Review of Elephant White

The country of Thailand has been engaged in Human Trafficking for years and has reached epidemic proportions. Now, director Prachya Pinkaew has taken a story written by noted screenwriter Kevin Bernhardt and posted it on the silver screen. " Elephant White " is a misnomer. Although it's name implies various things it's roughly translate to Spirit or Ghost. From this simple explanation audiences are introduced to our hero, Curtie Church (Djimon Hounsou) who is a professional and prolific Hit-man who has accumulating a sizable cash reserve from his clandestine trade. His impressive store of weapons is amply provided by his English arms dealer Jimmy. (Kevin Bacon) Nearing the time when he feels he can retire, Curtie is on his last assignment when he is enjoined by a fleeting but beautiful young girl name Mae. (Jirantanin Pitakporntrakul) During the completion of his final score, Curtie is annoyed by Mae who wonders why the Hit-man is killing in the first place. Curtie plainly explains it for the money, the girl informs him that other Bad men need his expertise and brand of justice. Curtie thereafter sets out to stop the Traffing of child prostitutes by eliminating those who deal in human flesh. With Jimmy's endless source of arms the movie escalates into high gear with numerous and explosive action scenes, while the philosophical reasoning is elusive. Still it is a good film, despite the low caliber actor in the lead role, Bacon is relegated to a subservient part but manages to keep the audience's attention while the movie makes it's obvious point. Human trafficking is still a lucrative trade in Thailand and will continue until it's ambivalent government takes action. Recommended, but troubling to view. ****