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'''''Alex Cross''''' is a 2012 American [[neo-noir]] [[psychological thriller film]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ifco.ie/en/ifco/pages/7F8018D80054B545|title=Alex Cross (2012)|publisher=[[Irish Film Classification Office]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-oct-18-la-et-mn-alex-cross-review-20121019-story.html|title=Review: 'Alex Cross' and Tyler Perry are armed with silly lines|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=18 October 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/alex-cross|title=Alex Cross Movie Review|publisher=[[Common Sense Media]]}}</ref> directed by [[Rob Cohen]] and starring [[Tyler Perry]] as [[Alex Cross|the title character]] and [[Matthew Fox (actor)|Matthew Fox]] as the villain Picasso. The [[Film adaptation|adapted screenplay]] was written by Marc Moss and Kerry Williamson. It is based on the 2006 novel ''[[Cross (novel)|Cross]]'' by [[James Patterson]] and is the third installment of the [[Alex Cross (film series)|''Alex Cross'' film series]], which was considered as a [[Reboot (fiction)|reboot]] of the series. The title character was previously portrayed by [[Morgan Freeman]] in ''[[Kiss the Girls (1997 film)|Kiss the Girls]]'' (1997) and ''[[Along Came a Spider (film)|Along Came a Spider]]'' (2001).
'''''Alex Cross''''' is a 2012 American [[crime thriller film]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ifco.ie/en/ifco/pages/7F8018D80054B545|title=Alex Cross (2012)|publisher=[[Irish Film Classification Office]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-oct-18-la-et-mn-alex-cross-review-20121019-story.html|title=Review: 'Alex Cross' and Tyler Perry are armed with silly lines|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=18 October 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/alex-cross|title=Alex Cross Movie Review|publisher=[[Common Sense Media]]}}</ref> directed by [[Rob Cohen]], and starring [[Tyler Perry]] as [[Alex Cross (character)|the title character]], and [[Matthew Fox (actor)|Matthew Fox]] as the villain Picasso. The [[Film adaptation|adapted screenplay]] was written by Marc Moss and Kerry Williamson. It is based on the 2006 novel ''[[Cross (novel)|Cross]]'' by [[James Patterson]]. It is the third installment of the [[Alex Cross (film series)|''Alex Cross'' film series]], and was considered as a [[Reboot (fiction)|reboot]] of the series. The title character was previously portrayed by [[Morgan Freeman]] in ''[[Kiss the Girls (1997 film)|Kiss the Girls]]'' (1997) and ''[[Along Came a Spider (film)|Along Came a Spider]]'' (2001).


Unlike the previous films, which were distributed by [[Paramount Pictures]], the film was released by [[Lionsgate|Lionsgate Films]] on October 19, 2012. It was panned by critics and became a [[box office bomb]], and a planned sequel was cancelled.
Unlike the previous films, which were distributed by [[Paramount Pictures]], the film was released by [[Lionsgate|Lionsgate Films]] on October 19, 2012. It was panned by critics and became a [[box office bomb]], and a planned sequel was cancelled.


==Plot==
==Plot==
Psychologist Dr. Alex Cross is working as a detective for the Detroit Police Department together with his childhood friend, Thomas Kane, and Monica Ashe. Outside of work, Cross lives a happy suburban life with his mother, his pregnant wife, and their two kids. Kane and Ashe are romantically involved with each other but try in vain to keep this a secret from Cross.
Dr. [[Alex Cross]] ([[Tyler Perry]]) is a psychologist and police lieutenant who lives in [[Detroit]] with his wife, Maria ([[Carmen Ejogo]]), their children, Damon and Janelle, and his, grandmother Nana Mama. He also frequently visits a prisoner, Pop-Pop, who is serving time for a murder. Cross knows her uncle, Daramus Holiday, committed the murder and framed her, but she refuses to tell the truth. When returning home, he learns that Maria is pregnant with their third child, Cross considers accepting a job as an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] profiler with a 35% pay rise, but fears Maria's reaction, as it would require them to relocate to [[Washington, D.C.]] Meanwhile, a man ([[Matthew Fox]]) participates in an underground ultimate fighting match, where he flirts with businesswoman Fan Yau ([[Stephanie Jacobsen]]). After brutally beating his opponent, the man is invited to Fan Yau's house. There, he sedates, tortures, and kills her. He cuts off all her fingers and steals her laptop.


