Wanted
3/4
Starring: James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann
Rated R for Strong Bloody Violence Throughout, Pervasive Language and Some Sexuality
"Wanted" gives new meaning to the term "over the top." Curved bullets? Been there. Slinky femme fatales? Done that. Russian director Timur Bekmambetov combines those and more into a whole that, while not doing much for the mind, is still a lot of fun.
Wesley (McAvoy) is a cubicle rat on the verge of going postal. His best friend Barry (Chris Pratt) is sleeping with his girlfriend, his boss delights in tormenting him, and the realization that he is contributing nothing to society is giving him panic attacks. While filling his prescription one night, a gorgeous babe tells him that his father (who abandoned him when he was a week old) was one of the greatest assassins who ever lived, and his killer is standing right behind him. After saving his neck (the second of many eye-popping action sequences), she tells him that his father was a member of The Fraternity, a group of assassins who, among other things, can curve bullets. With their help, Wesley can avenge his father's murder.
Putting it simply, "Wanted" is so much fun because it's executed so well. Like "Speed," which is a classic of the genre, this film is expertly assembled. Bekmambetov doesn't just throw special effects at the screen in the hopes that the audience will be impressed. He takes great care in staging his action scenes. His camera angles are carefully chosen, and the editing is precise. "Wanted" brings to mind John Woo, Zack Snyder and Michael Bay.
True, the film wouldn't be the same without a cast of strong performers. James McAvoy makes for a good everyman. He's like Ron Livingston in "Office Space" only with more anger and cynicism. Angelina Jolie is perfectly cast as Fox, playing her as a cross between soldier and a biker babe. Morgan Freeman makes for a surprisingly decent villain (he's played villainous roles before in films like "Outbreak" and "Dreamcatcher," but not like this). And you get to hear him drop f-bombs.
Not content with car chases, Bekmambetov has Angelina Jolie lying on the hood of the car while shooting shotguns. And bend down to avoid getting hit by a train tunnel. And helping Wesley destroy a train. And he has a man's reflection shatter as he jumps through a window. This is really cool stuff.
This isn't exactly great art, but for those of you who are looking for a violent, action-packed thrill ride, this is a great choice.
Starring: James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann
Rated R for Strong Bloody Violence Throughout, Pervasive Language and Some Sexuality
"Wanted" gives new meaning to the term "over the top." Curved bullets? Been there. Slinky femme fatales? Done that. Russian director Timur Bekmambetov combines those and more into a whole that, while not doing much for the mind, is still a lot of fun.
Wesley (McAvoy) is a cubicle rat on the verge of going postal. His best friend Barry (Chris Pratt) is sleeping with his girlfriend, his boss delights in tormenting him, and the realization that he is contributing nothing to society is giving him panic attacks. While filling his prescription one night, a gorgeous babe tells him that his father (who abandoned him when he was a week old) was one of the greatest assassins who ever lived, and his killer is standing right behind him. After saving his neck (the second of many eye-popping action sequences), she tells him that his father was a member of The Fraternity, a group of assassins who, among other things, can curve bullets. With their help, Wesley can avenge his father's murder.
Putting it simply, "Wanted" is so much fun because it's executed so well. Like "Speed," which is a classic of the genre, this film is expertly assembled. Bekmambetov doesn't just throw special effects at the screen in the hopes that the audience will be impressed. He takes great care in staging his action scenes. His camera angles are carefully chosen, and the editing is precise. "Wanted" brings to mind John Woo, Zack Snyder and Michael Bay.
True, the film wouldn't be the same without a cast of strong performers. James McAvoy makes for a good everyman. He's like Ron Livingston in "Office Space" only with more anger and cynicism. Angelina Jolie is perfectly cast as Fox, playing her as a cross between soldier and a biker babe. Morgan Freeman makes for a surprisingly decent villain (he's played villainous roles before in films like "Outbreak" and "Dreamcatcher," but not like this). And you get to hear him drop f-bombs.
Not content with car chases, Bekmambetov has Angelina Jolie lying on the hood of the car while shooting shotguns. And bend down to avoid getting hit by a train tunnel. And helping Wesley destroy a train. And he has a man's reflection shatter as he jumps through a window. This is really cool stuff.
This isn't exactly great art, but for those of you who are looking for a violent, action-packed thrill ride, this is a great choice.
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