The Tournament - Buttonman meets the Killing

Buttonman · 12 November, 2009, 12:09:00 AM

Anyone here seen The Tournament?

I just did and really enjoyed it.

The premise is a lot like Buttonman 3 in that a bunch of rich gamblers meet in a high tech room to watch 30 assassins decend on a small town (this year it's Middlesborough!) and kick the crap out of each other. The last man standing wins $10 million and they all have trackers and bombs inside them.

For an essentially British film it looks pretty well funded with Robert Carlyle playing a drunk priest caught up in the carnage and Ving Rhames as the returning champion.

It's played tongue in cheek with some cracking kills and explosions. The Buttonman theme extends right down to a character who takes fingers from his victims. According to IMDb it failed to get a distributor which may be a blessing for those of us awaiting a Buttonman film.

If you like mad shoot outs in a northern titty bar The Tournament may be just what you are looking for.

Satanist · 12 November, 2009, 10:42:45 AM

I thought it was a pretty poor effort. It passed and hour and a half is the best i can say.

Oh and another tooth ref, it has a guy called Slade.

Proudhuff · 12 November, 2009, 04:54:19 PM

Its not on Lurvefilm...

I, Cosh · 02 July, 2010, 12:28:20 AM

I knew I remembered this from somewhere. I was at the pictures the other week and they played a trailer for this, so it seems like this it's getting a UK theatrical release a year after every cunt's seen it on DVD. Bizarre.

PsychoGoatee · 02 July, 2010, 07:03:55 AM

I liked it, fun stuff. And hey, Ving Rhames kicks ass in it. Cheesy, good fun action flick.

Buttonman · 02 July, 2010, 07:06:03 AM

Quote from: The Cosh on 02 July, 2010, 12:28:20 AM
after every cunt's seen it on DVD. Bizarre.

Every cunt and our very own Buttonman, you meant of course.

Pete Wells · 14 April, 2012, 10:53:25 PM

I finally got to watch this tonight and, yeah, I really enjoyed it. I hope it doesn't scupper the Buttonman film though, I think Wagner deserves a few good films under his belt.

Judo · 14 April, 2012, 11:16:18 PM

I'm sooo scopin this out for next 'unknown gems' night I have with a fellow film buff pal. We currently love 'the edge' - anthony hopkins and alec baldwin vs a killer bear x

GordyM · 17 April, 2012, 03:35:20 PM

I thought it was a decent wee bit of straight-up, no thrills fun. Shame the ending was a bit pish.

Satanist · 17 April, 2012, 04:03:58 PM

I'm quite surprised to see my earlier comment as I have almost zero recollection of this film.

Buttonman · 20 April, 2012, 06:09:37 PM

Quote from: Satanist on 17 April, 2012, 04:03:58 PM
I'm quite surprised to see my earlier comment as I have almost zero recollection of this film.

Me too which can't be a good thing. Was a bit in a strip joint and a bit with a double decker bus and that's all I've got.

Proudhuff · 20 April, 2012, 07:48:33 PM

Quote from: Buttonman on 20 April, 2012, 06:09:37 PM
Quote from: Satanist on 17 April, 2012, 04:03:58 PM
I'm quite surprised to see my earlier comment as I have almost zero recollection of this film.

Me too which can't be a good thing. Was a bit in a strip joint and a bit with a double decker bus and that's all I've got.

wasn't that Harry Potter?