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Written by: A.J. Quinnell (novel), Brian Helgeland (screenplay)
Directed by: Tony Scott
Starring: Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell, Marc Anthony, Mickey Rourke
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
In Mexico City, a former CIA operative swears vengeance on those who committed an unspeakable act against the family he was hired to protect.
Verdict
It's a solid action movie, and Denzel delivers as always. The story isn't unique, but the editing and style really set this apart. Despite the pervasive editing style, it's never grating. It bolsters the movie, and a distinct style like that can often be overpowering. Is is worth a watch just for the editing and style, maybe. You can't go wrong with Denzel either, though this is a much more gruesome film than his usual movies.
It depends.
Review
Even if you didn't know the premise of the movie, the first few scenes indicate there will be a kidnapping as this shows irrelevant characters and creates a bleak picture about the frequency and outcomes of kidnappings in Latin America. It's an introduction, and not a bad one.
Ex-military Creasy (Denzel Washington) needs a job, and ends up playing bodyguard for a kid, Pita (Dakota Fanning). There's no doubt this kid will get kidnapped with the introduction we saw. Creasy has a few demons and even tells his potential employers about when they ask why his price is so cheap.
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| Denzel Washington plays Creasy |
Creasy ends up being a pseudo-father to Pita after telling her they aren't friends and this is just business. That relationship sets up his desire for revenge when she is indeed kidnapped. While we knew this was coming, the editing in the moment when she's kidnapped has a really neat, almost dreamlike effect. It adds to the tenacity and confusion of the scene.
This movie has a very distinct style that's achieved strictly through editing and layering. This isn't all style and no substance, but it's a movie with such a distinct style that it almost requires a watch to see a very obvious overlay that isn't intrusive or annoying.
The last third of this is Creasy on a mission. He's going to find her and collateral damage doesn't matter. Denzel has such charisma that his actions don't seem as abhorrent as they actually are. To him, nothing matters but finding Pita. It was his job to protect her, and it became more than a job. Saving her is also a way to make up for his past transgressions.
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