Alex Cross

Plot synopsis:
Dr. Alex Cross (Tyler Perry) is a psychologist and police lieutenant who lives in Detroit with his wife Maria (Carmen Ejogo) and their children. After learning Maria is pregnant, Cross considers accepting a job as an FBI profiler. Meanwhile, a man (Matthew Fox) participates in an underground fighting match and seduces businesswoman Fan Yau (Stephanie Jacobsen). The man is invited to Yau's house, where he kills her.
At the crime scene, Cross finds a charcoal sketch left behind by the killer in the style of the artist Picasso, leading to the murderer being nicknamed after him. While examining the sketch, Cross deduces that Picasso's next target is German businessman Erich Nunemarcher (Werner Daehn). Picasso attempts to kill Nunemarcher but is foiled by Cross, and escapes after being shot by Cross's partner Tommy Kane (Edward Burns). Cross deduces that Picasso also plans to target billionaire CEO Giles Mercier (Jean Reno).
As revenge for foiling his attack on Nunemarcher, Picasso attacks Cross and Kane's colleague, Monica Ashe (Rachel Nichols), torturing her to death. Picasso then tracks down Cross, who is on a date with Maria, and kills her with a sniper rifle.
Picasso targets Nunemarcher and Mercier at a conference, killing Nunemarcher and seemingly Mercier. Cross and Kane track Picasso to the abandoned Michigan Theater. As Cross and Picasso fight, they fall through the crumbling theater ceiling. Picasso falls to his death, but Kane helps pull Cross to safety.
Cross deduces Picasso's employer was Mercier himself. Having embezzled money from his clients, Mercier asked for Yau and Nunemarcher's help to fake his death and flee to Bali, then hired Picasso to eliminate them and a double pretending to be the real Mercier. After Cross frames Mercier for drug smuggling, Mercier is arrested in Indonesia, where he will be condemned to death by firing squad. Having avenged Maria's murder, Cross decides to accept the job offer from the FBI and move to Washington with his family.

Tags: violence, revenge, murder, sadist, flashback

Review:
Skeptics may think Tyler Perry was a bad choice to fill in a young Morgan Freeman's shoes but he was absolutely fine in the role.
It's just impossible to be drawn to the character, and you'd think with a title like Alex Cross that we'd get a deep look into the mind of the title character, but instead they spoon-feed us this cheesy soapy dialogue and the occasional battle-of-wits with the villain that isn't the least bit intriguing.
The trailer was a slice of many of the best scenes but, unfortunately the real film falls so sadly short of good storyline due to poor dialog and some jerky acting that the viewer struggles to make sense of the various actors.If this film had been prescreened (proof read) any average movie-goer would have pointed out just how poorly made it was.
Matthew Fox, who clearly dropped his body fat to zero for this film, will one day look back and regret all those months he went without a decent meal, because a) the movie is terrible, and b) his portrayal of a psychotic killer is ultimately a study in cliché.
Perry's not a complete dud yet is easily out-acted by Matthew Fox, whose psychotic serial killer – replete with twitches, tics and crazy eyes – is fun to watch and elevates this from total boredom to mediocre entertainment..
The movie had decent action scenes, which is totally out of the norm for Tyler Perry, that kept me entertained.
The acting in this movie was pretty good and Tyler Perry himself did do a pretty good job with his part especially being that this is his first action roll.
I think people are judging Tyler Perry by his other film and plays versus by the movie that is actually being reviewed.
Tyler Perry steps in the big shoes of Morgan Freeman, who played Cross in the previous two installments of the series, Kiss the girls and Along Came a Spider and does a terrible job.
Also I have only seen parts of Tyler Perry's other movies and that was enough to let me know I didn't want to watch any more.
But choosing such an unworthy and a "bad choice' for the title role of the character that the movie is named after....is catastrophic !My choice would have been...."Idris Elba", then get better writers and a better director and "Cross" fans would have been a lot happier.
ALEX CROSS has all the ingredients we expect in a film of its sort: an engaging plot-line, a criminal we love to hate and want to see "get his," harrowing chase scenes, a couple of real surprises, etc.
