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== Plot ==
[[Parker (Stark novels character)|Parker]] is a
Hurley tries to convince Parker to take his own money and leave the issue alone to protect him and his daughter Claire (who is also Parker's girlfriend) from retribution brought by Hardwicke's uncle Danzinger, a mob boss in Chicago. Parker refuses. Danzinger's hitman tries to capture Claire, but she escapes. Parker goes to Palm Beach and masquerades as a rich Texas oil baron named Parmitt looking for an expensive house. Real estate agent Leslie Rodgers shows him a supposedly vacant home recently purchased by someone named Rodrigo, which piques his interest. Leslie is a struggling divorcee, who asks Parker on a date, but he declines. When she checks his credit she finds his identity (obtained from one of Hurley's connections) is phony.
Desperate for money and a way out of her mother's condo, Leslie offers her help. When Parker tells her the next job is a jewel heist, Leslie says there is a jewel auction nearby. The hitman finds Parker and attacks him in his hotel, but Parker throws him from the balcony and escapes. A cop comes to Leslie's condo asking about Parmitt and the altercation (since she showed him houses). During the conversation, Leslie finds a bleeding Parker on her porch. She gets the cop to leave, promising him a list of the places she showed "Parmitt".
Melander and his crew enter the auction to set up speakers rigged with fireworks. Later, they enter as a fire team and steal the jewels, escaping by boat. Parker waits for them at their house; earlier, he broke in and planted guns and damaged their weapons' firing pins. When they return, he prepares to attack, but Leslie also arrives and is captured by Melander. With the help of one of his planted guns and the bent firing pins, Leslie and Parker manage to kill the entire crew. Parker gives Leslie the jewels for safe keeping and tells her he will find a way to fence them in the future. He subsequently kills Danzinger in Chicago, mails Leslie her cut a year and a half later and sends money to the farmers who saved him.
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== Production ==
===Conception ===
[[File:Jason Statham TIFF 2011.jpg|thumb|left|upright|140px|[[Jason Statham]]
Prior to this film, [[Parker (Stark novels character)|Parker]] had first appeared decades earlier in the 1962 novel ''[[The Hunter (Stark novel)|The Hunter]]'', written by Donald E. Westlake, which spawned a book series that included over twenty other novels.<ref name="EW" /> He had also been depicted in several films including ''[[Point Blank (1967 film)|Point Blank]]'' (1967) and [[Payback (1999 film)|''Payback'']] (1999), among others.<ref name="EW" /> Westlake always refused to let any adaptation name the character ''Parker'' unless producers agreed to adapt all the novels ([[Lee Marvin]] portrayed the character as Walker in ''Point Blank'' while [[Mel Gibson]] portrayed Porter in ''Payback''). In 2008, following Westlake's death, his widow Abby, having been contacted by Les Alexander, a television producer who was a longtime acquaintance of Westlake's, agreed to sell the rights to one Parker novel (including the right to use Parker's name), with the option of several more being adapted later if the first film was successful.<ref name="PBDN Hack" /> Alexander hired a friend of his named John McLaughlin to write the screenplay for ''Parker'', and then director [[Taylor Hackford]] became involved.<ref name="PBDN Hack" /> When the film opened, Taylor Hackford said in an interview that he didn't think Westlake would have agreed to let Parker's name be used under these circumstances.<ref>{{cite web |author=Keri Luna |url=http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2013/01/23/parker-director-taylor-hackford-on-tackling-the-iconic-tough-guy-thief/ |title=Parker Director Taylor Hackford on Tackling Iconic Tough-Guy Thief – Spinoff Online – TV, Film, and Entertainment News Daily |publisher=Spinoff.comicbookresources.com |date=January 23, 2013 |access-date=July 8, 2013 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194506/http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2013/01/23/parker-director-taylor-hackford-on-tackling-the-iconic-tough-guy-thief/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>▼
