Fortress (2021 film)

Fortress is a 2021 American action film directed by James Cullen Bressack and written by Alan Horsnail, based on a story by Emile Hirsch and Randall Emmett. It stars Jesse Metcalfe, Bruce Willis, Chad Michael Murray, Kelly Greyson, Ser'Darius Blain, and Shannen Doherty. The film was released in select theaters and on video on demand by Lionsgate Films on December 17, 2021.

Fortress
Poster with floating heads of the main characters and the tagline, "This prison has no bars".
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJames Cullen Bressack
Screenplay byAlan Horsnail
Story by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyBryan Koss
Edited byR.J. Cooper
Music byTimothy Stuart Jones
Production
companies
  • Grindstone Entertainment Group
  • Sherborne Media
  • Paprika Financing
  • The Pimienta Film Co.
  • Verdi Productions
  • SSS Entertainment
  • SSS Film Capital
Distributed byLionsgate Films
Release date
  • December 17, 2021 (2021-12-17)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$52,169[1]

Plot

Robert lives in a top-secret resort for retired U.S. intelligence officers. His son Paul tracks him down to the facility after 3 years of not seeing or hearing from him. He pitches his crypto currency company to him telling him that he needs $5 million to make it cash positive. He needs him to sign a document to release money from his mom's estate to him. Unbeknown to him his dad has been following his son's life and career. Balzary and his group of criminals infiltrate the resort and follow Robert and Paul into a high-tech bunker called the fortress, killing all the guards. They tie them up. Balzary says a group of Russians have kidnapped his wife and he needs the money that Robert stole from him for her release. Robert has invested it in Crypto currency. He has his son memorise the code saying he must remember the number exactly as it could save his life.

Cast

Production

Filming began on May 3, 2021, in Puerto Rico. The film was announced that same day as the first part in a duology of films starring Jesse Metcalfe, Bruce Willis, Chad Michael Murray, and Kelly Greyson. The second film, titled Fortress: Sniper's Eye, was shot back-to-back with the first;[2] production on the second film concluded on November 3, 2021.[3][4] On May 15, 2021, director James Cullen Bressack said filming on the first film had wrapped.[5]

Release

The film was released in select theaters and on video on demand by Lionsgate Films on December 17, 2021.[6][7]

Box office

As of August 27, 2022, Fortress grossed $52,169 in the United Arab Emirates and Portugal.[1]

Critical reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 20% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.9/10.[8] At the 42nd Golden Raspberry Awards, the film received a nomination in a new category: Worst Performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 Movie.[9] The category was later rescinded after Willis' retirement due to aphasia.[10]

Film Threat writes "Fortress moves at a slick pace, and its action scenes are most thrilling. While the story is standard issue, the actors are having fun, and the whole affair looks better than the budget would suggest. All action film lovers would do well to seek this out as soon as possible."[11]

NY times writes "The prolific action director James Cullen Bressack spits out cheap thrillers like bullet casings. His latest sneer-em-up is “Fortress,” and in it, there are two heists afoot. The first concerns the plot."[12]

Accolades
Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 Movie Bruce Willis Rescinded [13][14]

Sequel
Main article: Fortress: Sniper's Eye

References
  1. "Fortress". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  2. Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 3, 2021). "Jesse Metcalfe, Bruce Willis, Chad Michael Murray Star In Emmett/Furla's The Fortress; Two Films Of Trilogy Shoot Back To Back". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  3. "Film and TV Projects Going Into Production – The Fortress". Variety Insight. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  4. "Film and TV Projects Going Into Production – The Fortress 2". Variety Insight. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  5. Bressack, James Cullen (May 15, 2021). Monitor shot from Fortress. Just wrapped. Thats one bloody Bruce. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2021 – via Instagram.
  6. "Virtually every movie coming to theaters and major streamers this holiday season". Los Angeles Times. November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  7. "Fortress". Metacritic. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  8. "Fortress". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  9. Lewis, Hilary (February 7, 2022). "Razzies: Filmed Version of Diana Stage Musical Tops 2022 Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  10. Lindahl, Chris (March 30, 2022). "Razzie Awards Are 'Still Discussing' If They Will Rescind Bruce Willis' (Dis)honor After Aphasia Diagnosis". IndieWire. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  11. "Fortress | Film Threat". December 24, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  12. Nicholson, Amy (December 16, 2021). "'Fortress' Review: Die Hard, Emote Hardly". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  13. "Bruce Willis Makes Razzies History with Eight Nominations in His Own Worst Performance Category". February 7, 2022.
  14. Chitwood, Adam (March 31, 2022). "Razzie Awards Backtrack, Rescind Bruce Willis Award – and Shelly Duvall Nomination as Well". The Wrap. Retrieved March 31, 2022.


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