Directed By: David Ayer
Written By: Kurt Wimmer
Cinematography: Gabriel Beristain
Editor: Geoffrey O’Brien
Cast: Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons, Minnie Driver, Phylicia Rashad, Bobby Naderi, Jemma Redgrave, Don Gilet, David Witts, Sophia Feliciano.
One man’s brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as “Beekeepers.”
I am not trying to be insulting, but usually, once you see one, Jason Statham action film you’ve seen them all this one has more reliable names behind it in the form of Screenwriter, Kurt, Wimmer (EQUILIBRIUM) and Director David Ayer (FURY, END IF WATCH)
No, Jason Statham is an action hero of modern times as you assume what you are going to get he does manage to surprise you with his film’s superior quality. Especially if he has the right filmmaking team behind him.
Referred to as the British Bruce Willis, but you could also call him a modern-day Charles Bronson as he does have range, but he commonly plays the same type of character who could easily be interchangeable sometimes when it comes to an online.
There’s just something likable about him and his films maybe it’s because he doesn’t really try to prove himself. His films are satisfying and simple and you just want to see how it gets to its predictable conclusion is an easy appeal to his audience.
Are not only younger but annoyingly, younger and loud, colorful outfits more at home it would seem in a 90s set film and stereotypical as most of the movie villains tend to be obnoxious and give us the obvious information. Though there is a female assassin who seems to come out of another film or reminds one of a similar character from a previous Jason Statham film, THE TRANSPORTER 2, only the one in that previous film, gave up a better fight and made it more erotic.
Here he doesn’t have that much time until waste so he is straight to the point whereas the supporting cast plays out the drama. He’s there for the action first and foremost.
What raises the bar a little in this film is that somehow Jeremy Irons is in this movie and a supporting role and he is here for a paycheck and chewing the scenery. Playing the upper-class British business dignitary. He is just one of a few character actors, obviously doing this as a paycheck role. Most of them are not American-born actors. Though they are playing Americans.
This is basically a story of the old being being ripped off by young twerps. Where is seems each level of this scam depends on the other to do the dirty work. At first, it seems pretty cut and dry with plenty of bee references.
Even the main villain is more loud than truly menacing as really, the henchmen are the only ones truly putting up a fight. When he is overconfident, you know that they are hubris will be the downfall, especially when facing a folk hero who tends to drive or has a fondness for pickup trucks who you cheer for throughout.
As the beekeeper is supposed to be private and all the killers, they seem to send after him who were meant to be a challenge, seem to be loud and obvious. However, it does run into the problem of being an equalizer in the movie-type situation. Where no matter who his enemy is, it’s obvious that they are no real threat to him and don’t even really put up too much of a fight. So they are more here as time-killing obstacles no real threat. so there is no tension and no real excitement unless you are really into the setup or the star.
The only true surprise is that this film goes all the way up to absolute power while playing on American intelligence.
The film is trashy and is a pure popcorn movie. Where are you? Can see the franchise or sequel form by the end. This is definitely an unabashed guilty pleasure.
Grade: B-
Cut To The Chase 