Pistol Whipped

For the fire-arm technique of pistol whipping, see : Pistol whipping

Pistol Whipped
Directed by	Roel Reiné
Produced by	Steven Seagal Binh Dang Joe Halpin Alwyn Kushner
Written by	J.D. Zeik
Narrated by	Steven Seagal
Starring	Steven Seagal Lance Henriksen Renee Elise Goldsberry Blanchard Ryan Arthur J. Nascarella Lydia Jordan
Cinematography	Richard Crudo
Distributed by	Stage 6 Films
Release date(s)	March 4, 2008
Running time	96 min
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$10,000,000
Box office	$2,944,269 (U.S DVD) [1]

Pistol Whipped is a 2008 action film starring Steven Seagal, Lance Henriksen, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Blanchard Ryan, Lydia Jordan and Arthur J. Nascarella. Filmed in Connecticut, in May and June 2007, it was directed by Roel Reiné. Initially titled Marker,^[2] the film was released by Sony straight to DVD on March 4, 2008 as "Pistol Whipped".

Plot

In the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Matt Conner (Steven Seagal) is an ex-cop whose life has gone downhill since he was kicked off the Bridgeport police force after being accused of stealing some money from the evidence storage locker.

Matt tries to be a father to his young daughter Becky (Lydia Jordan) while trying to hide his money problems and alcoholism from her: Every so often, Matt goes to church (he is Catholic) to talk to Father Joe Maloney (Bernie McInerny), a friend. Matt's been struggling with a debilitating gambling problem and a mountainous debt that totals more than $1,000,000.

After losing a lot of money one night at a local poker game, an angry Matt is approached by a man named Blue (Paul Calderón), who takes him to meet with a mysterious old man (Lance Henriksen). The Old Man informs Matt that he has bought out all of Matt's gambling debt markers.

The Old Man offers to wipe Matt's debts clean in exchange for a few "favors." The favors turn out to be hunting down and murdering the city’s biggest criminals - those whom the police can't touch.

Eventually, Matt senses something isn’t right, and with the help of his ex-wife Liz's husband, police Lt. Steve Shacter (Mark Elliot Wilson), Matt begins to investigate Blue while fighting his alcoholism, getting visits from Becky, and doing the first two jobs that the Old Man has given him—taking out major local gangsters Bruno (Arthur J. Nascarella) and Ling (Lee Wong).

Complicating matters is a shifty alliance with the Old Man, Blue, and their associate, Andrea "Drea" Smalls (Renee Elise Goldsberry), whom Matt sleeps with. The Old Man gives Matt his next assignment – to kill Steve, the leader of a group of corrupt police officers who have been working with Bruno and Ling. Steve was also responsible for the theft of money which Matt was accused of stealing and the murder of Matt’s partner prior to Matt being thrown off the police force.

Steve goes to the church that Matt visits and brutally murders Father Maloney. Matt vows to kill the man responsible for the Father Maloney's death and figures out that the perpetrator was Steve. On the day of Father Maloney's funeral, Blue and Drea accompany Matt to the cemetery with Drea taking up a sniper position. After the funeral service, Steve and his henchmen arrive, one of them, Tim Wheeler (Wass Stevens)holding a gun to Becky.

Drea starts shooting Steve's men as do Matt and Blue. During the shootout, Wheeler tries to kill Drea, and after a struggle, Drea fatally shoots Wheeler, freeing Becky. Drea tells Becky to find Matt.

Blue is fatally shot and after all of Steve’s henchmen are dead, Matt shoots Steve, blasting him against an empty hearse. The hearse is leaking gas from a ruptured fuel tank courtesy of a stray round. After some last words from Steve, Matt places Steve into the back of the hearse, steps away and fires some shots towards the leaking gas which causes the vehicle to explode, incinerating Steve.

A devastated Becky thinks the explosion killed Matt ... until he comes running to her. Later, Matt, who has decided to continue working off his gambling debt for the Old Man, is enjoying spending time with Becky, who tells Matt that it's good to have him back.

The MPAA rated it "R" for 'Strong Violence, Language, and Some Sexual Content.'

Cast

• Steven Seagal - Matt
• Lydia Jordan - Becky
• Lance Henriksen - The Old Man
• Renee Elise Goldsberry - Drea
• Blanchard Ryan - Liz
• Arthur J. Nascarella - Bruno
• Paul Calderón - Blue
• Mark Elliot Wilson - Lt. Steve Shacter
• Wass Stevens - Tim Wheeler
• Niall Griffiths - As Himself

DVD sales

The film was released on DVD on March 4, 2008 and garnered $2,846,676 in revenue.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/0PIWH.php
2. ^ Varnon, Rob (February 16, 2008). "Filmmakers keep state on their map". Connecticut Post. http://www.topix.com/forum/source/connecticut-post/TIQL3EMB2L7HPLFF5. Retrieved 2008-09-07. "Last year, the region hosted several films for more than a couple months, including Steven Seagal's "Marker." That movie, which boasts a big shoot-em-up scene in downtown Bridgeport, will be available on DVD next month under the title "Pistol Whipped."" 

External links

• Pistol Whipped at the Internet Movie Database
• Rebelfilm, production company