Catch .44 Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Three ladies try to steal drug money, but everyone betrays everyone, and Bruce Willis shows up with a terrible fake beard.

🍿 Catch .44: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Setup: A Diner and a Deal Gone Wrong

The film opens at a remote diner, where Tes (Malin Akerman) and her two associates, Kara (Nikki Reed) and Dawn (Deborah Ann Woll), are awaiting a drug shipment. Their mission is to intercept the deal for their boss, Mel (Bruce Willis). However, things quickly spiral out of control when the owner of the diner initiates a violent confrontation, resulting in a chaotic shootout.

Flashback: Unveiling the Backstory

The narrative then shifts to a flashback, revealing Tes’s life as a strip club dancer and how she, Kara, and Dawn came to work for Mel. The job involves intercepting a drug shipment at the diner, where one driver hands over drugs and takes money from another. The women are tasked with identifying the second driver, suspected of running drugs on Mel’s territory. The diner is 40 miles out of town, an unusual distance for Mel’s operations, raising suspicion.

Ronny’s Intervention: A Twist in the Tale

Ronny (Forest Whitaker), initially appearing as a menacing figure, intercepts the women dressed as a Sheriff. It’s later revealed through more flashbacks that Ronny saved Tes from a violent encounter at the strip club two years prior and introduced her to Mel. He claims to be protecting her, leading to a tense standoff in the diner. Secrets are revealed, with Billy (Shea Whigham) the diner owner’s partner, and Ronny wanting to run away with Tes.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Tes (Malin Akerman): A street-smart woman caught in a dangerous game of betrayal and survival after a drug deal goes wrong.
• Mel (Bruce Willis): The sleazy crime boss who orchestrates a double-cross, setting off a chain of violent events.
• Ronny (Forest Whitaker): A volatile and unpredictable man with a hidden connection to Tes and a love for her, who complicates the situation.
• Kara (Nikki Reed): One of Tes’s partners in crime, who is caught in the crossfire of the ill-fated drug deal.
• Dawn (Deborah Ann Woll): Another of Tes’s partners, who is tasked with intercepting a drug shipment at a diner.
• Billy (Shea Whigham): The diner owner’s partner who is involved in the criminal schemes at the truck stop.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Tes: “Most women apply secret number two to one thing, sex. The rest of the time we’re too real. Too real because it’s in our nature to be real, which ultimately is a woman’s downfall. But faking it keeps you living in man’s land.” – Tes explains to Kara and Dawn her philosophy about navigating a male-dominated world.
• Kara: “Whoa! Who the fuck wants to live in man’s land?” – Kara responds to Tes’s claim that women must ‘fake it’ to succeed in a male-dominated world.
• Tes: “We’re already living in it, guys.” – Tes replies to Kara’s question, emphasizing that they are already living in a male-dominated society.
• Ronny: “From the minute you started working for Mel, your life was destined to end this way, in an ambush, organized by Mel.” – Ronny reveals the truth about Mel’s plan to Tes.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $7,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $0
• Worldwide Gross: $291,742

💥 Catch .44 Reviews

Personal Review

I went into this movie with low expectations, and even then, it disappointed. The plot is convoluted and tries too hard to be clever, leaving you feeling confused rather than intrigued. Forest Whitaker is the only bright spot, but even he can’t save this mess. I kept hoping it would get better, but it just kept dragging on. Bruce Willis’s appearance feels like a cameo, and his character is utterly forgettable. Skip this one.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of neo-noir crime thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in movies with strong female leads in violent situations”
  • “Those who appreciate the acting of Forest Whitaker and Bruce Willis, despite the film’s flaws”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Suggestive themes”
  • “Brief nudity”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “A bad attempt at style over substance. From the beginning, the director tries to emulate Tarantino. Sadly, the mark was missed on everything except the soundtrack. The story was unbelievable, the characters uninteresting, and the dialogue horrible. Willis and Whitaker should bother to read the script before taking on any future movies.
• IMDb: “This whole film was awful. Only because it had some actors I would normally have enjoyed anywhere else apart from this film. Forest Whittaker trying to be Tony Montana and sounding just awful while also changing his accent 3 or 4 times throughout this movie was pathetic.
• IMDb: “A very bad movie, in every sense. A very weak plot followed with weak acting from somewhat great actors makes it seem as if it was more of money maker then anything else. Boring story line coupled with cliché dialog makes this a easily forgettable title. Recycling scenes gets repetitive and takes away from the dramatic scenes.

Audience Reactions

Forest Whitaker’s performance was the only redeeming quality.: Most people agreed that the movie was trying too hard to imitate Quentin Tarantino and failing.

Many viewers found Bruce Willis’ role too small for a poster star.: Common theme was the movie lacked originality and good plot.

Overall Consensus: A poorly executed Tarantino-esque crime thriller with uninspired writing and wasted talent. Largely disliked.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film’s title, ‘Catch .44,’ is a play on the military term ‘Catch-22,’ referring to a paradoxical situation from which an individual cannot escape because of contradictory rules.”
• “Bruce Willis’s role as Mel was relatively small, and he filmed his scenes in just a few days. His presence was primarily used to draw attention to the film.”
• “The film was shot primarily in Shreveport, Louisiana, taking advantage of the state’s film tax incentives.”

🖥️ How to Watch Catch .44?

Catch .44 is available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your local listings for streaming availability, as it may vary by region. Physical copies on DVD and Blu-ray are also available for purchase online and in retail stores.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Catch .44, you might like these similar films:

• Pulp Fiction (1994): Features a nonlinear narrative, dark humor, and stylized violence, similar to Catch .44.
• Reservoir Dogs (1992): Another Tarantino film with a focus on crime, memorable dialogue, and a heist gone wrong.
• Killing Zoe (1993): A stylish heist movie with a gritty and violent atmosphere, appealing to fans of crime thrillers.
• Sucker Punch (2011): A visually stylized action film featuring a group of women in a dangerous situation, with a focus on female empowerment.

🛒 Catch .44 Related Products

• Pulp Fiction (Blu-ray): The real deal when it comes to Tarantino-style crime films. Offers witty dialogue, iconic characters, and a groundbreaking narrative structure that ‘Catch .44’ attempts but fails to achieve. A must-own for any film buff.
• Forest Whitaker Signed Photo: An autographed picture of Forest Whitaker. His portrayal, while not enough to rescue the film, was still considered one of the highlights. Great for any fan of his work.
• Gangster Films Collection: Blu-ray Box Set: A comprehensive collection of classic gangster films from the 20th century. This collection provides a deep dive into the genre, offering a broader understanding and appreciation of crime cinema.
• Die Hard Collection (Blu-ray): A collection of Die Hard films. To remember Bruce in better action movies.

🎧 Soundtrack

Catch .44 features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “I Don’t Care” – performed by Brenda Burns, performed by Toddzilla
• “Respect Yourself” – performed by Bruce Willis (sampled)

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Catch .44 Intro Soundtrack

Ever wondered what that cool intro music from Catch .44 was? Check out the full soundtrack here and get instantly transported back into the movie’s gritty world. I personally think it really set the tone for the whole film!

✨ Rate