▲Prior to this film, [[Parker (Stark novels character)|Parker]] had first appeared decades earlier in the 1962 novel ''[[The Hunter (Stark novel)|The Hunter]]'', written by Donald E. Westlake, which spawned a book series that included over twenty other novels.<ref name="EW" /> He had also been depicted in several films including ''[[Point Blank (1967 film)|Point Blank]]'' (1967) and [[Payback (1999 film)|''Payback'']] (1999), among others.<ref name="EW" /> Westlake always refused to let any adaptation name the character ''Parker'' unless producers agreed to adapt all the novels ([[Lee Marvin]] portrayed the character as Walker in ''Point Blank'' while [[Mel Gibson]] portrayed Porter in ''Payback''). In 2008, following Westlake's death, his widow Abby, having been contacted by Les Alexander, a television producer who was a longtime acquaintance of Westlake's, agreed to sell the rights to one Parker novel (including the right to use Parker's name), with the option of several more being adapted later if the first film was successful.<ref name="PBDN Hack" /> Alexander hired a friend of his named John McLaughlin to write the screenplay for ''Parker'', and then director [[Taylor Hackford]] became involved.<ref name="PBDN Hack" /> When the film opened, Taylor Hackford said in an interview that he
Hackford directed the film, and Steven Chasman, Hackford, Alexander, [[Sidney Kimmel]], and Jonathan Mitchell produced.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rich|first=Katey|title=Taylor Hackford Will Direct Jason Statham In Parker|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Taylor-Hackford-Will-Direct-Jason-Statham-In-Parker-24243.html|publisher=Cinema Blend|access-date=October 7, 2012|archive-date=April 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407093412/http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Taylor-Hackford-Will-Direct-Jason-Statham-In-Parker-24243.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Hackford was excited to make ''Parker'' his "first sort of film noir", stating: "I don't want to get stuck in a genre. What I like the most about this piece of material is that you can take a genre piece like this and turn it into a great movie."<ref name="Variety" /> Speaking with ''[[Palm Beach Daily News]]'' about what led him to ''Parker'', Hackford stated "I’m a fan of Donald Westlake. I really think he’s a fabulous writer … very unique in the area of crime because his Parker series". Hackford was attracted to Parker because he was a "strange character" and "[[Psychopathy#Sociopathy|sociopath]]" who, at the same time, isn't a sociopath, describing him as "compelling".<ref name="PBDN Hack">{{cite web|last=Sims|first=Robert|title=Director: PBers did not go 'gaga' over movie stars|url=http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/lifestyles/director-pbers-did-not-go-gaga-over-movie-stars/nTyPK/|work=[[Palm Beach Daily News]]|publisher=[[Cox Enterprises]]|access-date=January 18, 2013|date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121134835/http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/lifestyles/director-pbers-did-not-go-gaga-over-movie-stars/nTyPK/|archive-date=January 21, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>▼
▲Hackford directed the film, and Steven Chasman, Hackford, Alexander, [[Sidney Kimmel]], and Jonathan Mitchell produced.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rich|first=Katey|title=Taylor Hackford Will Direct Jason Statham In Parker|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Taylor-Hackford-Will-Direct-Jason-Statham-In-Parker-24243.html|publisher=Cinema Blend|access-date=October 7, 2012|archive-date=April 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407093412/http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Taylor-Hackford-Will-Direct-Jason-Statham-In-Parker-24243.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Hackford was excited to make ''Parker'' his "first sort of film noir", stating: "I don't want to get stuck in a genre. What I like the most about this piece of material is that you can take a genre piece like this and turn it into a great movie."<ref name="Variety" /> Speaking with ''[[Palm Beach Daily News]]'' about what led him to ''Parker'', Hackford stated "I’m a fan of Donald Westlake. I really think he’s a fabulous writer … very unique in the area of crime because his Parker series". Hackford was attracted to Parker because he was a "strange character" and "[[Psychopathy#Sociopathy|sociopath]]" who, at the same time,
=== Pre-production and casting ===
