Standoff

Plot synopsis:
A young girl, Bird with her aunt's boyfriend waiting at the car, visits the grave of her parents on the anniversary of their deaths, witnesses and photographs a hitman, Sade, killing people attending a funeral. When her aunt's boyfriend, Roger, comes looking for her, Sade kills him and tries to kill her too, but she flees into the woods. Bird comes across the house of a war veteran, Carter, who vows to protect her. Arriving at the house, Sade shoots at Carter, who grabs a shotgun and shoots back. They exchange words and gunfire, and both are wounded. During a break in the gunfire, Sade tries to talk Carter into sending Bird down so he can kill her. Carter refuses, and they both pause to patch up their wounds and prepare for the next round. Carter sends the girl for some light bulbs, which he breaks and throws down the stairs, alerting Sade to the fact that he "ain't no farmer." Carter finds out from the girl what happened in the cemetery and that she has a picture of Sade's face. Sade, in the downstairs of the house, starts going through Carter's possessions and finds a picture of Carter in military uniform with his wife and son. He tries to convince Carter he is also ex-military and he understands why Carter is protecting Bird. Carter lets him know he is aware that Bird has a picture of him and that is why he is after her.
Meanwhile, a sheriff's deputy happens upon the abandoned cars at the cemetery. In the house, a resting Carter is dreaming about a tragedy that happened to his son. He wakes up and sends Bird to get a bottle of alcohol. She returns with the drink and his son's teddy bear, which he angrily tells her to put back. Sade finds and starts to read a letter Carter had written his wife, taking blame for the death of their son. In the letter, he states he knew she blamed him for the death and didn't blame her for leaving him. Sade realizes that Carter had packed up and written the letter as he was contemplating suicide. He snidely encourages him to go ahead.
Bird tells Carter that her dad told her she had "no quit in her" and wonders if she will see her dad when she dies. She asks Carter why his wife left him and he said the house reminded her of their son. They hug and Sade shoots a round, gaining the attention of the deputy (Jim Watson) who was looking around for the cars' owners. The light in the house starts to fade and Carter now needs to get Bird out as he only has one shot remaining and in the dark he can't protect her.
The deputy goes back to his car to report the shot fired and ask if a shooting range had opened. He drives up to the house, where Sade sees him arrive while Carter is trying to get Bird out through a window on the second level. Knocking at the door, the deputy is shot by Sade and Bird goes back into the house. Sade hides the deputy's car and starts to head back to the house where Carter confronts him and tells him to leave. Sade tries to goad him to shoot, guessing he only has the one shot and would likely miss given the shotgun's range. Carter backs off and Sade grabs the deputy as bait. He tries to bargain with Carter for the deputy's life as well as his own for Bird. When Carter refuses, Sade starts to torture the deputy. He eventually shoots him and rolls him out where Carter can see him.
After a period of silence, Carter tells Bird to hide and starts down the stairs. Sade in the meanwhile makes his way barefoot across the roof. He ends up at the top of the stairs, where he is surprised by Carter, and falls down the glass-strewn stairs. Fed-up, Sade plans to set the house on fire, but changes his mind and calls Carter's wife on Carter's cell phone which he had found earlier. Resting again, the men engage in another argument.
Night descends and Carter's wife Mara arrives. Sade bargains again for Bird implying he'll rape Mara if Carter doesn't comply. Fearing he will trade for his wife, Bird pleads with Carter not to. Instead he gives her the gun instructing her to shoot down the stairs if Sade heads up. He heads down the stairs, telling Sade "if he wants her, go get her." Sade goes on a rant before shooting Carter in the leg. When Sade yells to Bird that he will kill Carter, she quickly heads down the stairs in order go save him. Before Sade has the chance to kill any of them, the lights in the house flicker, giving Carter the chance to rush the assassin, stabbing Sade multiple times, though is shot in the ensuring struggle. While Carter incapacitates Sade, Mara runs outside to call 911. Bird, however, stays behind, determined to kill her tormentor herself. Finding Sade against the wall, severally bleeding, he tells her to shoot him after she aims the gun at Sade and pulls the trigger, but the gun only clicks; with Sade realizing the round was a dud the whole time. Sade aims his gun at Bird, who looks on at the man, unafraid, telling him herself to pull the trigger, though he only responds with the fact that he is not a monster before dying without shooting. With it finally over, Bird heads over to Carter who is still alive. He simply tells her "there is no quit in me." as the three of them wait for the police to arrive.

