Tag: Ed Skrein

MONA LISA AND THE BLOOD MOON (2021)

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Written & Directed By: Ana Lily Amirpour 
Cinematography: Pawel Pogorzelski
Editor: Taylor Levy 

Cast: Kate Hudson, Jun Jong Seo, Craig Robinson, Ed Skrein, Jennifer Vo, Charlie Talbert 

A girl with unusual powers escapes from a mental asylum and tries to make it on her own in New Orleans.

It feels like you are watching an MTV series in film form or at least an MTV production film that managed to make it to theaters. Trying to be a hodgepodge of culture and trends from the 1990s 

Especially as the story seems more told in visuals and its soundtrack which is more of a club mix. That comes across like a video game soundtrack. Then the story or written dialogue.

As you watch the film it feels like we are traveling through a wonderland with the main character. Where we never know what is going to happen next. Now if only the story matched the vividness and richness of the visuals. 

Kate Hudson is the true star here. As she is one of the people who take in the main character, eventually more to exploit her powers. The hustler that Hudson decides to play with a kind of street east coast accent. She is playing more of the gritty side of the film. 

As the film almost feels a bit more built around her. As she is truly the anchor and the only character who has stakes in the whole film. Which itself feels like it has very few. Hudson has the showier tile and she puts in the work to be convincing. It seems like she belongs in a much harsher film or like she is visiting from one. Think LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN.

Ed Skrien ends up playing the opposite. A character you expect to be trouble and gritty, but ends up being the most chill and helpful street guy. Who happens to deal drugs on occasion. 

The film is not a thriller or even science fiction fantasy action film that you might expect with the premise. It’s, it’s own creature, an oddly original fairy tale for grown up’s. A mature storybook adventure through somewhat innocent eyes 

The film is directed well, one just wishes the script was stronger. As the film seems to wander.

What is refreshing is that the film doesn’t go anywhere you expect it to considering how dark and exploitive the atmosphere it revels In. Which might be why it feels more like a fantasy. 

The filmmaker feels like she tries too hard to make this film into an instant cult film instead of letting them be original and then age In 

It all comes down to the end not judging a book by its Cover. As most of the characters appear to be what you think they will be they also offer another side that is I related to the look or fashions they cover themselves with 

Grade: C

THE TRANSPORTER: REFUELED (2015)

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Directed By: Camille Delamarre Written By: Adam Cooper, Bill Collage, Luc Besson Based on Characters Created by Luc Besson & Robert Mark Kamen  Cinematography: Christophe Collette & Vincent Richard  Editor: Julien Rey 

Cast: Ed Skrein, Ray Stevenson, Loan Chabanol, Gabriella Wright, Tatiana Pajkovic, Noemie Lenoir 

In the south of France, former special-ops mercenary Frank Martin enters into a game of chess with a femme-fatale and her three sidekicks who are looking for revenge against a sinister Russian kingpin.

I can understand the desire to keep this franchise going, but they needed to try a bit harder to make something more Dramatic that would justify it.

As this film with a new lead playing the character might as well have been a better-funded episode of the television series based on the films. As the lead is serviceable but like the film itself is forgettable.

As the film is basically more of the same from the original films only without a recognizable charismatic leading actor.

It still has plenty of action scenes that are hand to hand and gunplay as well as plenty of high-speed chases and car stunts. So you get what you came for. As well as plenty of beautiful European women in states of undress.

Here the story revolves around the past and has more double-crosses than you can count as the transporter’s father is part of the schemes and plans this time. As the transporter seems to the only character with a code.

Watching this and the movie HITMAN is confusing as they are both similar with noticeable differences. As they both have seemingly invincible leading characters only one is actually enhanced which is why he stays invincible and faces others like himself. Here the lead character is always smarter than everyone else and extremely lucky. Not that it is ever explained fully why.

It feels like more of the same but less personal. As we have to get used to an all-new driver who lacks history or any real charisma. As to why we should care. We seem here only to watch how he completes his mission. As he comes off more as a super-spy undercover in a criminal element.

So if just looking for a quick fix of action and pretty European locations. This is a film for you. As at least I can say you will find some fun and excitement at times with this film. No matter how generic it mostly comes off as.

Grade: D