On April 18, 2011, Justin Kroll of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that Statham would play the role of Parker.<ref name="Variety">{{cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|title=Jason Statham sparks to 'Parker'|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118035562/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|publisher=[[Penske Business Media]]|access-date=December 28, 2012|date=April 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Anderton|first=Ethan|title=Jason Statham is 'Parker' in Taylor Hackford's New Film Noir Thriller|date=April 18, 2011 |url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2011/jason-statham-is-parker-for-taylor-hackfords-new-film-noir-thriller/|publisher=FirstShowing.net|access-date=October 7, 2012}}</ref> Of Parker, Statham has commented that he's "a man who lives by a certain moral code. ... So there’s a likeable quality to this anti-hero."<ref name=PBDN /> The actor noted that: "He’s involved in criminal activities but he perceives all business to be in some way crooked. He never steals from people who can’t afford it and he doesn’t hurt people that don’t deserve it."<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine|last=Collins|first=Clark|title=Jason Statham talks about his new crime thriller 'Parker'|url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/10/02/jason-statham-jennifer-lopez-parker/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|publisher=([[Time Warner]])|access-date=December 28, 2012|date=October 2, 2012}}</ref> During the film, Parker is seen posing as a priest and as a wealthy Texan named Daniel Parmitt from [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Heritage|first=Stuart|title=Parker – Jason Statham makes more costume changes than Mr Benn|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/oct/24/jason-statham-costume-mr-benn|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=January 18, 2013|date=October 24, 2012}}</ref>
On June 21, 2011, it was revealed that Lopez was in talks to play "the female lead, a character named Leslie, who gets involved with Parker as he executes a heist".<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|title=Jennifer Lopez In Talks For 'Parker' And 'What To Expect When You're Expecting'|url=https://www.deadline.com/2011/06/jennifer-lopez-in-talks-for-parker-and-what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]], [[Penske Business Media]]|access-date=December 28, 2012|date=June 21, 2011}}</ref> Lopez's casting was confirmed, along with [[Nick Nolte]], who played Parker's mentor. Lopez and Nolte previously worked together on the film [[U Turn (1997 film)|''U Turn'']] (1997).<ref name="Lopez Nolte">{{cite web|last=Fernandez|first=Sofia|title=Jennifer Lopez Thriller 'Parker' Set for Oct. 2012 Release|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jennifer-lopez-thriller-parker-set-219944|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=December 28, 2012|date=August 5, 2012}}</ref> Hackford noted the role of Leslie as a departure from her other work, considering she has been acting in [[romantic comedies]] for the last several years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lopez: 'Work helped me through marriage split'|url=http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/entertainment/celebrity/Lopez-Work-helped-me-through-marriage-split_74461857#ixzz1pnljEf6v|publisher=[[ABC Action News]] ([[The E.W. Scripps Company]])|access-date=December 28, 2012|date=March 20, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612124904/http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/entertainment/celebrity/Lopez-Work-helped-me-through-marriage-split_74461857#ixzz1pnljEf6v|archive-date=June 12, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Leslie is a "savvy insider" who's "short on cash, but big on looks, smarts and ambition."<ref>{{cite web|title=Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez Get Their Cut in the Parker Trailer|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=95475|publisher=[[CraveOnline]]|access-date=December 28, 2012|archive-url=http://www.freezepage.com/1356708492FXACOTISUY?url=http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id%3D95475|archive-date=December 28, 2012|date=October 3, 2012}}</ref> Initially, she only partners with Parker for her own financial gain, but eventually becomes romantically involved with Parker.<ref name="Digital Spy1">{{cite web|last=Simpson|first=Leah|title=Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez in 'Parker' trailer - watch|url=http://www.digitalspy.com.au/movies/news/a410123/jason-statham-jennifer-lopez-in-parker-trailer-watch.html|work=[[Digital Spy]]|publisher=[[Hachette Filipacchi UK]]|access-date=December 28, 2012|date=October 4, 2012}}</ref> [[Wendell Pierce]], [[Clifton Collins Jr.]], [[Michael Chiklis]], [[Patti LuPone]], and [[Emma Booth (actress)|Emma Booth]] also co-starred in ''Parker''.<ref name="Lopez Nolte" /> In the novel ''Flashfire'', Leslie