One night, Cross and Kane are called to investigate the torture and murder of a businesswoman named Fan Yau. Cross determines from the clues in the crime scene that this was done by a single person, and Kane notes that this must be the work of a professional. They also find a charcoal drawing of Fan Yau's death in the room, which leads them to dub the killer as "Picasso".
Police captain Richard Brookwell ([[John C. McGinley]]) calls Cross and his partner, Tommy Kane ([[Edward Burns]]), to the crime scene. On the way there, Cross tells Kane about Maria's pregnancy and the FBI's offer, and correctly guesses that Kane is secretly dating their colleague, Monica Ashe ([[Rachel Nichols (actress)|Rachel Nichols]]). Investigating Yau's murder, Cross deduces that the killer is former military, specifically former ([[Special Forces]]) based on his tactics, and is a professional assassin. Cross finds a charcoal sketch left behind by the killer in the style of the artist [[Picasso]], leading to the murderer being nicknamed after him. While examining the sketch, Cross deduces that Picasso's next target is German businessman Erich Nunemarcher ([[Werner Daehn]]). Cross, Kane and Ashe go to Nunemarcher's office, but he has his own heavily armed security, who tell the police that he has no need of their help. Picasso, however, is already inside the building but is prevented from killing Nunemarcher by Cross, and escapes after being shot in the shoulder by Kane.


Cross' team eventually link Fan Yau with two other businessmen: Erich Nunemaker and Giles Mercier. This, together with the letters E and N found in the charcoal drawing, lead the team to believe that Picasso will attack Nunemaker next, with Mercier being the likely final target. Cross, Kane, and Ashe arrive at Nunemaker's building and are able to prevent his assassination. However, in the firefight that ensued, Picasso was able to identify the composition of their team. Picasso was also able to escape despite being hit by Kane in the shoulder.
Cross realizes the real target is billionaire CEO Giles Mercier ([[Jean Reno]]). Cross informs Mercier that Picasso might be trying to kill him. Mercier tells Cross that he would have picked Cross, if he had not found out he was a target of Picasso. While there, Cross, Kane, and Ashe meet Mercier's assistant, who they deduce is a cocaine addict.


Worried for their safety, Kane asks Cross if he thinks Picasso will now attack them and their loved ones. Cross reassures him that he believes Picasso is a professional with narrow focus, and thus would not deviate from his list of targets. This assessment would be proven to be incorrect as Picasso immediately plots his revenge against the team.
Later that evening, as revenge for their earlier interference, Picasso attacks Ashe, sedating and torturing her to death in her bathroom. Meanwhile, Maria and Cross go out to dinner to discuss her pregnancy and the possible move to Washington. Then, Picasso calls Cross using Ashe's phone. After sending Cross a picture of Ashe's mutilated corpse in her tub, Picasso taunts Cross to [[psychopath|psycho]] analyze him. While Cross interrogates him, Picasso pulls out a sniper rifle and aims at Cross, revealing he is close by. After seeing Maria, Picasso switches targets. Cross continues to taunt Picasso with questions, and Picasso reveals that he is nearby by telling Cross that he Picasso can't take him seriously with his blue floral tie. Cross realizes that Picasso is planning to kill him and looks around for him, but Picasso simply tells Cross that he has a very pretty wife. Cross drops the phone and runs to Maria to block Picasso's attack, but is too late. Cross tries to put pressure on Maria's wounds, but is unsuccessful, and Maria dies in his arms. At Maria's funeral, Picasso sits in his car drawing a picture of Cross. He is disappointed that he was unable to give Cross the level of pain he hoped for.


