Bullet Points: 513 Degrees

Sometimes interwoven storylines in a film can make for a compelling motion picture. Sometimes interwoven storylines in a film can lead to a muddled mess. Sometimes interwoven storylines in film can lead to to a resounding meh. That is the situation in the 2013 film 513 Degrees. It is not that the film is bad or boring as I found it entertaining, but the interwoven storylines don’t add anything to the enjoyment. Luckily for you, I just so happen to have some Bullet Points for you to make your own decision so everyone can start their own journey as we meet at 513 Degrees.

• Cold Opening – 513 Degrees opens before the credits with Costas Mandylor (Stealth Fighter) as Sheriff O’Connor pulling a car over at night in the desert only to get shot in the head. OK 513 Degrees, you got my attention. We soon go back in time to find about the who, what, and why through several interwoven storylines.
• Kid Knees – The pair who got pulled over by Sheriff O’Connor included Tre and Stick who are on their way back from Mexico delivering cash in exchange for a kidney. And who better to buy a Mexican kidney from than Danny Trejo… er I mean Mexican gangster El Loco. They are working for Bokeem Woodbine’s Nestor (Overlord) in order to get the kidney for Esteban (Steven Bauer, Drive Like Lightning)… or so they think. In a totally Bokeem Woodbine move, Bokeem Woodbine is not who we think he is at the beginning of the movie. We also learn that Tre knew Nestor’s real background all along and Stick was the one left holding the short end of the… um he was left out of the loop.

• South of the Border – We get to see the wacky Mexican adventure play out for Tre and Stick from there initial drive down into Mexico, to their uncomfortable meeting with El Loco and even an oddly tense beer run at a small gas station. The highlight of the trip is when we get to see Sheriff O’Connor pull them over again and in a move that shows no love to Costas Mandylor, the audience gets to witness his murder from a new angle than from the opening scene.
• It Runs In The Family – Meanwhile, Tre’s brother Mike is getting released from prison for a crime he didn’t commit and is looking to make some money to provide for his daughter by getting into the robbery game. He gets recruited into a gang let by Tom Sizemore’s Glen that is planning to rob a bank that Glen’s wife works at as the insider. Of course, the bank is actually being used as a money laundering spot for the infamous money launderer Henry Martinez. Gary Dourdan plays Clyde, a person trying to keep Henry’s money safe at the bank… or is he?

• More is Less – Tom Sizemore is a real hoot in 513 Degrees. He plays the slightly psychotic Glen with an unhinged craziness that seems to come almost naturally. At first I thought the whole bank robbery plot was just to show the desperateness of Mike to help his daughter, but it took a surprising turn and managed to tie into the rest of the plot.
• Revenger – Mike was put in prison for a murder of the husband of Lisa (Taryn Manning) even though he didn’t commit the crime and was just at the murder scene. That hasn’t stopped from Lisa wanting to get revenge for his death, and it didn’t stop 513 Degrees from including the unnecessary relationship troubles of Lisa and her co-worker.

513 Degrees takes all the above storylines, and some additional ones that I didn’t mention, jumbles them up and throws that back onto the screen for us to enjoy. There is some creative writing to get everything to turn up neatly, not that it means everyone has a happy ending, but all of the stories get resolved. 513 Degrees could have done with some of the plot points subtracted as there is plenty of action to satisfy with shootouts and fights a plenty and enough double crossings to shake a stick at. 513 Degrees is the kind of action movie that requires a little concentration and thought to follow all the stories and thinking during a movie is not always a bad thing. One thing you don’t have to think about is whether the 513 Degrees Bullet Points will have some Bonus Bullet Points because spoiler alert it does.

• Identity Crisis – The opening credits has the title card as 513 Degrees while the end title card goes with Five Thirteen.
• Hot, Hot, Hot – The title comes from a FBI code or it is also said to be the temperature a bullet comes out of the barrel of a gun.
• Familiar Faces – The doctor taking care of Esteban was played by Billy Wirth whom I always remember from Parker Kane. Everytime I see James Duval, who played Reggie, I think of his small role in Kush.
• Réalisateur – 513 Degrees was directed by promising French director Kader Ayd, who also co-wrote. I am looking forward to seeing some more of his works, both French language and English works.
• Can She Top It? – The other writer was Renee Topper, and 513 Degrees is her only feature length writing credit. Although it may be difficult, I am still waiting for her to top 513 Degrees.
• Quote That Can Describe Interwoven Storylines – “I am so confused.”