Day 20: "We Die Young" (2019)

 30 Damme Movies in 30 Damme Days!

The 20th Damme Day:




"We Die Young" (2019)


This is one that I had never heard of. Somehow it flew under my radar. It's about a disabled Afghanistan war veteran, JCVD, who was left mute by a war injury which sent shrapnel into his vocal cords.

The film takes place in the very mean streets of DC which are controlled by one of the most deadliest gangs in the world, the MS13. JCVD plays a vet who works at a car shop in this almost all Hispanic neighborhood.
He keeps to himself and befriends some neighborhood kids who are all caught up in the drug business, so much that they will never have a decent life if they don't get out now.
After a lot of bad stuff goes down, these kids are going to be killed by the gang and JCVD steps in to make sure that doesn't happen. It's a very simple story, JCVD doesn't talk throughout the movie, and he really doesn't use much martial arts or anything.

It sort of reminds me of the Clint Eastwood film "Grand Torino," except JCVD is much nicer. Lol. There are some flashbacks of JCVD's character fighting in the war and we see what happened to him that left him mute.
He also has a love interest in the film, but it's not explored much. It's not a big JCVD vehicle, more about the two kids, but it's definitely worth watching. It's a different type of role for him.

I noticed that in the 21st century, his films focus more on his acting and drama than on his martial arts that made him famous. 
But that's ok. He can still carry a story. 
I rate this one a 5 out of 10. It's decent. Give it a look and let me know what you think.
I'll catch you on my next Damme review!

- Patrick


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