=== Filming ===
According to executive producer [[Nick Meyer]], ''Parker'' was produced on a "mid-30s" budget range, which he described as "pretty good", "given the caliber of the movie".<ref>{{cite web|last=Oldham |first=Stuart |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/indie-maven-has-affinity-for-fests-1118065130/ |title=Indie maven has Affinity for fests |publisher=Variety. Penske Business Media |date=January 26, 2013 |access-date=July 8, 2013}}</ref> ''[[The Times-Picayune]]''{{'}}s Mike Scott reported on June 23, 2011, that ''Parker'' would film in [[New Orleans]] for seven weeks starting July 18. Scott noted that filming in New Orleans was "good news" for the local film industry because it came "at a time that has historically seen a slowdown in major productions, due both to the oppressive heat and the arrival of hurricane season."<ref name="Nola">{{cite web|last=Scott|first=Mike|title=Jason Statham, Taylor Hackford to shoot in New Orleans, and Jennifer Lopez might join them|url=http://www.nola.com/movies/index.ssf/2011/06/jason_statham_taylor_hackford.html|work=[[The Times-Picayune]]|publisher=[[Advance Publications]]|access-date=January 9, 2013|date=June 23, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Playbill]]'' later confirmed that production for the film had begun on August 4, 2011, in New Orleans.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gans|first=Andrew|title=Patti LuPone Cast in New Film "Parker"; Taylor Hackford Directs|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/153433-Patti-LuPone-Cast-in-New-Film-Parker-Taylor-Hackford-Directs|magazine=Playbill|access-date=October 7, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926095543/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/153433-Patti-LuPone-Cast-in-New-Film-Parker-Taylor-Hackford-Directs|archive-date=September 26, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Filming briefly moved to [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]] from August 5–9.<ref>{{cite web|title='Parker', starring Jason Statham, will film a scene in Baton Rouge Aug. 5-9|url=http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2011/07/22/parker-starring-jason-statham-will-film-a-scene-in-baton-rouge-aug-5-9/|work=OLV|publisher=onlocationvacations.com|access-date=January 9, 2013|date=July 22, 2011|archive-date=October 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027191917/http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2011/07/22/parker-starring-jason-statham-will-film-a-scene-in-baton-rouge-aug-5-9/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
''Parker'' was also filmed in [[Palm Beach, Florida]]
Statham, who is a former diver for the British Olympic Team, performed all of Parker's stunts in the film. In one scene, Statham jumped out of the window of a fast-moving car for his character to escape being shot; this stunt was considered "really dangerous" and Hackford said he was "nervous when he went out that window" five or six times before the scene was finished.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stone|first=Jay|title=Jason Statham does own stunts in Parker film|url=http://o.canada.com/entertainment/movies/jason-statham-does-own-stunts-in-parker-film|work=[[Canada.com]]|publisher=[[Postmedia Network]]|access-date=May 28, 2018|archive-date=August 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801200655/http://o.canada.com/entertainment/movies/jason-statham-does-own-stunts-in-parker-film|url-status=dead}}</ref> In another scene, Statham had to hang off a building's balcony. The actor said he took a "real beating" from these scenes. He blamed this on wearing a wire, which got in the way of filming and made things feel "restricted", because they ripped up his arms.