Cross and his wife, Maria, are out for dinner to celebrate the conception of their third child. Cross says that he is considering taking a job with the FBI as it has better hours, pay, and benefits, and it would mean more time for his family. Maria is reluctant because taking the FBI job would mean moving to Washington D.C. and her career is based in Detroit. Their discussion is interrupted when Picasso calls Cross' phone using Ashe's number. Picasso sends a picture of Ashe, whom he tortured and killed, to Cross. Cross attempts to prod and profile Picasso by taunting him and asking questions. Enraged, Picasso, who has had a sniper rifle trained on Cross all along, decides that the best way to take revenge on Cross would be to kill his wife. He shoots Maria in the chest and she dies in Cross' arms.
At Cross's home after Maria's funeral, Picasso calls Cross to provoke him, telling him that he is responsible for Maria's death. Kane then finds out the drug, TTX, Picasso uses on his victims paralyzes but does not numb the body or knock out the victim, which meant Ashe felt everything Picasso did to her. Cross and Kane become determined to bring him down, no matter the cost. Cross has Detroit police take Nana Mama and the children out of the city, protecting them from Picasso. Cross and Kane break into the Detroit Police Department evidence locker, and steal two guns.


Cross and Kane, reeling from the losses in their personal lives, make it their personal crusade to bring Picasso to justice, through whatever means. They track down the chemist who supplied Picasso with the drug used on both Fan Yau and Ashe and are able to pinpoint his location. Cross and Kane rush towards Picasso's known location when they realize that he is going to assassinate Giles Mercier. Picasso is able to launch an RPG towards Mercier's convoy, apparently killing him. The pair pursue Picasso and eventually catch up to him. Cross and Picasso fight in the rafters of a church, where Picasso falls to his death, but not before telling Cross that he made him who he is today.
Later at a car lot, Cross blackmails Daramus Holiday to tell him where Picasso gets his drugs. Cross tells him that he knows Holiday killed someone with the gun he and Kane stole and framed his niece, Pop-Pop, for the murder. Holiday chuckles and tells Cross that he knows full well that there was more than one gun, Kane points a target beam at Holiday, informing they have both guns. Cross tells Holiday that if Holiday gives them the chemist, Pop-Pop will be let free due to the missing evidence. With the name and address, Cross and Kane arrive at a drug cook's hideout. After beating him, Cross demands that they see his security camera footage. Seeing the footage, Cross and Kane learn Picasso's car's license plate.


Cross deduces that Mercier is in fact alive and has been behind the attacks all along. Mercier hired Picasso to fake his death in order to escape entanglements with the German government. While Mercier is hiding out in Indonesia, Cross calls him and informs him that his assistant has sold him out for immunity. The local cops converge to arrest him for drug smuggling charges, which is punishable by death in Indonesia. Satisfied that justice had been served, Cross and Kane both express their intent to work together at the FBI.
Cross and Kane learn Mercier is attending at a conference and fearing that this will be an opportunity for Picasso to kill him get Brookwell to clear the area. Picasso, however, does not need to be in the area as he fires a bazooka from a moving train, killing Mercier, his security staff, and several police officers. Cross and Kane chase after Picasso, and have Jody Kenbanoff, a fellow detective, trace the car to the Michigan Theater, which is now in a parking garage. Cross and Kane corner Picasso by crashing their car into his, stopping him but injuring Kane. Cross chases Picasso into the abandoned theatre, where they clash physically. During their fight, they fall through the crumbling theater ceiling. Cross manages to hold on to a beam but Picasso dangles from his belt. Picasso mutters Cross then knees him in his face yelling that died and Picasso falls to his death below. Kane arrives just before Cross loses his grip and other officers arrive and pull Cross to safety.

After noting evidence at the rocket attack, Cross deduced that Picasso's employer was Mercier himself. Having embezzled money from his clients, Mercier asked for Yau and Nunemarcher's help to fake his death and flee to Bali, and then hired Picasso to eliminate Yau, Nunemarcher and a double pretending to be the real Mercier. Cross is able to frame Mercier for drug smuggling by his addict assistant placing thirty-none kilos of cocaine near his favourite couch to avoid being arrested and informs the local police. While Cross and Kane observe through a Balinese officer's shoulder camera and a [[Skype]] call, Mercier is arrested for smuggling in Indonesia, where he will be condemned to death by firing squad. Having avenged Maria's murder, Cross decides to accept the FBI's offer and move to Washington with his family. Before he leaves, Kane reveals that he also applied for a job with the FBI. After expressing his hope that he and Cross will work together again one day, they part ways. Cross then walks up to the house and watches Janelle and Damon. Nana comes down from upstairs and tells the kids to make sure they have everything. She notices Cross, smiles, and adds, "You don't want to leave anything behind that you love." The film ends with Cross staring, lovingly, at his family, realizing that they are his reason to live.