Tags: neo noir, murder, violence, suicidal, flashback, tragedy, suspenseful, sadist

Review:
In this case, it hits the spot.So an ex-military man turned mafia hit-man hunts the sole witness of a multiple murder - a young girl with a camera - to a lonely farmhouse inhabited by a grieving alcoholic.
Literally this is the premise and the scene is set for a siege and an edgy war of wits as one tries to convince the other to let him have the girl and walk away.Sometimes that's all you need; no winding plot twists to keep people guessing.
Sometimes it's just about the suspense and the viscera, but Standoff benefits from a great script and the skills of the director who also wrote it.It has an old-school feel to it, and when we get down to it, even the look of the film harks back to a day of shamelessly simple effectiveness.Fishburne is on top form as the villain, bringing the ghetto mentality of former villainous roles from the likes of King of New York and Assault on Precinct 13.
He's sharper than ever, bursting with character and both smouldering and cold-blooded.Thomas Jane also throws in his strongest performance in a long time and his man on the edge versus the man on a deadline is both genius acting and writing at once.
'STANDOFF': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five) Low-budget action flick, about a standoff between a war veteran and an assassin, in the veteran's country home; over the safety of a young girl, who witnessed a vicious crime.
The movie stars Thomas Jane, Laurence Fishburne and newcomer Ella Ballentine.
For what it is, the film isn't bad.Jane plays Carter Green; a military veteran that recently suffered a horrible tragedy.
Fishburne plays a hit-man named Sade; who's very good at his job, and extremely calculated.
When a young girl, named Bird (Ballentine), witnesses Sade killing multiple people, the hit- man decides she must die.
Bird runs to Carter's house for protection, and an intense standoff between the two men develops.
Carter has nothing but a shotgun, and two rounds, to protect him and the girl.The movie is pretty well done, for such a simple story.
The characters are nicely developed, the performances are decent, and the directing is more than adequate (especially for such a low budget film).
If you are fond of one location thrillers with a good build up of suspense & tension along with fine character development you'll enjoy it too.
I loved the performances of all three leads - the little girl was excellent - and I thought the direction was exceptionally good - I look forward to seeing what the director can produce in the future as he develops.
Jane does a great job of playing a veteran on the edge of losing everything and seeing this girl as his salvation.
carried the movie on his shoulders from start to finish and Thomas Jane supporting actor..
And finally an honorable mention for Ella Ballentine who did great.Even though this "home invasion" film wasn't very original and the storyline was quite simple, it still managed to captivate me.
As far as the film goes, I think its first-time writer-director did a great job in crafting a story whose plot-line and characters' actions are rationally defensible.
This movie is a modern time western in many ways including clothing, scenery and theme.The direction of photography is very good.
Thomas Jane looks good too and his performance is solid.The plot it resembles that of a western.
Obviously I won't spoil you the ending but it might needed an extra (obvious?) scene that you might miss.Overall: You don't need a budget made of millions to make a good movie.
It is not an action movie in anyway and instead a limited location crime thriller with super solid performances from Jane and Fishburne.
The girl played by Ella Ballentine is way above average in her performance as the girl on the run being pursued by an evil Fishburne as an assassin.The limited locations of a graveyard and Jane's home works in its favor.
Overall, a fine little movie with 2 really great actors and Ballentine delivering a performance that really made you care about the fate of this young lady.
