Hit and blasted.

(From Malay Mail)

Byline: Chew Wan Ying

SOMETIMES, a smartly crafted drama can outdo the biggest blockbusters at the box office or winning the critics' favour.

In recent years, this is evident in the success of The Italian Job and The Inside Man.

A winning formula of these movies seemed to have developed over the years: a cat-and-mouse game involving the cops and an equally sharp-minded villain(s) or mastermind, with a good amount of explosions thrown in and a twist at the end.

It should come as no surprise that when writer-director Tony Giglio decided to come up with his own smart action movie he, Hit and Blast, began by roping in the much sought-after Jason Statham and Ryan Phillippe.

Statham is best known for his tough leading man characters since The Italian Job and The Transporter franchise.

At first glance, Ryan Phillippe passes off as just another Hollywood pretty face.

But beneath the surface, we see a resume that impresses with its breadth and depth.

His work ranges from Robert Altman's murder mystery/social commentary Gosford Park to Paul Haggis' Oscar-winning and …