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{Div col}}
{{Div col}}
* [[Tyler Perry]] as [[Alex Cross|Detective Alex Cross]]
* [[Tyler Perry]] as Dr. / Detective [[Alex Cross (character)|Alex Cross]]
* [[Edward Burns]] as Detective Tommy Kane
* [[Edward Burns]] as Detective Tommy Kane
* [[Matthew Fox]] as Michael "The Butcher of Sligo" Sullivan / Picasso
* [[Matthew Fox]] as The Butcher of Sligo / Picasso
* [[Jean Reno]] as Giles Mercier
* [[Jean Reno]] as Giles Mercier
* [[Carmen Ejogo]] as Maria Cross
* [[Carmen Ejogo]] as Maria Cross
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* [[Sayeed Shahidi]] as Damon Cross
* [[Sayeed Shahidi]] as Damon Cross
* Bonnie Bentley as Detective Jody Klebanoff
* Bonnie Bentley as Detective Jody Klebanoff
⚫
* Simenona Martinez as 'Pop-Pop' Jones
* [[Stephanie Jacobsen]] as Fan Yau Lee
* [[Stephanie Jacobsen]] as Fan Yau Lee
* [[Giancarlo Esposito]] as Daramus Holiday
* [[Giancarlo Esposito]] as Daramus Holiday
* [[Ingo Rademacher]] as Ingo Sacks
* [[Ingo Rademacher]] as Ingo Sacks
* [[Simenona Martinez]] as Pop Pop
{{Div end}}
{{Div end}}


==Production==
==Production==
A reboot film about Alex Cross character began development in 2010, with a screenplay by Kerry Williamson and James Patterson.<ref name="producer">{{cite magazine | last=Bierly | first=Mandi | url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/02/01/tyler-perry-alex-cross-idris-elba/ | title=Tyler Perry in, Idris Elba out of Alex Cross reboot: Producer explains why | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | date=February 1, 2011}}</ref> [[David Twohy]] was attached as director, and was set to rewrite the screenplay. In August, [[Idris Elba]] was cast as Cross.<ref>{{cite news | last=Fleming | first=Mike | url=https://www.deadline.com/2010/08/idris-elba-is-new-alex-cross-in-relaunched-james-patterson-film-franchise/ | title=Idris Elba Is New Alex Cross In Relaunched James Patterson Film Franchise | website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] | date=August 18, 2010 | access-date=October 17, 2012}}</ref>
A reboot film about Alex Cross' character began development in 2010, with a screenplay by Kerry Williamson and James Patterson.<ref name="producer">{{cite magazine | last=Bierly | first=Mandi | url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/02/01/tyler-perry-alex-cross-idris-elba/ | title=Tyler Perry in, Idris Elba out of Alex Cross reboot: Producer explains why | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | date=February 1, 2011}}</ref> [[David Twohy]] was attached as director, and was set to rewrite the screenplay. In August, [[Idris Elba]] was cast as Cross.<ref>{{cite news | last=Fleming | first=Mike | url=https://deadline.com/2010/08/idris-elba-is-new-alex-cross-in-relaunched-james-patterson-film-franchise-62037/ | title=Idris Elba Is New Alex Cross In Relaunched James Patterson Film Franchise | website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] | date=August 18, 2010 | access-date=October 17, 2012}}</ref>


