Sierra Six,(Ryan Gosling) was a prisoner, now turned into a CIA fighting machine by Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton). He is sent on a mission with Dani Miranda ( Ana de Armas ) to take out a so called 'bad guy'. A mission instigated by new CIA director of operations Denny Carmichael ( Rege-Jean Paige ). The 'bad guy' turns out to be another former prisoner turned CIA agent, Sierra Four. Six kills him, but not before discovering something has gone seriously wrong in the CIA and Denny is at the heart of it. There is a necklace containing a USB that Denny wants. But Six goes rogue and ends up pursued by the mad mercenary Lloyd Hanson (Chris Evans) employed by Denny to take him out.
Directors the Russo brothers (Captain America, Avengers Endgame) are well versed in making the unrelenting flow seemingly required of modern action dramas. Any film by them is going to be a tornado. Throughout its two hours nine minute length it hardly takes a pause for breath. Now in this case this is perfectly fine, just so long as there is not one second in which to question motive, logic or the somewhat pedestrian, seen it all before, nature of its plot devices. Plots in these sort of films, seem always to be running a slow second to the action anyway. It is, however, all brilliantly executed, and instantly disposable. Stylistically it's indebted to latter day Bond movies, crossed with Michael Bay's 6 Underground. The script is full of knowing ironic wit, the repartee between Six and Lloyd is pokey and wisecracking.
In Ryan Gosling they have the perfect toy action man, beautiful to look at, emotionally grey, controlled, razor sharp thinking and responses. Asking very little of him as an actor. He brings to this highly effective killing machine his usual, so understated you'd hardly notice it, genial warmth and humanity. Hinting that behind this impassive and expressionless face is a man with a sensitive moral compass. Ryan Gosling can come and save me anytime he has a moment free. One day he will return to making the films with greater depth, that his career began with. But not until he tires of all around him being an explosive sequence of cars crashing and high performance gun shoot outs. The Grey Man looks all set for a sequel. So, a while to go yet.
Its great to see Chris Evans getting a baddy part to play, which he shows great relish for. And Ana de Amas, in many ways the most captivating performer in No Time to Die, gets to kick ass with the best of them - yet again. Taken on its own level, this movie very effectively passes the time without ever coming close to holding your emotions prisoner.
CARROT REVIEW - 5/8
No comments:
Post a Comment