I came upon a trailer for this film recently and it certainly got my attention. CENTURION is directed by Neil Marshall - the man responsible for THE DESCENT (which appears on my 50 Best Films of The Decade list).



I like Marshall and think he's quite a talent. He had two cult hits in DOG SOLDIERS and THE DESCENT before his last film DOOMSDAY. That film was not as much of a success, though I won't judge its quality having yet to see it (though I hear it's actually decent). Marshall has avoided offers to direct films for large production companies in favor of making films that he conceptualizes himself. I have a great respect for that because it is a mindset that possesses the potential for truly original filmmaking and plots. CENTURION definitely sounds exciting, here's the official description:

"Based on the legend of the Ninth Legion, an army of 3000 unstoppable Roman warriors who vanished without trace, Centurion is the tale of their vicious conflict with a murderous adversary, the Picts. Quintus Dias (Michael Fassbender), a Roman corporal, is taken hostage by the Pict King, Gorlacon and the Ninth are charged with bringing him home and ending Pict domination of Britain. Led by General Virilus (Dominic West) and guided by a Pict prisoner and warrior woman named Etain (Olga Kurylenko), the army marches towards enemy territory and finds itself in the midst of a perilous battle with a mysterious foe."

The film stars Michael Fassbender, who is fast becoming one of my favorite actors. Recently, he had magnificent and varied roles in INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, FISH TANK and HUNGER and will appear in this year's JONAH HEX. It appears as though CENTURION will help to strengthen Fassbender's potential as an action star, which will only quicken his inevitable ascent into the mainstream.

CENTURION played at ActionFest last week and currently claims one positive review at Rotten Tomatoes. Its wide-release date is penciled for August 27th of this year.