I would highly recommend this film and hope to see more lower budget movies that look this well filmed & directed with a focus more on the story than is typically created nowadays in films with limited theatrical releases..
I think this is the first fair to middling grade I've given to a film on IMDb. The movie is worth it just for the acting alone.
Carter had stumbled upon a girl, nick- named Bird, played by Ella Ballentine, who had lost both of her parents, and just witnessed the rest of her family be shot and killed in cold blood by Sade.
She takes pictures of Sade, and then she runs through the woods to make her way for help.Once Bird makes it to the first house she sees, Carter is there to help her.
Thomas Jane and the girl bring a tear to your eye.I found the whole thing very moving and heartfelt, which surprised me for what I expected to be just a suspense thriller.
It had a solid enough cast - the leads are Laurence Fishburne and Thomas Jane (not spectacular actors in my opinion, but decent enough) - but, still, I wasn't really expecting much out of it.
It is violent at times - and unsettling (especially when Sade, the killer, tortures the cop who had come to the house in a bid to get Carter to give up Bird) - but basically this is a psychological thriller.
Somehow, he didn't fit that role for me - but his performance was extremely good, as was Thomas Jane's as Carter.
This was the first time I'd seen Ella Ballentine, who played Bird, and I thought she did a pretty decent job in that role as well.
I know that the story was the standoff between Carter and Sade, but I would have appreciated a little bit of knowledge about why the whole situation started.
This is a simple theme which is used delicately, both lead actors create an intense atmosphere and the relatively short runtime manages to squeeze in plenty of action movie maneuvers nicely.An assassin (Laurence Fishburne) goes onto killing spree in a funeral.
Unfortunately for him, there's a little girl witnessing the savage display who eventually runs into the nearby house of a veteran soldier Carter (Thomas Jane).
Nevertheless, the movie is commendably unapologetic about this, ushering the characters into the predicament and on with the show.Both Laurence Fishburne and Thomas Jane deliver a highly volatile tension.
The change of light and the way the girl's red dress flutters are also good shots, the director knows how to set ambiance right.
Furthermore, the small setting is easily understandable which goes a long way to create immersion for audience.It may start a bit outlandish, but Standoff is the essence of action thriller.
We see Hit-man Sade (Laurence Fishburne) shoot and kill the people at a cemetery burial and he realizes that a little girl, Bird, (Ella Ballentine) has seen him and can identify him.
Bird runs away to a farm house where Carter (Thomas Jane) is feeling sorry for himself.
We are not used to seeing Fishburne in this kind of a bad guy role, but he does okay not as good as Samuel L.
Good acting by Jane and Fishburne help that along.
(That's uncomfortable enough)Regardless of any good or great acting by Fishburne and Jane, this is not for everyone.
Trying to get away from a hit-man after capturing his hit job on camera, a little girl finds protection in the hands of Carter, an ex-military for whom saving her from the murderer might become a personal redemption."Standoff" was a fun movie to watch.
Thomas Jane and Ella Ballentine are good in their roles, but it's Laurence Fishburne who steals the show as kind of a character we don't often see him play.
Overall, "Standoff" could be a much worse film, but director, actors and DP elevate it and turn it into a very entertaining, well-paced gem of a movie..
Top class film!A young girl witnesses a "hit" and is trapped in a house with the killer who is out to eliminate her, but could be saved by an ex military man.Laurence Fishburne plays the maniac hit-man....he surely has no soul; Thomas Jane is the former soldier, suicidal for family reasons but determined to do right; Ella Ballentine is the unlucky girl with all sorts of life threatening problems...This is a tense well scripted movie, with excellent direction.The 3 main players give show stopping performances!8/10..
But the acting between Fishburne and Jane is so great that I could watch this film again right now.
After all, the reason we go see movies is to escape reality and come out with a different perspective on life (or we should anyway) than try to figure out if the plot or premise of a film is believable or not.
