Boss Level (2020)

Boss Level (2020)

6/10

Starring

Frank Grillo

Mel Gibson

Naomi Watts

 

Directed by Joe Carnahan

 

Boss Level starts off just as its name suggests—a video game. We see the main character, Roy (Frank Grillo), wake up and effortlessly deal with an assassin. He gets out of bed, gets dressed, makes coffee—all while dodging punches and knife slashes like it’s second nature.

Right away, you get the sense that Roy knows exactly what’s coming. As the scene unfolds, he gives us a little background on his predicament: he’s stuck in a time loop. He can’t get through a single day without being killed, and as the movie begins, we’re told it’s his seventy-ninth attempt at surviving.

One of the things I liked about Boss Level is its mix of mystery and action. You’re left to piece things together as you watch, and sometimes, you’ll figure things out before Roy does. This adds a layer of predictability at times, but it doesn’t ruin the experience. That said, there are moments where the movie feels like it’s dragging, especially in the second half.

The pacing is solid in the beginning but starts to falter as the story progresses. The cinematography, unfortunately, doesn’t stand out—it felt like it could’ve been sharper, more visually engaging. And some of the dialogue? Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly memorable.

After witnessing Roy’s seventy-ninth death, we get more insight into his life. He’s far from a perfect character. When we meet his ex-wife, we learn she’s involved in a groundbreaking scientific project. Fearing for her life and their son’s safety, she sends Roy cryptic clues to figure out how to save her. By the time Roy starts piecing things together, he discovers she’s already dead, just before the time loop begins.

From the moment Roy wakes up, he’s on the run, dodging assassins until he’s inevitably killed—only to start over again. The movie takes the time-loop concept on an interesting ride, reminiscent of Edge of Tomorrow (2014), where the protagonist resets the day by dying. And yes, there are times when things don’t go Roy’s way, so he takes the easy way out by killing himself.

This is the second Mel Gibson movie I’ve seen this week. I didn’t enjoy the first one (Fatman), but this one was much better. While it’s not the best time-loop movie out there, it’s entertaining and takes a slightly different approach to the genre. The final showdown, where Roy faces the “boss,” gave me major Equilibrium (2002) vibes.

You can watch Boss Level on Hulu. It may not be the pinnacle of time-loop films, but it’s decent entertainment and worth a watch if you’re into action-packed sci-fi.