Steven Soderbergh is nothing if not versatile -- a director who seems like he can do everything.
From lighthearted heist (Ocean's Eleven) to political biography (Che), apocalyptic thriller (Contagion) to a remake of Russian science-fiction (Solaris), the director switches cinematic moods faster than Lady Gaga changes wardrobes. Now, he offers his take on The Bourne Identity action flick with Haywire, a sporadically entertaining, if surprisingly inert, spy versus spy headbanger.When we meet Mallory (Gina Carano), she is on the lam, taking refuge in an upstate New York cafe. Aaron (Channing Tatum) has been assigned to bring her in -- and she's not going quietly, leading to the film's most propulsive fight scene. As it turns out, Mallory is not a criminal but an agent targeted for elimination who is on the run.But who's behind it? Is it her supervisor and former boyfriend (Ewan McGregor)? Is it someone higher up the government food chain (Michael Douglas)? Or is it the mysterious Spaniard (Antonio Banderas)? And how does the suave British agent Paul (Michael Fassbender) fit in?It doesn't really matter because it's all just an excuse for Mallory to lay a beatdown on all those who cross her path. But if that's going to be the point of the movie, then the action scenes need to be as hard-hitting as a swift kick to the head and as smoothly choreographed as Swan Lake.But, except for that initial takedown, the action here comes off as stiff and stilted, lacking the sense of kineticism that makes the "Bourne" films such a blast.Former mixed-martial artist Carano (who is originally from Dallas) is believable as someone who can more than hold her own going mano a mano, but she doesn't show much range as an actress. Meanwhile, the rest of the star-saturated cast walks through on autopilot.It seems everyone involved is doing this as a kind of lark, especially Soderbergh. But maybe he learned something from this: There are some things he can't do after all.Cary Darling, 817-390-7571Twitter: carydarHaywire
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Gina Carano, Michael Douglas, Channing Tatum
Rated: R ( violence)
Running time: 96 min.
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