Towards the end of 2010, [[QED International]] purchased the rights, and initial screenplay by Williamson and Patterson.<ref name="producer" /> By January 2011, [[Tyler Perry]] had replaced Elba in the starring role, and Cohen was hired as director.<ref>{{cite news | last=Fleming | first=Mike | url=https://www.deadline.com/2011/01/tyler-perry-as-alex-cross/ | title=Tyler Perry As Alex Cross In James Patterson Franchise Reboot | website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] | date=January 31, 2011 | access-date=October 17, 2012}}</ref> The production company, QED, set Marc Moss, who worked on the previous Alex Cross films, to refine the screenplay for Perry and Cohen.<ref name="producer" /> With a production budget of $35 million,<ref name="mojo" /> filming began on August 8 in [[Cleveland|Cleveland, Ohio]] and lasted until September 16. Filming locations in northeast Ohio served as a backdrop to [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]], where the character works for the [[Detroit Police Department]]. After Ohio, filming also took place in Detroit itself for two weeks.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Clint |url=http://www.cleveland.com/moviebuff/index.ssf/2012/10/tyler_perry_tough-guy_the_mega.html |title=Tyler Perry tough-guy: The megastar talks about 'Alex Cross', the new thriller he shot in Cleveland |work=[[The Plain Dealer]] |date=October 12, 2012 |access-date=May 23, 2013}}</ref> The production office remained in Cleveland throughout production inside an empty portion of the old American Greetings Company Factory.
Towards the end of 2010, [[QED International]] purchased the rights, and initial screenplay by Williamson and Patterson.<ref name="producer" /> By January 2011, [[Tyler Perry]] had replaced Elba in the starring role, and Cohen was hired as director.<ref>{{cite news | last=Fleming | first=Mike | url=https://deadline.com/2011/01/tyler-perry-as-alex-cross-102310/ | title=Tyler Perry As Alex Cross In James Patterson Franchise Reboot | website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] | date=January 31, 2011 | access-date=October 17, 2012}}</ref> The production company, QED, set Marc Moss, who worked on the previous Alex Cross films, to refine the screenplay for Perry and Cohen.<ref name="producer" /> With a production budget of $35 million,<ref name="mojo" /> filming began on August 8 in [[Cleveland|Cleveland, Ohio]] and lasted until September 16. Filming locations in northeast Ohio served as a backdrop to [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]], where the character works for the [[Detroit Police Department]]. After Ohio, filming also took place in Detroit itself for two weeks.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Clint |url=http://www.cleveland.com/moviebuff/index.ssf/2012/10/tyler_perry_tough-guy_the_mega.html |title=Tyler Perry tough-guy: The megastar talks about 'Alex Cross', the new thriller he shot in Cleveland |work=[[The Plain Dealer]] |date=October 12, 2012 |access-date=May 23, 2013}}</ref> The production office remained in Cleveland throughout production inside an empty portion of the old American Greetings Company Factory.


[[Summit Entertainment]] purchased domestic distribution rights in March 2011,<ref>{{cite journal | last=McNary | first=Dave | url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118034399 | title=Summit acquires U.S. rights to 'Cross' |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date=March 24, 2011 | access-date=October 17, 2012}}</ref> and set the release date for October 26, 2012.<ref>{{cite journal |last=McNary |first=Dave |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/summit-sets-alex-cross-for-october-1118049828/ |title=Summit sets 'Alex Cross' for October |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=February 7, 2012 |access-date=May 23, 2013 |archive-date=December 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226010612/http://variety.com/2012/film/news/summit-sets-alex-cross-for-october-1118049828/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[Summit Entertainment]] purchased domestic distribution rights in March 2011,<ref>{{cite journal | last=McNary | first=Dave | url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/summit-acquires-u-s-rights-to-cross-1118034399/ | title=Summit acquires U.S. rights to 'Cross' |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date=March 24, 2011 | access-date=October 17, 2012}}</ref> and set the release date for October 26, 2012.<ref>{{cite journal |last=McNary |first=Dave |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/summit-sets-alex-cross-for-october-1118049828/ |title=Summit sets 'Alex Cross' for October |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=February 7, 2012 |access-date=May 23, 2013 |archive-date=December 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226010612/http://variety.com/2012/film/news/summit-sets-alex-cross-for-october-1118049828/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>