This movie, although completely different than a Sci-Fi film, is well worth watching from a psychological point of view alone.
It has Style and is Scripted for a Battle of Wits between Laurence Fishburne and Thomas Jane.Fishburne is a Nasty Piece of Work and is appropriately Chilling as a Hit-Man that is Despicable, Cold, and Calculating.
Jane Surprises with His Best Acting after a string of Awful Movies and for once He made a Career Decision that is Not Embarrassing.Ella Ballentine is just Superb showing a Depth of Character Beyond Her Years and the Camera Loves Her. So will You as this Nail-Biter unfolds.
Standoff is one Brilliantly made suspense filled Thriller with Career best performance by the excellent underrated THOMAS JANE!!!
Also Lawrence Fishburne gives an equally outstanding gritty & angry performance as a deadly hitman hunting down a little girl who saw his face & took a picture & ends up at Carter's (tom jane) big old farm house where the standoff takes place.This is truly an instant CLASSIC in my opinion!!!
Using mostly a house for the primary set, Carter, a former military sergeant, played by Thomas Jane and Bird, a girl who witnesses an assassination, played by Ella Ballentine must try to stave off a murderous assassin played by Laurence Fishburne.
A good movie like this doesn't need many locations or CGI or any of Hollywood effects etc .
they just need a good actors and a good story combined together and they can do it even in only one place like this one , and then the results will be simple and great , I really enjoyed watching this movie and I recommend it to all.8/10 .....
There are three principle actors, Ella Ballentine (the young girl), Thomas Jane (he does a better job in this movie than his usual presentation) and of course Laurence Fishburne (absolute perfection as a Mr. Mean, Snarling Bad Guy).
Yes.I know, that sounds ridiculous, whereas the Peofessional had a good-as-it-gets conflicted bad guy and Standoff unfairly prevails because it has Laurence Fishburne playing a m.o.n.s.t.e.r.I'd highly recommended.
Thomas Jane and Laurence Fishburne are a good match-up.
As a fan of Thomas Jane and Lawrence Fishburne, I wanted to like this movie.
The movie is basically Jane attempting to keep a little girl from being killed by Fishburne with his last shotgun shell.
Ella Ballentine has some definite talent, and finding out what happens to her is the only reason to finish watching the movie.
And having two great actors in my opinion, in a film that I thought started off OK, you would've thought you were in for a thrill ride for a little over an hr of your time.
The girl then bumps into Thomas Jane, an ex veteran, who takes the opportunity to seek redemption because of his troubled past, by protecting her.The hit-man is well played by Laurence Fishburne, well suited to the mean character.
The little girl, played by Ella Ballentine, is also very good.There are plenty of flaws in the plot but it does keep some suspense until the end.It's not going to win any Oscars and is rather on the short side, although any longer and I think it would have dragged.
I am giving this a 4 only because of Laurence Fishburne and Thomas Jane who were acting great, which is expected of them since they are phenomenal actors.
He was set up to be a military veteran, yet time and again the character's actions were totally out of step with who the movie set him up to be.
This is kind of a clichéd role, but Jane does play it well.Lawrence Fishburne plays a hit-man/assassin who is seen killing a woman at a cemetery.
The rest of the film is the cat-and-mouse between the two actors.The tension is well-done, and the acting is good.The thing is, Fishburne plays arguably the worst hit-man/assassin.
Who would hire this guy who leaves such a large body count?The whole "getting a new lease on life" trope for Jane's character is a bit overdone, but that's okay.Anyway, this isn't a film you list as one of your favorites, but it is one you'll enjoy watching.
Than I will say this movie is far from it, it's more of a psychological movie where a hit-man played by Laurence Fishburne and a war veteran played by Thomas Jane.
One day a young girl comes to his house looking for help and sanctuary from a contract killer she had witnessed killing the somewhat apparent widow and bodyguard of one of his employers employees.