<ref>{{cite web|last=Knolle|first=Sharon|title=Jason Statham, 'Parker' Star, On Doing His Own Stunts And 'Expendables 3'|url=http://news.moviefone.com/2013/01/22/jason-statham-parker-expendables-3_n_2526842.html|publisher=[[Moviefone]], [[AOL]]|access-date=January 24, 2013|date=January 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124124604/http://news.moviefone.com/2013/01/22/jason-statham-parker-expendables-3_n_2526842.html|archive-date=January 24, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> In January 2012, filming for ''Parker'' concluded in [[Miami]] and in [[Columbus, Ohio]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Chen|first=Joyce|title=Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looks alarmingly thin while on holiday vacation in Miami|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/rosie-huntington-whiteley-alarmingly-thin-holilday-season-vacation-miami-article-1.1000349|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|publisher=[[Mortimer Zuckerman]]|access-date=January 9, 2013|date=January 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ohiostatefair.com/index.php/news-a-media-48/item/492-fair-featured-in-parker-film-opening-this-friday-jan-25|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130818065850/http://www.ohiostatefair.com/index.php/news-a-media-48/item/492-fair-featured-in-parker-film-opening-this-friday-jan-25|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-08-18|title = Fair in "Parker" film opening this Friday, Jan. 25}}</ref>
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Betsy Sharkey of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' positively reviewed the film, calling it a "faithful adaption" of ''Flashfire'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Sharkey|first=Betsy|title=Review: Jason Statham keeps 'Parker' standing and fighting|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-parker-review-20130125,0,5226790.story|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=January 25, 2013|date=January 24, 2013}}</ref> although film reviewer [[James Berardinelli]] was displeased with the lack of character development for Leslie, criticizing the heavy amount of screen-time dedicated to Parker's girlfriend Claire ([[Emma Booth (actress)|Emma Booth]]). Nonetheless, Berardinelli gave ''Parker'' a generally positive review, summarizing its action scenes as "crisply directed, brutal, and invigorating."<ref>{{cite web|title=Parker|url=http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=2581|publisher=ReelViews|access-date=January 26, 2013|author=[[James Berardinelli]]|date=January 25, 2013}}</ref>
Other critics panned ''Parker'' and its action sequences to be predictable and generic. Writing for ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', Josh Modell said the film's beginning was "fairly strong", although the action "gets more predictable as it meanders toward its conclusion."<ref>{{cite web|last=Modell|first=Josh|title=Parker|url=https://www.avclub.com/articles/parker,91593/|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|publisher=The Onion, Inc.|access-date=January 26, 2013|date=January 25, 2013}}</ref> Peter Howell of ''the [[Toronto Star]]'' said the film started off "promisingly" but ended "predictable",<ref>{{cite web|last=Howell|first=Peter|title=Parker review: Blame it on J.Lo|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/article/1319700--parker-review-blame-it-on-j-lo|work=[[Toronto Star]]|publisher=[[Star Media Group]]|access-date=January 25, 2013|date=January 24, 2013}}</ref> while the ''[[Montreal Gazette]]''{{'}}s Bill Brownstein panned the film by stating, "Much gunplay and bloodletting ensues. The body count is high. Intrigue is low."<ref>{{cite web|last=Brownstein|first=Bill|title=Review: Parker, starring Jason Statham|url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Review+Parker+starring+Jason+Statham/7866000/story.html|work=[[Montreal Gazette]]|publisher=[[Postmedia Network]]|access-date=January 25, 2013|date=January 24, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126125804/http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Review+Parker+starring+Jason+Statham/7866000/story.html|archive-date=January 26, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Lisa Schwarzbaum]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s review was along the same lines, calling it "unremarkably generic" and "insanely bloody."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Schwarzbaum|first=Lisa|title=Parker Review|url=https://
== References ==
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[[Category:American films about revenge]]
[[Category:Constantin Film films]]
[[Category:
[[Category:FilmDistrict films]]
[[Category:Films based on American novels]]
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[[Category:2010s English-language films]]
[[Category:2010s American films]]
[[Category:English-language crime thriller films]]
[[Category:English-language action thriller films]]
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