Those Who Wish Me Dead (Netflix)

 

Those Who Wish Me Dead (Netflix)

I first took notice of Angelina Jolie in the 1998 HBO film “Gia”. She gave an impressive performance. Then in 1999 she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for “Girl Interrupted”. Jolie is a serious accomplished actress. Then came Lara Croft, Maleficent and Salt. Everyone needs to pay the bills. This film is lacks luster and makes no demands on her acting skills. In this movie you know from the start who dies and who survives.

Jolie plays a hotshot fire fighter who is suffering from post-traumatic stress as a consequence of the death of three children during a forest fire. Later on she encounters a boy fleeing assassins who killed his father and are after him because he is carrying incriminating  information. It is a bit shady who the bad guy or organization is, but professional killers are the main antagonists. This film is supposed to be an action thriller, but it does not have the right vibes. There are no dare devil car chases like in the Fast and Furious movies or a Jason Statham round kicking a bad guy in the head. There is a lot of Jolie out running a forest fire.

The bad guys are brothers played by Aidan Gillen and Nicholas Hoult. Gillian is becoming the perennial bad guy as he proves in this movie. Nicholas Hoult is the grown up version of the sweet little boy in the film “About a Boy”. It is just incongruous to see him as a heartless assassin.

Let’s wait for Tomb Raider 4.

 

Woman in the Window

 

Woman in the Window (Netflix)

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Alfred Hitchcock would take a pass. This film is near a rip off of his “Rear View Window”. In Rear View Window Jimmy Stewart uses his binoculars to spy on a neighbor across courtyard who he suspects of murder. Amy Adams is also spying at neighbors across the street who she suspects of murder using binoculars. Like Stewart she takes clandestine photos of the neighbors. Stewart is stuck in his apartment because of a busted leg; Adams suffers from agoraphobia and is home bound. In “Rear View Window”, Raymond Burr is the bad guy with bleached white hair. Here too one of Adam’s antagonists has a head of white hair. In both movies there is a mysterious murder.

The imitations here did not produce a good film. Ironically, the film features an outstanding ensemble of actors. Besides Amy Adams there is Gary Oldman, Julianne Moore, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Anthony Mackie. Aside for Adams neither of the other stars have much screen time. Great performers can not save a film with a weak script and mediocre direction. This is a psychological thriller but the suspense of the film is not orchestrated well. Hitchcock’s method for building suspense was like slow fuse. Here key elements are like firecrackers, they just happen and are uncoordinated. The film would have benefited from more revealing back stories. There are even web sites trying to explain the ending.

As the protagonist Amy Adams is an emotional wreak isolated in her home. Her acting range is limited by her character’s depression and isolation. She looks frumpy  wearing a rob all day and stuck in a rambling house. Depending on one main character to carry a film is a gamble which did not pay off here.

Do your self a favor and watch “Rear View Window” instead.    

 

Without Remorse (Amazon Prime)

 

Without Remorse (Amazon Prime)

Michael B. Jordan has a twenty inch waistline and no body hair, which is weird. He is more buffed than a ’67 Chevy. However, this film is just an excuse for carnage and car wrecks. This is a Tom Clancy pot boiler which is better left to paper back. The film substitutes action for suspense.

I first saw Jordan in “Creed” for which I did not expect much. But I was impressed with his acting. He also gave an effective performance in “Just Mercy”. He can do better than this film. He has the body of an action figure but the potential of a serious actor. The film starts out as revenge movie but morphs into a conspiracy . The full conspiracy is revealed in the tail end of the film. The movie would have been more suspenseful if parts of the plan were introduced earlier in the film.

Jodie Turner-Smith is Lieutenant Commander Karen Greer. She is an attractive navy Seal. She seemed uncomfortable in the role and her acting was stiff. Originally a model her languid long legged body is more suited to the runway than to a Seal’s obstacle course. She was more effective in “Queen and Slim” as a fugitive girlfriend.

Guy Pierce plays Secretary of Defense Thomas Clay. Although a catalyst player, his scenes are limited. This is an under utilization of a talented actor who came to prominence for his well-received performance in the film “Momento”. Also his suits were ill fitted.

Jamie Bell is the CIA operative. His character is unlikeable and he plays it well. Jordan and he have good chemistry, even if it is toxic.

Mercifully if you have Amazon Prime you can watch the film for free without remorse.