There have been several films in which the protagonist is a highly skilled assassin who primarily knows how to fight, kill, and eliminate targets under ruthless and corrupt leadership without ever understanding the essence of human life. The 2005 action thriller Unleashed tackles a similar premise but heightens it in an intense and sentimentally impactful story.
Martial arts action star Jet Li has starred in some action-packed English language features such as Romeo Must Die, The One, Kiss of the Dragon, and Cradle 2 The Grave. However, Unleashed is arguably his best English language film because he is given the opportunity to play a role that's more vulnerable and emotionally complex.
What is Unleashed about?
In Unleashed, Jet Li stars as Danny, a dangerous and deadly fighter who serves as the personal bodyguard of Bart (the late Bob Hoskins from the original Super Mario Bros. movie), a British gangster and loan shark. Bart treats Danny like an attack dog and controls him by placing a metal collar around his neck. Whenever men don't pay the money that's owed, Bart takes off the collar and orders Danny to beat up and/or kill them. When the collar is on Danny, he is a shy and quiet guy who doesn't know how to interact and socialize with others.
One day, Bart, Danny, and their driver are shot at by a mobster's army (who wanted retribution after Danny beat them up). Although wounded, Danny manages to escape the shooting to see an elderly blind man named Sam (Morgan Freeman). Sam is a piano tuner Danny briefly met once before at a warehouse (where Sam started to teach Danny how to play the piano). Sam and his stepdaughter Victoria welcome Danny to their home, treat his wounds from the car attack, offer him food and clothes, and teach him more about the piano and music.
Through Sam and Victoria, Danny manages to become more content and sociable but is still isolated and startled at times when they ask him about his metal collar. When Sam mentions the loss of Victoria's mother and father, Danny also becomes more interested in his own past, including his childhood with his mother. By learning about his mom and his interest in the piano, Danny slowly transforms into a more confident human being with goals and aspirations and considers Sam and Victoria his new family.
When Danny learns that Bart survived the car attack, he tries to tell his cruel boss that he doesn't want to hurt and kill people anymore. However, Bart insists that they continue their business, so he can make more money, which includes Danny battling several opponents in an underground fighting ring. Danny initially struggles to fight again when pushed into the ring but manages to beat his opponents to survive without killing them (which annoys and disgusts Bart). By disregarding Bart's interests, Danny wants to put an end to his life of violence and transition towards a happier and more peaceful life with people who care and love him.
What did critics have to say about Unleashed?
The critical reception for Unleashed is mostly positive, with many stating that the film is Jet Li's best English language film due to the depth of his protagonist. Critics like the late great Roger Ebert mention how the feature has some brutally exhilarating fight sequences for fans of Li and martial arts action. Some reviewers have also mentioned how Unleashed works as a thriller that's able to balance violent action and moments of tender human interaction. Along with Li's dramatic performance, there was praise for Morgan Freeman's role as the father figure Sam, as well as Bob Hoskins' manic role as the villainous Bart who pretends to care for Danny but actually treats him like an animal for his own benefit.
There were some detractors, with some saying that the dramatic elements of the story don't match up well with Li's martial arts action. Some have also complained about how the film combines too many elements into the plot, including action, family drama, British gangsters, and a monster/mad scientist fairy tale reminiscent of "Frankenstein." There were also complaints that some of Li's dramatic scenes are awkward and unfitting, stripping away Li's personality and sense of morality in the film.
How does Unleashed end?
At the conclusion of Unleashed, Danny remembers that Bart was the one who murdered his mother (while playing the piano) when he was a child and was taken by the loan shark, so he could be used as his personal fighting pet. Bart and several men go to Sam's apartment building in Glasgow to find Danny and bring him back alive. However, Danny protects Sam and Victoria by beating all of Bart's henchmen in hand-to-hand combat.
During their final confrontation, Bart holds Danny at gunpoint, urging him to put the collar back on and return to business with him. Bart appears to nearly persuade Danny by mentioning his sorrow for his mother and that Danny is like family to him. However, Danny refuses to put on the collar, saying that he is home, and beats up Bart with rage and fury to avenge his mom. Danny stops short of killing Bart when Sam tells him that he's not an animal and is nothing like Bart (and Sam proceeds to hit the loan shark by knocking a flower pot on his head).
After Danny, Sam, and Victoria embrace, they are seen in Carnegie Hall. Victoria dedicates her piano recital to Danny by playing music that his mother used to play, with Danny shedding happy tears and smiles with Sam. Unleashed may be a feature that's part action, part human drama, and part British crime drama, but it shows that Jet Li can play a character who not only fights but displays sentimental emotions. Some of the best action features involve protagonists who transform from isolated and vicious figures to caring and likable individuals, and Li could perhaps tackle more dramatic roles in English language films in the future.