The Hitman’s Bodyguard was one of the surprises of 2017. It was never going to bother the best of the year lists but it was a fun mix of action and comedy, with an appealing performance from Ryan Reynolds as Michael Bryce, the titular bodyguard. Admittedly I haven’t watched it since, so maybe I am thinking of it too fondly because the newly released sequel, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is such a mess.
The sprawling plot involves Bryce teaming up again with Samuel L. Jackson’s Darius Kincaid (the bodyguard) to stop a catastrophic terrorist event in Europe, seemingly perpetrated in response to the EU’s crippling economic sanctions imposed on Greece. No reason is given for that!
The film feels bogged down with an overly convoluted story and the chemistry between Reynolds and Jackson that was so evident in the original movie is lacking here. It also shifts into almost being a remake of Overboard part way through and we have had a far superior one of those in recent years.
On the plus side, Salma Hayek is given a much larger part this time as Darius’ wife Sonia and she attacks the part with relish. The supporting cast is peppered with big names including Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman and bizarrely Antonio Banderes as a Greek bad guy. Richard E. Grant also returns in an all too brief cameo.
Not funny or action packed enough.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is on wide release in cinemas. Plenty of other films are still being made available first at home. I have indicated on what platform I watched each of them.
The always excellent Noomi Rapace stars in The Secrets We Keep (Sky Movies) as a woman living in America just after the Second World War. When she meets a man who she believes committed awful abuse of her during the war, she kidnaps him and holds him hostage. Too much of a re-tread of Death and the Maiden though elevated by Rapace.
A fictionalised telling of David Bowie’s first American trip when he was a struggling singer, Stardust (Sky Movies), was savaged by critics. It is not that bad though it was hampered by not being able to use any of Bowie’s music. Johnny Flynn is fine in the lead but Marc Maron outshines him as his publicist.
In Wildcat (Sky Movies), an ambitious reporter played by Georgina Campbell is captured in Iraq and has to outwit her captors. This sounds like it could be thrilling but is actually a dull slog.
Richard Linklater has an impressive body of work behind him including one masterpiece in Boyhood. Where’d You Go, Bernadette (Sky Movies) is a rare mis-step. Cate Blanchett stars as Bernadette, a mother who reluctantly goes on a family trip to Antarctica. Despite the talent off and on screen – the cast also includes Kristen Wiig, David Paymer, Megan Mullaly, Laurence Fishburn and Steve Zahn – the best way to describe this film is annoying. Bernadette is annoying, her daughter’s voiceover is annoying and the plinky-plonky score is really annoying!
A few years ago, Kedi, a charming film about stray cats in the city of Istanbul, was released. Stray (Amazon) is very much a companion piece as this time we get to meet and follow dogs in the same city. Along the way we get to learn as much about the people of Istanbul, especially those struggling to survive as much as the animals are, but it is the dogs that will capture your heart. One sequence when a puppy is separated from its family is truly heart wrenching.
Surge (Amazon) covers 24 hours in the life of Joseph, an airport security guard, after he suffers a breakdown. Director Aneil Karia captures Joseph’s mounting mania with the use of a constantly moving handheld camera and it is smartly written by Karia, Rupert Jones and Rita Kalnejais. But it is the incredible lead performance by Ben Whishaw that dominates the film. He initially just seems shy and a bit nervy but he then portrays his character’s mental deterioration so well.
There is nothing particularly original in the British home invasion horror The Owners (Amazon). A group of youths break into a house to steal money from a safe only for the owners to return home and turn the tables on them. It is, though, made with a definite energy with notable performances from Sylvester McCoy and Maisie Williams.
Heavily influenced by Rear Window, there were high expectations for The Woman in the Window (Netflix). It is written by Tracy Letts, directed by Joe Wright with Amy Adams heading a cast that also includes Gary Oldman, Anthony Mackie, Julianne Moore and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Despite that talent, it has been pretty poorly received, though I think that is a little unfair.
Adams is excellent as Anna Fox, an agoraphobic woman who is unable to leave her apartment. She witnesses a murder in her neighbour’s apartment but when she reports it no one believes her. I found the film pretty entertaining and I liked the way that Anna’s back story is gradually revealed, The unveiling of the murderer, though, is a let down and unconvincing.
The Secrets We Keep: 5.5 out of 10
Wildcat: 4 out of 10
Stardust: 5 out of 10
Where’d You Go, Bernadette: 4 out of 10
Stray: 7.5 out of 10
Surge: 7 out of 10
The Woman in the Window: 6.5 out of 10
The Owners: 6 out of 10