I would never classify Sinners and Saints film as a martial arts movie, but I know that Bruce Lee’s Goddaughter Diana Lee Inosanto worked as assistant stunt coordinator in it and her husband Ron Balicki was the co-producer and stunt choreographer. The main character played by Johnny Strong, has a jiu-jitsu background, and together with Ron Balicki they came up with some great choreography and some very creative fight scenes.
Storyline: In the gritty New Orleans underbelly, beleaguered Detective Sean Riley is trying to cope with the death of his young son and his failed marriage. Facing a probable suspension from the department, Riley is teamed with a young homicide Detective, Will Ganz, to help solve a series of brutal murders that have plunged the city into a major gang war. The two quickly realize there is something much bigger and far more sinister going on than either could have ever imagined.
Somebody can tell that this is another shoot’em-up action, but I like that style. It becomes more popular to shoot movies in old-school style (thanks to Sly Stallone with The Expendables), and I like to see when somebody else come up with a good cinematography getting back us to the good old times of the 48th Hrs or Lethal Weapon.
For MMA fans there is a chance to see one of the pioneers of mixed martial arts Bas Rutten. Also I am very glad to see Tom Berenger, Jurgen Prochnow and Sean Patrick Flanery. Costas and Louis Mandylor are in it too alongside Method Man and Kim Coates from the Sons of Anarchy tv series.
Director William Kaufman has started his career working in the special effects department, where he learned the intricacies of feature film production from some of the most skilled and talented technicians in the industry. In 2010, Kaufman was brought on to direct the Sony Pictures thriller, “The Hit List,” starring Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. and Cole Hauser.
The lead actor Johnny Strong has been seen in the movies last time in 2001 in the Black Hawk Down, Get Carter and The Fast and the Furious. He began studying martial arts at 7, taking Judo in the San Fernando Valley, later he went on to learn kickboxing, jun fan jeet kun do, boxing, and eventually earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Chris Lisciandro.
Sinners and Saints will be coming out on January 10, 2012.