It also has several of the corninesses and unlikelihoods that are usually found in a film of this genre, but oh well.Tyler Perry plays the role of the lead character, a combination psychologist-profiler-homicide detective, very naturally, and the character he plays is better developed than those in many thrillers.
Most of the supporting cast play their roles quite believably: There are some truly interesting characters in this film, e.g., Cicely Tyson as "Nana Mama." Notably, ALEX CROSS succeeds in being rivetingly disturbing without a lot of gore, ultra-violence, or any serious sex/nudity to spice the cake (hence, the PG-13 rating)..
The Movie is based on cop "Alex Cross" which is a character from series of books written by acclaimed author "James Patterson".
Tyler Perry (Dr. Alex Cross) steps out of his usual comedic role to take a stab at the action genre.
I think I was curious to see Matthew Fox of "Lost" try his hardest too shake off the "nice guy" image he has, by playing a toughened up psychotic killer.Ever since I saw the trailer and got closer and closer too seeing it, "Alex Cross" has gradually gotten worse.
I just finished watching the Alex Cross movie, which I was looking forward to but missed seeing in the theater.
The acting in this movie was atrocious, I was actually somewhat excited to see Matthew Fox in something after lost and playing a completely different type of role.
As the story progresses it becomes clear that this bad guy will stop at nothing to complete his job, which leads to a handful of mildly memorable moments including a great twist thrown in that you won't expect or indeed see coming.A shame, then, that the execution is so muddled, with Rob Cohen once again proving a poor choice as director.
Tyler Perry was equally hard to buy as Alex Cross though he was better than Fox. The storyline included way too much unnecessary distraction that could only have been left in as filler.
This movie is a great one.I understand some people may not like it as it's not "Hollywood classic style".It's still very enjoyable to watch though.Watch it if you like action films with lot of suspense.It's a very nice story, with ups and downs, an epic manhunt with a psychopath...
From director Rob Cohen, a guy whom has been known for making a string of mediocre action movies, "Alex Cross" is the third film appearance of, you guessed it, Alex Cross, who is known as the main character in James Patterson's series of crime novels.
Although Tyler Perry is really trying his best to make something good out of this tired material, he sadly fails to bring a lot of charm to a character that was once portrayed by Morgan Freeman, and he sadly felt miscast-ed.
But, if I had to correct anything to make this a good movie, I would have casted Idris Elba as Alex Cross, have very talented writers known for making very good cop movies, and a director who takes these films very seriously.
I grew up watching all the old action movies with Chuck Norris, Charles Bronson, etc..Seems if you're into the Alex Cross series people don't like this movie, frankly I never heard of it before this one.
Once its back on track, excitement is there, and keeps getting stronger by the middle of it.Serial killer role is played well and convincing by Fox, story is strong, Tyler Perry's role is miscast or poorly written, minus that weakness, movie is worth watching.
Murder detective / psychologist Alex Cross (Tyler Perry) to investigate the case by the cruel and sadistic serial killer (Matthew Fox) who tortured and murdered female victim slowly.
Alex Cross (2012) is like watching a movie with elements from both "Shaft" and "Dredd." One of my most favorite this year.
If you don't mind Tyler Perry taking over the role of Alex Cross, go see the movie for yourself.
Tyler Perry did just as good as Morgan Freeman starring as Detective Cross.
Perry played more of a younger version of Alex Cross and the movie was much more intense.
I'm very much looking forward to seeing Tyler Perry do more Alex Cross movies!
I was really looking forward to this movie after having read many of the books written by Patterson and I must say my eagerness to watch it as soon as it was released maybe makes my review a little more negative than it would have been if i did not know and understand the character Alex cross, one can never compare a book to the movie, but the basic building blocks of a story must remain intact for it to be at least partially successful.I can not see any of the Patterson magic in this movie, to be honest it is one of those movies that will go down in history as being overrated and misunderstood by both actors and the director.
Unfortunately, Tyler Perry looks uncomfortable playing his first action-oriented role in ALEX CROSS -- a loose prequel to 1997's KISS THE GIRLS and 2001's ALONG CAME A SPIDER (both starred Morgan Freeman).
