FREELANCE (2023)

Directed By: Pierre Morel

Written By: Jabob Lentz

Cinematograohy: Thierry Arbogast

Editor: Chris Tonick

Cast: John Cena, Alison Brie, Juan Pablo Raba, Christian Slater, Marton Csokas, Alice Eve, Sebastian Eslava 

An ex-special forces operative takes a job to provide security for a journalist as she interviews a dictator, but when a military coup breaks out in the middle of the interview, they are forced to escape into the jungle.

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A one and done entertaining enough to keep your interest, but never a desire to return or see it again 

All the ingredients are there for a typical run of the meal action comedy starring John Cena and the lovely Alison Brie who still looks ravishing with each role. 

One of the many problems here is, though they don’t have any real chemistry with one another, which helps power these films as the mismatched bodyguard and subject who don’t necessarily end up, romantically with one another, but have such polar opposite personalities that they are usually arguing with one another, but have great banter 

The action scenes try to be exciting, but they come across very basic but entertaining the most surprising thing about the film was that Cristian Slater has a supporting role that is smaller than it should be. Coming from action movie director veteran Pierre Morel (TAKEN, PEPPERMINT) One would expect something a bit better. Even if just visually. 

I wish I could say that there’s something that sets up this movie to be something different than your basic action film that has a male and female that don’t get along, but learn to respect each other and work together.

The only difference might be that their relationship doesn’t go where you expected to. Other than that, this is pretty much a paint by numbers, action comedy that is possibly enough to be entertaining, but doesn’t offer too much originality, especially with John Cena and the lead who does what the script calls for and while he does have the comedic chops and the action sensibility And the charisma the film, just please you don’t really feel anything.

It’s entertaining enough to pass away the 90 minutes in. Again Alison Brie as always is quite sexy in this movie though doesn’t really get to do much of the action .

In the film is more noteworthy for its comedic scenes rather than its action scenes. As that might be the film, saving Grace as other than that it’s brutally violent with a not necessarily memorable villain, 

I want fries, but can’t tell if it’s the visuals or the budget the direction but things just seem to be a bit off. I won’t let it overcome. It’s weaknesses

it plays simple enough for its audience. As a good time waster. 

Grade: C 

LOVING (2016)

Loving

Written & Directed By: Jeff Nichols
Cinematography By: Adam Stone
Editor: Julie Monroe 


Cast: Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, Nick Kroll, Will Dalton, Sharon Blackwood, Michael Shannon, Marton Csokas, Bill Camp

The story of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple, whose challenge of their anti-miscegenation arrest for their marriage in Virginia led to a legal battle that would end at the US Supreme Court.

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THE EQUALIZER (2014)

EQUALIZER

Directed By: Antoine Fuqua
Written By: Richard Wenk
Based on the Series Created By: Michael Sloan & Richard Lindheim
Cinematography By: Mauro Fiore
Editor: John Refoua 


Cast: Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloe Grace Moretz, David Harbour, Haley Bennett, Melissa Leo, Bill Pullman, James Wilcox


A man believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and has dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when he meets a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can’t stand idly by – he has to help her.

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