There are things that are just beyond the realm of possibility even for Hollywood films but you dare question the authenticity of certain acts especially when they are being executed by Bruce 'John McClane' Willis. Based on the graphic novels by Warren Ellis and Cully Hammer, director Robert Schwentke's Red gets to do a whole lot more than merely push the limits of believability.
Red Movie Story
Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) used to be a highly placed CIA operative who has nothing better to do with his retired life but indulge in intercity telephonic chats with Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker), his claims officer who he has never met in person. Out of the blue a covert team is sent to kill him but old habits die hard and Moses ends up surviving. He realizes that whoever is trying to wipe him out will make a dash for Sarah so he kidnaps her in order to save her life. Once Moses joins the dots it becomes quite clear that the clear and present danger to his life is due to some dubious action in the past. So he starts rounding up his old team - a stage 4 liver cancer patient Joe Matheson (Morgan Freeman), a completely nuts and extremely paranoid Marvin Boggs (John Malkovich), former foe and KGB top shot Ivan Simanov (Brain Cox) and former MI:6 operative who now loves tending gardens Victoria (Helen Mirren) to make sure they outsmart the enemy. The five with Sarah, who's enjoying this wild ride, have to figure out who's trying to kill them before Agent America and CIA man William Cooper (Karl Urban) executes his orders.
Red stands for Retired and Extremely Dangerous and to think of Bruce Willis in the titular role isn't challenging one's imagination but Schwentke rounds up a rather interesting set of actors to play the supporting roles which make Red a delight to some extent. Sadly even with the combined talents of Mary-Louise Parker, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Brian Cox and Helen Mirren Red largely remains a mindless, dumb action comedy instead of the smart film it could have become. Some of the gags are more than decent and will get the laughs but mostly it's the mechanical action sequences which fills the gaps.
Final Words on Red
In a very 'old school versus new school' kind of set-up Red's best moments, not surprisingly are the ones where the old hands like Mirren, Cox and Malkovich do the talking. While Willis surely leads this pack, things change when Mirren makes an entry; all she needs to do is stand there and Willis ends up look nothing more than a fan boy! Louise-Parker looks happy just to be a part of the elite group, Willis packs the chops but Freeman gets the weakest role. Nevertheless Red is most enjoyable thanks to the great cast which elevates the routine fare.
Read Cast: Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Brian Cox and Helen Mirren.
Red Written by: Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber (based on the graphic novels by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner)
Red Director: Robert Schwentke
Red Genre: Action / Comedy / Drama
Red Ratings: 2.5 / 5
Red Movie Story
Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) used to be a highly placed CIA operative who has nothing better to do with his retired life but indulge in intercity telephonic chats with Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker), his claims officer who he has never met in person. Out of the blue a covert team is sent to kill him but old habits die hard and Moses ends up surviving. He realizes that whoever is trying to wipe him out will make a dash for Sarah so he kidnaps her in order to save her life. Once Moses joins the dots it becomes quite clear that the clear and present danger to his life is due to some dubious action in the past. So he starts rounding up his old team - a stage 4 liver cancer patient Joe Matheson (Morgan Freeman), a completely nuts and extremely paranoid Marvin Boggs (John Malkovich), former foe and KGB top shot Ivan Simanov (Brain Cox) and former MI:6 operative who now loves tending gardens Victoria (Helen Mirren) to make sure they outsmart the enemy. The five with Sarah, who's enjoying this wild ride, have to figure out who's trying to kill them before Agent America and CIA man William Cooper (Karl Urban) executes his orders.
Red stands for Retired and Extremely Dangerous and to think of Bruce Willis in the titular role isn't challenging one's imagination but Schwentke rounds up a rather interesting set of actors to play the supporting roles which make Red a delight to some extent. Sadly even with the combined talents of Mary-Louise Parker, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Brian Cox and Helen Mirren Red largely remains a mindless, dumb action comedy instead of the smart film it could have become. Some of the gags are more than decent and will get the laughs but mostly it's the mechanical action sequences which fills the gaps.
Final Words on Red
In a very 'old school versus new school' kind of set-up Red's best moments, not surprisingly are the ones where the old hands like Mirren, Cox and Malkovich do the talking. While Willis surely leads this pack, things change when Mirren makes an entry; all she needs to do is stand there and Willis ends up look nothing more than a fan boy! Louise-Parker looks happy just to be a part of the elite group, Willis packs the chops but Freeman gets the weakest role. Nevertheless Red is most enjoyable thanks to the great cast which elevates the routine fare.
Read Cast: Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Brian Cox and Helen Mirren.
Red Written by: Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber (based on the graphic novels by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner)
Red Director: Robert Schwentke
Red Genre: Action / Comedy / Drama
Red Ratings: 2.5 / 5
I am a Delhi-based author who writes for Buzzintown.com as part of Buzz Bureau team, while I also wear the hat of a documentary film maker.
No comments:
Post a Comment