Shame about the movie as well, which is nothing more than a clunky and haphazard thriller.Long before we get to know the older Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman) as a brilliant FBI agent in KISS THE GIRLS and ALONG CAME A SPIDER, we are introduced to a younger version (Tyler Perry), who first working as a Detroit-based police detective.
Too bad his character is given little room for development.ALEX CROSS is actually meant to jump-start a new franchise based on James Patterson's crime novels, but this prequel itself is already a failure.
Tyler Perry fits the Alex Cross character description as given by James Patterson in the books more than Morgan Freeman did in the earlier movies (a resemblance to a 40 year old Mohammad Ali and Freeman sure is not that).
If I had paid to see this movie I would have asked for my money backI feel bad that I have to write 10 lines of text to have a review of a very bad movie published on IMDb, I am sure the producers and directors wanted to have a better finished product than this movie and I hope James Patterson got a lot of money for his part but they will need to change the main actors if there is going to be another Alex Cross movie.
In a world where EON productions are gearing up for their 24th James Bond movie, there is no reason there couldn't be a string of decent Alex Cross movies; looks like that isn't going to happen anytime soon though.The Alex Cross character previously appeared on screen in KISS THE GIRLS and ALONG CAME A SPIDER, where the character was played by Morgan Freeman.
Alex CrossThe difficult part to being a psychologist/police officer is deciding if you should bill your client for time spent beating them with a phone book.Sadly, the shielded shrink in this crime-thriller does not expound on his invoicing practices.Detroit police lieutenant Dr. Alex Cross (Tyler Perry) and his partner Tommy (Edward Burns) are called to a crime scene where a businesswoman (Stephanie Jacobsen) was brutally murdered.Following a clue left by the artistic assassin dubbed Picasso (Matthew Fox), Cross sets a trap at his next hit.After Picasso eludes capture, Cross deduces that his true target is a billionaire (Jean Reno).Angered by the detective's constant meddling, Picasso focuses his crosshairs on Cross' wife.Full of retributive violence but low on tangible mystery, this adaptation of the popular literary character lacks a suspenseful script and a believable lead.Besides, psychologist cops blame every murder on the killer's mother.
He was pretty much the only thing I liked.I love Jean Reno, and try to watch everything with him, but he was wasted on this movie, This role could have been filled with a nobody and it wouldn't have changed anything.We know the actors can act, and the director can direct, so why are we left with a movie with bland acting and characters we care little about.
Adapted from the acclaimed James Patterson novels, the film adaptation of 'Alex Cross' is a mixed bag, worth watching for several notable features which can do nothing but fail to salvage the whole affair.A painfully miscast Tyler Perry receives top billing as a rogue detective facing off against a threatening antagonist played excellently by 'LOST' alum Matthew Fox, who brings an unsettling edge to his character, exploring his motivations where the bland screenplay dares not.
All those people giving it bad reviews are way out of order,I was expecting a crap movie Tyler Perry etc,but I was nicely surprised that this was entertaining and well acted.I do hate Madea type rubbish but credit where it is due,this was well worth a watch even if it is only to make my own mind up.
Big name star (in America at least) Tyler Perry is decent here as he's clearly trying his best with the lame material he has been given, while bad guy Matthew Fox is much better that the one-note character he's been lumbered with.
I thought the actors were all good and worked well together and Matthew Fox was actually more believable, and impressive, in his role than in anything else I've seen him in.
Let me start by confessing that I never considered Tyler Perry to be the right match to play the legendary doctor-detective Alex cross on the big screen.The only reason I was drawn toward this film was Matthew Fox. I felt this movie watching this movie would be the only way I could appreciate his dedication and hard work, clearly evident by the effort he put into chiseling his body to suit the appearance of a psycho-sadist serial killer.I was however pleasantly surprised by Perry's performance, contrary to my opinion he pulls of this role quite appreciably, although I still believe Idris Alba would've been a better choice.