The theatrical release poster featured the tagline, "Don't ever cross Alex Cross", ''The Playlist'' at [[indieWire]] was critical of the tagline, saying that "it'll be impressive if anything dumber appears on a movie poster this year".<ref>{{cite news |last=Lyttelton |first=Oliver |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/the-10-worst-poster-taglines-of-all-time-20121017 |title=Don't Ever Cross Alex Cross: The 10 Most Awful Movie Poster Taglines |work=The Playlist |publisher=[[indieWire]] |date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=October 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019034909/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/the-10-worst-poster-taglines-of-all-time-20121017 |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
The theatrical release poster featured the tagline, "Don't ever cross Alex Cross." ''The Playlist'' at [[indieWire]] was critical of the tagline, saying that "it'll be impressive if anything dumber appears on a movie poster this year".<ref>{{cite news |last=Lyttelton |first=Oliver |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/the-10-worst-poster-taglines-of-all-time-20121017 |title=Don't Ever Cross Alex Cross: The 10 Most Awful Movie Poster Taglines |work=The Playlist |publisher=[[indieWire]] |date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=October 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019034909/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/the-10-worst-poster-taglines-of-all-time-20121017 |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
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===Critical response===
===Critical response===
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|11|3.6|129|Tyler Perry and Matthew Fox did their best, but they're trampled by Rob Cohen's frustrating direction and a tasteless, lazily written screenplay.|ref=yes}} {{Metacritic film prose |score=30|count=34}} <ref>{{Metacritic film|title=Alex Cross}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deadline.com/2012/10/paranormal-activity-4-scores-4-5m-late-shows/ |title='Paranormal Activity 4' Opens With $30M For $56.5M Global Weekend; Tyler Perry As 'Alex Cross' Low $12M; Ben Affleck's 'Argo' Holds |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=October 21, 2012 |access-date=May 23, 2013}}</ref>
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|11|3.6|129|Tyler Perry and Matthew Fox did their best, but they're trampled by Rob Cohen's frustrating direction and a tasteless, lazily written screenplay.|ref=yes}} {{Metacritic film prose |score=30|count=34}} <ref>{{Metacritic film|title=Alex Cross}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2012/10/paranormal-activity-4-scores-4-5m-late-shows-356675/ |title='Paranormal Activity 4' Opens With $30M For $56.5M Global Weekend; Tyler Perry As 'Alex Cross' Low $12M; Ben Affleck's 'Argo' Holds |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=October 21, 2012 |access-date=May 23, 2013}}</ref>


The film earned a [[Razzie Award]] nomination for Perry as Worst Actor.<ref name="Razzie">{{cite news |last1=Coleman |first1=Korva |title=Honoring The Worst In Hollywood - The 33rd Annual 'Razzies' Awards! |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/01/09/168947368/honoring-the-worst-in-hollywood-the-33rd-annual-razzies-awards |access-date=29 November 2019 |work=National Public Radio |date=9 January 2013 |quote=Tyler Perry...for Alex Cross}}</ref>
The film earned a [[Razzie Award]] nomination for Perry as Worst Actor.<ref name="Razzie">{{cite news |last1=Coleman |first1=Korva |title=Honoring The Worst In Hollywood - The 33rd Annual 'Razzies' Awards! |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/01/09/168947368/honoring-the-worst-in-hollywood-the-33rd-annual-razzies-awards |access-date=29 November 2019 |work=National Public Radio |date=9 January 2013 |quote=Tyler Perry...for Alex Cross}}</ref>
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|1712170|Alex Cross}}
* {{IMDb title|1712170|Alex Cross}}
* {{allMovie title|557632|Alex Cross}}
* {{AllMovie title|557632|Alex Cross}}


{{James Patterson}}
{{James Patterson}}
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[[Category:2012 crime thriller films]]
[[Category:2012 crime thriller films]]
[[Category:2010s mystery thriller films]]
[[Category:2010s mystery thriller films]]
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[[Category:American action thriller films]]
[[Category:American crime thriller films]]
[[Category:American crime thriller films]]
[[Category:American mystery thriller films]]
[[Category:American mystery thriller films]]
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[[Category:2010s American films]]
[[Category:2010s American films]]
[[Category:African-American films]]
[[Category:African-American films]]
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[[Category:English-language crime thriller films]]
[[Category:English-language mystery thriller films]]

Revision as of 07:36, 4 December 2024

Alex Cross
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRob Cohen
Screenplay by
Based onCross
by James Patterson
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRicardo Della Rosa
Edited by
Music byJohn Debney
Production
companies
Distributed byLionsgate
Release date
  • October 19, 2012 (2012-10-19)
Running time
101 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$35 million[1][2]
Box office$34.6 million[1]

Alex Cross is a 2012 American crime thriller film[3][4][5] directed by Rob Cohen, and starring Tyler Perry as the title character, and Matthew Fox as the villain Picasso. The adapted screenplay was written by Marc Moss and Kerry Williamson. It is based on the 2006 novel Cross by James Patterson. It is the third installment of the Alex Cross film series, and was considered as a reboot of the series. The title character was previously portrayed by Morgan Freeman in Kiss the Girls (1997) and Along Came a Spider (2001).

