“The Channel” (** out of four) was a wearily derivative action melodrama set in New Orleans about a group of ex-marines (Clayne Crawford, Max Martini, and others) who commit a bank heist and attempt to escape the city but are pursued to the death by a hard-nosed F.B.I. agent (Nicoye Banks) which leads to a bloody showdown. Typically brutal and ugly underworld thriller seems like recycled Guy Ritchie and Michael Mann and soon fizzles out. A few good action scenes help to keep film watchable but you’ll likely want to change “the channel” after about half-hour.