Starting from the Chief of police to Tyler's partner Thomas Kane everyone looks misplaced, Kane struggles to reproduce even the most basic of emotions on screen.The next obvious flaw about this film is the script, in one particular scene of the movie, Alex cross talks to his wife about getting a job with the FBI because it has a better pay & 'dental' that should probably sum it up for you.Apart from the reasonably good performances by Perry and Fox the only other appreciable points of this movie are probably the score and a couple of well filmed action scenes.
and ending fight scene that looked like it was shoot on a smart phone camera that made everybody in the cinema feel dizzy :)))it's a shame really...i hope we get to see Matthew fox again soon but under a better director.not of a cinema movie anyway as too lack of action or 3d special effects i guess it will go out to your nearest blockbuster soon if nothing else is available...take it :).
James Patterson's fictional creation, the forensic psychologist Alex Cross, is no stranger to the world of movies, after having graced the big screen in films like Kiss the Girls, and Along Came a Spider, both of which were productions more than a decade ago, with the leading character played by Morgan Freeman.
And it'll be interesting to know if director Rob Cohen have had his wings clipped somewhat through the lack of a reasonably sized budget to deal with the action sequences he had in mind, because they were at best, rudimentary, with heavy use of poorly rendered CG to try and convince audiences that things really got blown up.Drama isn't Cohen's forte, but Alex Cross is steeped in it, making the film seemed quite half- assed especially in pacing, with dramatic scenes inserted quite haphazardly that it makes the pace erratic.
What Tyler Perry and Edward Burns managed to do, is to only read their lines one at a time, totally blowing any acting awards out of the water.Perhaps it was left to Matthew Fox to save the day.
I'm sorry did u see his name on the cast list or him in the trailer?U can't go in expecting him to compare to Freeman, but I was impressed.I'm not a Tyler Perry fan at all and I think his movies or lame but by the end of the movie he made me believe he was a beast, something I thought I would never say about perry.Yes a lot of things could have been better but still worth watching.
Sure there are a lot of better films to watch but if you want to see some good action and you don't have nothing greet to do tonight then this movie is for you.
In 'Alex Cross' Tyler Perry steps up to try and fill the shoes of Morgan Freeman, who played the titular character in both Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider.
Perry is a big man, therefore a big gun suits him and he comes across more like he's ready to star in an action movie.However, the lead role aside, the film chugs along quite nicely.
I have never seen the Madea films so this is the first time I have seen Tyler Perry in action.As Alex Cross he is stepping into the shoes of Morgan Freeman in this reboot.
Well Freeman is a hard act to follow although I am unsure as to who Perry's version of Alex Cross is by the end of the film.The main star of the film is actually Matthew Fox as the hired killer Picasso.
While at the same time his intended victims just arriving somewhere else.How he has planned all this when he is busy going after Perry and co makes the mind boggle.Also Jean Reno the guy who played the treacherous agent in the first Mission Impossible movie turns up for a few minutes as the main chief executive of a corporation whose employees are being targeted by the assassin.I wonder who the actual mastermind could be?It is all daftly entertaining but it is a different Alex Cross as portrayed by Morgan Freeman.We are told Cross is clever and he has his 'Sherlock Holmes' moment at the beginning but very little as to how he arrived with his conclusions.It is a mash up of an action film and something cerebral but it did not lead to a successful reboot of the franchise..
Sadly Tyler Perry is an inferior lead.This time Alex Cross is confronting an assassin played by Matthew Fox who is taking on a rich and powerful business.
Alex Cross, an action movie aiming to entertain..
Detroit Detective Dr. Alex Cross (Tyler Perry) goes up against Picasso (Matthew Fox) an accomplished Hit-man who specializes in torture and pain for his victims.
This isn't the first time the title character, spawned from numerous novels by acclaimed author James Patterson (none of which read by me), has made his appearance on film, with Morgan Freeman last inhabiting the role in Along Came a Spider in 2001, which was a sequel to Kiss the Girls in 1997.Now, in 2012, the filmmakers of Alex Cross clearly want two things to happen.
"I'm just looking for a bad guy." Homicide detective Alex Cross (Perry) is on the trail of a vicious serial killer (Fox).