Unlike the previous films, which were distributed by Paramount Pictures, the film was released by Lionsgate Films on October 19, 2012. It was panned by critics and became a box office bomb, and a planned sequel was cancelled.

Plot

Psychologist Dr. Alex Cross is working as a detective for the Detroit Police Department together with his childhood friend, Thomas Kane, and Monica Ashe. Outside of work, Cross lives a happy suburban life with his mother, his pregnant wife, and their two kids. Kane and Ashe are romantically involved with each other but try in vain to keep this a secret from Cross.

One night, Cross and Kane are called to investigate the torture and murder of a businesswoman named Fan Yau. Cross determines from the clues in the crime scene that this was done by a single person, and Kane notes that this must be the work of a professional. They also find a charcoal drawing of Fan Yau's death in the room, which leads them to dub the killer as "Picasso".

Cross' team eventually link Fan Yau with two other businessmen: Erich Nunemaker and Giles Mercier. This, together with the letters E and N found in the charcoal drawing, lead the team to believe that Picasso will attack Nunemaker next, with Mercier being the likely final target. Cross, Kane, and Ashe arrive at Nunemaker's building and are able to prevent his assassination. However, in the firefight that ensued, Picasso was able to identify the composition of their team. Picasso was also able to escape despite being hit by Kane in the shoulder.

Worried for their safety, Kane asks Cross if he thinks Picasso will now attack them and their loved ones. Cross reassures him that he believes Picasso is a professional with narrow focus, and thus would not deviate from his list of targets. This assessment would be proven to be incorrect as Picasso immediately plots his revenge against the team.

Cross and his wife, Maria, are out for dinner to celebrate the conception of their third child. Cross says that he is considering taking a job with the FBI as it has better hours, pay, and benefits, and it would mean more time for his family. Maria is reluctant because taking the FBI job would mean moving to Washington D.C. and her career is based in Detroit. Their discussion is interrupted when Picasso calls Cross' phone using Ashe's number. Picasso sends a picture of Ashe, whom he tortured and killed, to Cross. Cross attempts to prod and profile Picasso by taunting him and asking questions. Enraged, Picasso, who has had a sniper rifle trained on Cross all along, decides that the best way to take revenge on Cross would be to kill his wife. He shoots Maria in the chest and she dies in Cross' arms.

Cross and Kane, reeling from the losses in their personal lives, make it their personal crusade to bring Picasso to justice, through whatever means. They track down the chemist who supplied Picasso with the drug used on both Fan Yau and Ashe and are able to pinpoint his location. Cross and Kane rush towards Picasso's known location when they realize that he is going to assassinate Giles Mercier. Picasso is able to launch an RPG towards Mercier's convoy, apparently killing him. The pair pursue Picasso and eventually catch up to him. Cross and Picasso fight in the rafters of a church, where Picasso falls to his death, but not before telling Cross that he made him who he is today.

Cross deduces that Mercier is in fact alive and has been behind the attacks all along. Mercier hired Picasso to fake his death in order to escape entanglements with the German government. While Mercier is hiding out in Indonesia, Cross calls him and informs him that his assistant has sold him out for immunity. The local cops converge to arrest him for drug smuggling charges, which is punishable by death in Indonesia. Satisfied that justice had been served, Cross and Kane both express their intent to work together at the FBI.