Clocking in at 86 economical minutes, "Standoff" unfolds with villainous Sade (Lawrence Fishburne of "The Matrix") murdering a priest and two bystanders at a funeral, while 12-year old, orphan girl Isabelle, nicknamed 'Bird' (a bespectacled Ella Ballentine), snaps pictures of him after he sheds his mask.
She flees from the scene of the crime and winds up at the residence of a grieving man, Carter (Thomas Jane of "The Punisher"), who has lost his son and plans to commit suicide.
The two guys and the little girl spend most of "Standoff" in Carter's brick farmhouse in the middle of nowhere.
A young girl, Bird (Ballentine) with her aunt's boyfriend waiting at the car, visits the grave of her parents on the anniversary of their deaths, witnesses and photographs a hit-man (Fishburne) killing people attending a funeral.
Bird comes across the house of a war veteran, Carter (Jane), who vows to protect her.
Granted, everyone has their point-of-view but for me this film was poor at best.At the beginning of the film the assassin (Lawrence Fishburne) kills four people at the side of an open grave at a funeral; this of course spikes interest for the viewer wanting to know why such a dastardly deed has been undertaken.
Ella Ballentine's acting was so twee as the little girl I felt like killing her myself.
Obviously, the casting couch now offers positions for directors and screenwriters, too.The film does have some good stretches, specifically scenes involving Officer Baker as well as Sade's (far-too-short) period of silence.Overall, though, "Standoff" embarrasses B movies--don't waste time here..
Meanwhile, during a funeral, Isabelle (Ella Ballentine) witnesses a multiple murder, but fails to stay hid from the killer (Laurence Fishburne).
The sign of a good movie is when you forget the actors and believe the characters.
But hey, it's Netflix so what do you expect?They must have spent like 5 dollars making this film, because this whole movie takes place in some dude's house.
"Bird" (Ella Ballentine) is a young girl who has been orphaned and essentially has a man she doesn't particularly like taking care of her.
The killer, who is later identified as "Sade" (Laurence Fishburne) happens to see the young girl and realizes that in order to protect his identity he has to kill her as well.
The two lead actors (Thomas Jane and Laurence Fishburne) get saddled with overworked dialogue and ham it up to no end.
Bird sees Sade's face, snaps a photo of him, and flees to an old house owned by a fallen soldier named Carter (Thomas Jane).
Laurence Fishburne is great but as for the rest of the film....
Whilst paying respect to her parents at a cemetery a young girl known as Bird (Ella Ballentine) witnesses an assassin called Sade (Laurence Fishburne) executing a few people in 'cold blood' based upon orders he has been given.
Sade soon learns that Bird has incriminating evidence of his crime and chasing her to a nearby house which is owned by Carter Green (Thomas Jane) a disaffected veteran who will stop at nothing to protect this young girl.
What effectively follows is a stand-off between good and evil.Oh dear if there is a way to make a film about as ludicrous, ridiculous, improbable, implausible and as stupid as possible then the filmmakers in Stand-Off have really gone to town here;This film really makes no sense from start to finish; Fishburne's character is assassinating people at someone's funeral and for starters the point of this is never established; what exactly is the reason for this and who has organised the hit?
Thomas Jane is also fairly good and at least makes for a fairly likable anti-hero.Despite the rather clichéd plot-mechanics and formulaic storytelling this film actually isn't half-bad in some areas; the psychological battle of wits between Jane and Fishburne is interesting to watch and there are occasional moments of tension here and there.
Sade (Fishburne), a contract killer, murders several people at a funeral then is forced to chase down a witness, Bird( Ballentine), a small girl who stumbles onto the scene.
Sade then returns to his, "I got all the time in the world" mode as the standoff develops with him on the ground floor and Bird and Carter on the second.
An annoying girl witnesses his crimes and flees to a local farmhouse, where a slumming-it Thomas Jane protects her.