Meet Vince aka "Number 13" (Sam Riley, in a can't-look-away role) a young, down-on-his-luck electrician who needs money for his father's operation. Things don't look too good for the financially troubled guy until he takes on the identity of a dead drug addict so he can join a high-stakes game of Russian roulette.
The winner's payoff is HUGE but the risk is HUGER (I know this isn't a real word, but I'm using blogger's license here - try and stay with me). Vince risks the only collateral he has - his life - to try and bring home the bacon for his dying daddy.
It's a cliché to say it's a high-stakes game, but it really IS a high-stakes game. The competition begins when the men (sorry, no girls allowed) form a circle and point their guns at the other guy's heads. One "click" or "KaPOW" and you move on to the next round (literally) if you're still standing.
The game continues with varying degrees of difficulty (and bullets) until the sole survivor "wins". It's a tense drama where gamblers wager on the outcome of each spin of the cylinder as the competitors (Mickey Rourke, Ray Winstone and others) sweat and cheat death at every turn.
A strong cast that includes Ben Gazarra, Jason Statham and Alexander Skarsgard, keeps the tension mounting as the body count builds. Director Babluani keeps the energy flowing until the credits roll at a tight 90 minutes.
If you think you may have heard of this premise before - you're right. This 13 is an adaptation of 13 Tzameti (Grand Jury Prize at Sundance) piloted by the same director. The material translates well, but instead of the action happening on a sparsely decorated set, we're relocated to a mansion somewhere in the Midwest. The setting doesn't really matter. What counts here is the action and there's plenty of it.
It's an edge-of-your-seat thriller that packs a lot of suspense into a tightly-wound story. If you're looking for a film to break you out of the winter doldrums, then pull the trigger on 13 and hang on for dear life.
Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.
Tips:
If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.
If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.
Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.
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