The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017)

The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017)

5/10

Starring

Ryan Reynolds

Samuel L. Jackson

Elodie Yung

Directed by Patrick Hughes

The very sad thing about this movie is the writing. We’ve all seen this before: a top security agency—in this case, Interpol—must transport a key witness who happens to be one of the henchmen of a high-ranking government official. The witness is set to testify against this official. A security unit is assigned to protect the witness, but the official has eyes inside the agency and learns the transport route to take it down and kill the witness.

There’s always one person who survives alongside the witness—always one. You must understand there can’t be two survivors and the witness; that wouldn’t add to the dramatic effect that the writers of such cliché movies learned in “Lack Originality 101.”

The lone survivor and the witness escape to some safe haven, and the lone survivor reaches out to someone for help with the transport.

If you haven’t seen a movie like this before, I’d have to say you must be living under a rock. The one thing this movie had going for it is the comedic tone it uses to carry us through this cliché roulette. The difference between this movie and others like it is the pairing of the lead actors.

Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds are the pair in this movie, playing Darius Kincaid and Michael Bryce, respectively. Their chemistry is on point, and their first meeting in the movie—after about twenty-seven minutes—is a good show.

In this movie, the lone survivor happens to be Michael’s ex-girlfriend (Elodie Yung, who we fondly know as Elektra Natchios in Netflix’s Daredevil and The Defenders series). It’s easy to guess this twist—you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out how they were going to tie Michael into this rendezvous.

The movie also has issues with the mental capability of its characters, like the girlfriend forgetting that the safe house will trigger an alarm when entered.

When it comes to action, the movie doesn’t lack it. As for the directing (the director was Patrick Hughes, who also directed The Expendables 3 (2014)), based on what he had to work with, I’m not sure how to rate his effort here.

I did enjoy the ride because the chemistry between the two leads is something I think more writers need to explore—with a better script and a better director. Regardless, I can’t, in good conscience, rate this movie higher than a five. I also wouldn’t advise anyone to waste time on it. If you miss seeing this movie, you haven’t missed anything at all.

Atomic Blonde (2017)

Atomic Blonde (2017)

6/10

Starring

Charlize Theron

James McAvoy

John Goodman

Directed by David Leitch

Here’s a great idea packaged with a fantastic soundtrack and filled with enough suspense to keep you glued from the start.
Atomic Blonde is not the best spy film out there, nor is it a great John Wick replacement—even though both actors were sparring partners during their training for their respective movies. Keanu Reeves trained for John Wick: Chapter Two (2017), and Charlize Theron trained for this one. The two friends had previously worked together in The Devil’s Advocate and Sweet November.

Atomic Blonde suffers from bad pacing, a weak script, and very boring interludes between the action scenes and the interrogation scenes. The interrogation scenes feature the lead character detailing her mission in 1989 Germany during the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Her debriefing serves as the visual framework for the entire movie.

The movie starts with the introduction and murder of an MI6 agent. The reason for his death is a list concealed in a wristwatch he was carrying. This list contains the names of every active secret agent in the Soviet Union.

Lorraine (Charlize Theron) is assigned by MI6 to recover the list and kill a double agent named Satchel. Satchel has been selling secrets to the Soviets for years and is believed to have betrayed the MI6 agent murdered in the movie’s opening scene.

Lorraine’s captivating journey to recover the list and end Satchel’s reign leads her to cross paths with a French spy, Delphine (with whom she has a sexual relationship), and David Percival (James McAvoy). Percival is a semi-rogue agent already in Berlin trying to recover the list. His partnership with Lorraine is topsy-turvy, making it difficult for the viewer to determine whether he is Satchel or if Satchel is another agent we’re yet to meet—adding to the suspense.

The movie’s strongest aspect is its awesome ‘80s soundtrack. This adaptation of Antony Johnston and Sam Hart’s 2012 graphic novel The Coldest City received great reviews and performed well at the box office. Charlize Theron’s performance is something to see, and the fight scenes—along with her solo one-woman-army character—strongly remind you of John Wick.

The movie includes a lesbian subplot that isn’t present in the graphic novel, and its foundation in the film feels shaky. This mediocre addition, along with various other scripting issues, messes up the movie’s pace and prevents it from becoming the female John Wick it could have been.

While the movie is a good watch, it doesn’t leave you craving or looking forward to a second part.