Freelancers
2012 · United States · 96 min
- Director
- Jessy Terrero
- Producer
- 50 Cent, Mark Canton
- Cinematography
- Igor Martinović
- Editing
- Sean Albertson
- Production company
- Cheetah Vision
Cast
What it is about
Jonas Maldonado, the son of a slain NYPD officer, enrolls in the police academy alongside two close friends. After graduating, he falls under the wing of his father's former partner, Captain Joe Sarcone, who brings him into a unit focused on street crime. Soon Maldonado realizes the group works outside the law and that his mentor is hiding more than he lets on.
How it was made
The project was announced in February 2011 with 50 Cent in a lead role. Robert De Niro and Forest Whitaker soon joined, and in May of that year Dana Delany was confirmed for a lead female part. The rapper said the character's moral ambiguity interested him, along with elements he could relate to from his own experience. Jessy Terrero directed from a script by L. Philippe Casseus, with cinematography by Igor Martinović, editing by Sean Albertson, and production by Cheetah Vision.
Reception and legacy
The film received generally negative reviews from critics. R. L. Shaffer of IGN gave it 3 out of 10, calling it a dull cop drama built on clichés and rescued only by some supporting performances. William Harrison of DVD Talk found it predictable and largely uninteresting, while Gordon Sullivan of DVD Verdict described it as a derivative, forgettable cop drama despite its good cast. It had a limited release in Los Angeles and New York on August 10, 2012, alongside a simultaneous VOD release, and reached home video a few days later.
Stills
Trailer
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Trivia
Strong home video rentals
In the week of August 30, 2012, the film ranked sixth among the most rented DVDs and Blu-rays.
A personal connection for 50 Cent
The rapper said he felt compassion for his character despite its ambiguous morality, and that several aspects of the story reminded him of his own life.
Original Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.