Cast

Production

A reboot film about Alex Cross' character began development in 2010, with a screenplay by Kerry Williamson and James Patterson.[6] David Twohy was attached as director, and was set to rewrite the screenplay. In August, Idris Elba was cast as Cross.[7]

Towards the end of 2010, QED International purchased the rights, and initial screenplay by Williamson and Patterson.[6] By January 2011, Tyler Perry had replaced Elba in the starring role, and Cohen was hired as director.[8] The production company, QED, set Marc Moss, who worked on the previous Alex Cross films, to refine the screenplay for Perry and Cohen.[6] With a production budget of $35 million,[1] filming began on August 8 in Cleveland, Ohio and lasted until September 16. Filming locations in northeast Ohio served as a backdrop to Detroit, Michigan, where the character works for the Detroit Police Department. After Ohio, filming also took place in Detroit itself for two weeks.[9] The production office remained in Cleveland throughout production inside an empty portion of the old American Greetings Company Factory.

Summit Entertainment purchased domestic distribution rights in March 2011,[10] and set the release date for October 26, 2012.[11]

The theatrical release poster featured the tagline, "Don't ever cross Alex Cross." The Playlist at indieWire was critical of the tagline, saying that "it'll be impressive if anything dumber appears on a movie poster this year".[12]

Reception

Box office

The film opened in 2,539 theaters in North America, grossing $11,396,768 during its first weekend, with an average of $4,489 per theater, and ranking #5 at the box office. The film ultimately earned $25,888,412 domestically and $8,730,455 internationally, for a total of $34,618,867, on a $35 million production budget.[1]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 11% of 129 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 3.6/10. The website's consensus reads: "Tyler Perry and Matthew Fox did their best, but they're trampled by Rob Cohen's frustrating direction and a tasteless, lazily written screenplay."[13] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 30 out of 100, based on 34 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews. [14] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.[15]

The film earned a Razzie Award nomination for Perry as Worst Actor.[16]

Cancelled sequel

Prior to the film's release, Double Cross was scheduled to be adapted into a film, with Perry reprising his role,[17] but the sequel was cancelled, following the critical and commercial failure of Alex Cross.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Alex Cross at Box Office Mojo
  2. ^ "Weekend Box Office: Alex Cross Bombs And Paranormal Activity Plummets". CinemaBlend.com. 21 October 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  3. ^ "Alex Cross (2012)". Irish Film Classification Office.
  4. ^ "Review: 'Alex Cross' and Tyler Perry are armed with silly lines". Los Angeles Times. 18 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Alex Cross Movie Review". Common Sense Media.
  6. ^ a b c Bierly, Mandi (February 1, 2011). "Tyler Perry in, Idris Elba out of Alex Cross reboot: Producer explains why". Entertainment Weekly.
  7. ^ Fleming, Mike (August 18, 2010). "Idris Elba Is New Alex Cross In Relaunched James Patterson Film Franchise". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  8. ^ Fleming, Mike (January 31, 2011). "Tyler Perry As Alex Cross In James Patterson Franchise Reboot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  9. ^ O'Connor, Clint (October 12, 2012). "Tyler Perry tough-guy: The megastar talks about 'Alex Cross', the new thriller he shot in Cleveland". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  10. ^ McNary, Dave (March 24, 2011). "Summit acquires U.S. rights to 'Cross'". Variety. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  11. ^ McNary, Dave (February 7, 2012). "Summit sets 'Alex Cross' for October". Variety. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  12. ^ Lyttelton, Oliver (October 17, 2012). "Don't Ever Cross Alex Cross: The 10 Most Awful Movie Poster Taglines". The Playlist. indieWire. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  13. ^ "Alex Cross". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Edit this at Wikidata
  14. ^ Alex Cross at Metacritic Edit this at Wikidata
  15. ^ "'Paranormal Activity 4' Opens With $30M For $56.5M Global Weekend; Tyler Perry As 'Alex Cross' Low $12M; Ben Affleck's 'Argo' Holds". Deadline Hollywood. October 21, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  16. ^ Coleman, Korva (9 January 2013). "Honoring The Worst In Hollywood - The 33rd Annual 'Razzies' Awards!". National Public Radio. Retrieved 29 November 2019. Tyler Perry...for Alex Cross
  17. ^ Trumbore, Dave. "Tyler Perry and James Patterson Finalize Deal for ALEX CROSS Sequel, DOUBLE CROSS". Collider.com. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
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