Fireball

Directed by: Thanakorn PongsuwanStarring: Preeti Barameeana, Khanutra, Chuchuaysuwan, Phutharit Prombandal, 9 Million Sam

Synopsis:

Tai (Barameeana) is finally released from prison after his twin brother managed to raise the appropriate bribe money. However, once on the outside, Tai discovers his brother is in a coma. It turns out that he’d raised the money taking part in a Fireball tournament – a cross between basketball and street-fighting. Posing as his twin, Tai is recruited by Boss Den, an ambitious upstart wanting to gain respect with his peers. Tai and his team-mates must bond quickly – they have the individual talent but must work together if they are to win the tournament – or even survive.

Review:

Forgoing the usual tourist sites of Bangkok, Fireball is wholly set amongst the crowded poor districts of the city, the poverty illustrating the drive the young fighters have to win the tournament and escape. The rules of Fireball are simple – to win you must score one basket, by any means, or to be the last team standing.

It becomes pretty clear that the concept of actually scoring a basket is not something these guys are familiar with and would rather beat the crap out of their opponents to win. The crowd seems to enjoy this approach too. You suddenly realise just how serious things are when one team’s managers throw in knives and metal stakes to try and give their team an edge.

Shot in and around the poorer urban areas of Bangkok – no tourists are likely to be walking these streets unless they are very lost – director Thanakom Pongsuwan gives us a more gritty perspective of life on the wrong side of the tracks. This is exemplified best by a free-running training match as the team compete with each other to get the basket ball from a tenement block to a basketball court.

Characterisation is streamlined at best. We see each player in turn either at work or at night with their families, illustrating why each wants to be involved in such a dangerous sport. Tai is given a sub-plot involving his brother’s girlfriend, which unfortunately slows down the film: the film comes alive best when focusing on the Fireball matches.

The action on court is very frenetic and brutal, but the flowing camerawork never leaves you confused or disorientated as to what is going on. Along the way there are a few plot twists and high tragedy, leading to an intense finale which takes place inside a shipyard, where the ball is lost pretty early on.

Verdict

A million miles from other martial arts/sports movies in style and tone, Fireball is a down-to-earth gritty showcase of street-fighting, free-running and a little basketball thrown in.

7 out of 10 (MikeOutWest)

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