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      The Expert

      R 1994 1 hr. 32 min. Action List
      Reviews 20% 100+ Ratings Audience Score A special forces instructor (Jeff Speakman) gets revenge on the prison inmate who murdered his sister. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

      View All (5) audience reviews
      Audience Member My main critique of this film is twofold: 1) 80's/90's action films like this tended to be reactionary in some way, but the message this one hammers home even silly for its genre, and 2) Jeff Speakman, while a good martial artist, is a charisma vacuum as an actor. First, however, what the film does have in its favor. As previously stated, Jeff Speakman is quite convincing as a martial artist and, in general, as a physical presence. I certainly wouldn't want to mess with him in real life (contrary to whatever Steven Seagal's beef with him was). The plot is also quite efficient, if rudimentary, in the way it sets up the characters and moves the action forward. The first scene in particular establishes Speakman's character as the no-bs "expert" that the title indicated he would be. The action scenes were also well-choreographed and there was some decent camerawork in the slower portions of the film. I also thought that James Brolin and Jim Varney (in a one-scene cameo) did respectable acting work. However, just about everyone else, Speakman included, was halfway decent at best. The writing also wasn't anything to be proud of either. My biggest issue with the film is the "message," if one can call it that. THE EXPERT delivers yet another right-wing fantasy about a lone "hero" who takes on an ineffectual justice system by doling out his own version of justice against the violent criminal who killed his sister. Of course violent criminals should be punished, but the negative way it portrays a female psychologist involved with the case very unsubtly clues the viewer onto what the film's stance is. Not that a film shouldn't take a stance on anything, but I happen to think the stance wasn't very fair. Aside from that, the score was overblown and there were a few pacing issues in the middle portion, where the main character barely gets any screen time. I know I shouldn't have expected too much, considering Jeff Speakman was a third-tier action star at best, but the obvious message-making made it a little bit of a chore to sit through. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member This is priceless. Pre-Break-in the fight scenes don't make sense. Just a nice way of showing us how much of a bad mutha f**ka Jeff Speakman is. The serial killer is comedy gold and James Brolin is the balls as the Prison warden. The plot is off the radar. Serial killer slays a one man fighting machines sister, escapes the death penalty so in an act of revenge he decides to break into the prison and avenge his sister's death. Ha-Ha. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Started off strong for a direct to video 90s action drama but lost its way and seemed to just fart around then finally just gave up on being a decent movie at the very end of it. Jeff Speakman is a decent action star when hes given better material but he kinda just seemed very bored in this. James Brolin does a good job doing his best Burt Reynolds impression as a psycho warden who just chews fuckin scenery. Michael Shaner plays one of the most annoying smarmey villans I've ever seen and wanted to punch him evertime I heard him talk. All in all not a very pleasurable movie experience. The plot starts out good then totally just becomes retarded when they start throwing in all these random characters and their pointless subplots that don't really do anywhere. Watch at your own risk! Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Started off strong for a direct to video 90s action drama but lost its way and seemed to just fart around then finally just gave up on being a decent movie at the very end of it. Jeff Speakman is a decent action star when hes given better material but he kinda just seemed very bored in this. James Brolin does a good job doing his best Burt Reynolds impression as a psycho warden who just chews fuckin scenery. Michael Shaner plays one of the most annoying smarmey villans I've ever seen and wanted to punch him evertime I heard him talk. All in all not a very pleasurable movie experience. The plot starts out good then totally just becomes retarded when they start throwing in all these random characters and their pointless subplots that don't really do anywhere. Watch at your own risk! Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Jeff speakman again why didnt he become better?? think we have an answer he didnt pick the best scripts after the perfect weapon. He's a great martial artist.Damn shame. this one's about a serial killer who murders his sister and gets let off death row so he decideds to infiltrate the prison and murder him himself. luckly at he same time the serial killer is leading a jail break as well!! The guy playing the seriel killer was really good in this, surprised he didnt actually go on o better things as well. Ive just spotted who he is as well the suicide jumper from lethal weapon!! Randomly ted raimi turns up fora second cameo?? James brolins in it for a litle bit as well. Ok b grade actioner nice to see speakman go all kempo on some people's asses but would like to have seen him do something more similar to the perfect weapon. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Rated: 1/5 Jul 30, 2002 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis A special forces instructor (Jeff Speakman) gets revenge on the prison inmate who murdered his sister.
      Director
      Rick Avery
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Action
      Original Language
      English
      Sound Mix
      Stereo