DVD Release
***
After a member of the public inadvertently films the murder of a politician, the tape of the incident is hunted by a rogue section of the intelligence agency. When the tape is deposited in the bag of a lawyer, Robert Dean, his life spins out of control. Unclear as to why he is being chased by the agency, he meets with Brill, ex-NSA, and the pair plot to end the intelligence agency's reign of terror.
For something that is meant to be a thriller, I found it spectacularly un-thrilling; maybe it's because I've seen a fair few films of this genre to know the tropes? Maybe it's because the characters are badly drawn and wholly uninspiring? I don't know the answer, but either way, this was a bit of a let down. It isn't badly made, and the acting is fairly solid, and there are some clever surveillance shots, but a film needs substance as well as style, especially if it is to label itself 'thriller'. Also, the film seems to think that it's being sinister, starting with satellite shots of Earth, a discussion about the invasion of people's privacy, and concluding with a hubbub of voices talking about the intrusion of the home. It wants to make us pause and think: 'Are we being watched? Can the government see our every move?' but in actual fact it just makes you think that the past two and a half hours of your life could have been spent doing something else. I also take major issue with the portrayal of Robert's wife, Carla (Regina King), whose key characteristics are being a bit sassy and a bit mouthy. This female character is defined purely as being a gobby yet caring wife, and it just infuriated me. Why bother to add the plot point that Robert had had an affair if you were not going to explore fully the impact on Robert and Carla's relationship?
All this ranting may have you wondering why I have given it a three-star review, and that's because there is nothing technically wrong with the film - it is well-shot, there is a good soundtrack, a good chase scene through the city, and the acting is fairly decent. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy parts of it, but it was just very mediocre. I suppose I was disappointed because my dad rates it as one of his favourite films, but bearing in mind he also went out and bought 'Taken' for his DVD collection, I perhaps shouldn't have got my hopes up. I definitely didn't hate it, but maybe that's the biggest disappointment of all - it raised no reaction or emotion, and by the time it came to the explosions and wholly ludicrous shoot-out at the end, I couldn't really have cared less who lived or died. Still, if you like explosions and a young Will Smith, then perhaps you would enjoy this more than I!
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