Secret Agent Gal Movie Reviews

The American ****

 

George Clooney is The American, an assassin on a mission in Italy. With the intensity of Jason Bourne, he delivers an artful, exacting performance.

Although The American is a fascinating addition to Clooney’s work, but don’t expect the dark humor he’s known for in The Men Who Stare at Goats or O Brother, Where Art Thou? He’s dashing but dead serious. There’s no Daniel Ocean here.

The American is an arty film adapted from Martin Booth's novel A Very Private Gentleman. Its scenes and close-ups are beautifully composed, like paintings. Cinematographer Martin Ruhe venerates the beauty and culture of Italy even as Jack (aka Edward Butterfly) carries out his dirty, murderous mission.

Butterfly’s preparation is anything but dirty. Over a month he builds a gun and silencer with Zen-like discipline and concentration. With very little dialogue, Clooney keeps viewers fascinated with fastidious rituals (push-ups, chin-ups and daily coffee at a café).

Violante Placido (the daughter of Simoneta Stefanelli, who played Al Pacino’s Sicilian wife in The Godfather), delivers a classy performance as Clara, a prostitute who becomes Edward’s love interest. It is Placido who provides energy and a refreshing zest for life. Her bedroom scenes with Clooney arouse and thrill. Yet the uneasy feeling that Butterfly can trust no one persists.

Finally The American is about the meaning of one man’s life. Paolo Bonacelli as Father Benedetto is the catalyst who gets Edward thinking about what he does and why he does it. When Edward calls his boss Pavel (Johan Leysen) to announce that this is going to be his last mission, it comes as no surprise.

The American will appeal to seekers of a deep, thoughtful experience. It is a meditative character study that some – but not all – Clooney fans will enjoy. There is a quiet elegance to this film. Dutch director Anton Corbijn crafted it with great attention to detail.

The American has not won widespread critical acclaim. But it is the kind of film that a box office superstar like George Clooney can choose to make.

If you like The American, you might enjoy:  The Ghost Writer; Shutter Island; SALT.

The American 2010 / R / 1 hour, 45 min

Cast Overview: George Clooney, Thekla Reuten, Paolo Bonacelli, Violante Placido, Johan Leysen

Director: Anton Corbijn

Genres: Action, Adventure

SALT *****

 
 

In SALT, the best action thriller of Summer 2010, Angelina Jolie proves her talent in a leading role originally written for a man.

As secret agent Evelyn Salt, Jolie builds a character that is fresh, driven, interesting and not overly complex as she moves through steep emotional challenges. Accused of being a Russian double agent, Salt must prove her loyalty to the U.S.A. while spies, government agents and criminal goons threaten at every turn. Filled with abundant plot twists, SALT is just plain fun.

Jolie asked for the part and got it, giving her the opportunity to become the quintessential secret agent woman. Not only does she play the genre well, she updates and redefines it in the following ways:

• Brave with Heart: There’s a dramatic moment in SALT where Jolie has the opportunity to blow away a Russian operative. She chooses not to do so. Moments like these help drive the plot, but also give welcome relief from the endless shootout scenes that fill espionage thrillers. Jolie develops human interest in scenes with her gawky but lovable German husband Mike (August Diehl).
• Athletic and Sensuous: Jolie avoids the scantily clad look of James Bond’s women. Her physique and stamina are on display, but not exploited. A satisfying array of stunts – she performs all stunts herself, according to Director Phillip Noyce – can inspire viewers who identify with a brave leading woman. SALT is like the spy film Julia on steroids. Agent Salt runs, leaps, changes her appearance, and gets where she needs to go. Facing life’s daily challenges, aren’t we a bit like her?
• Street Smart and Spy Smart: Jolie can wield a machine gun and pick electronic locks. Yet she doesn’t use too many gadgets. Instead, her body is her instrument. Jolie recognizes the threats around her, knows how spies think and what they are likely to do. She acts and reacts.

When spy politics looms in SALT, it’s transcended with smart screenplay by Kurt Wimmer and the able direction of Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games; Clear and Present Danger; The Bone Collector).

One can see the Bourne Identity influence in Jolie’s heroine on the run. Yet the reasons for her flight, and the unfolding of story, are richer than in the Bourne films. Action flows thanks to film editors Stuart Baird and John Gilroy. Strong performances by Liev Schreiber as Salt’s crafty colleague Ted Winter, and by Chiwetel Ejiofor as determined counterintelligence geek Peabody, are a treat.

With elements of mystery and a dash of Cold War paranoia, SALT ends with the hint of a sequel.

Other distinctive, excellent characters crafted by Jolie include a wealthy British archaeologist in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and a bereft mother in the Oscar contender Changeling.

If you like SALT, you might enjoy:  The American; The Ghost Writer; Shutter Island.

SALT 2010 / PG-13 / 1 hour, 40 min

Cast Overview: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Obrychski, August Diehl

Director: Phillip Noyce

Genres: Action Thriller, Espionage Thriller

Sherlock Holmes ****

 

Golden Globe winner Robert Downey Jr. marries heart and mind in this update of the Sherlock Holmes action thriller. Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) directs.

In the opening scene, Holmes and Dr. Watson (Jude Law) pursue demonic serial killer Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). After a dramatic chase and hand-to-hand combat, the team rescues a damsel from satanic sacrifice. Blackwell is captured and put to death by hanging.

Holmes and Watson have the chemistry of brothers as they share a passion for crime fighting. Holmes is the boy genius, while Watson saves his friend from himself (Holmes drinks and gets high between jobs) and from a number of street fighting foes.

This is the best role for Law in years as he matches Downey’s sharp repartee and athleticism.

Watson announces he will take Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly) as his bride. Holmes pouts like a boy wonder who refuses to grow up. At this time Lord Blackwood is seen roaming the streets of London again. The two set aside their differences and rush to his crypt.

Impressive action scenes and special effects, combined with Holmes’ brilliant deductions and detective work, make Sherlock Holmes an entertaining blockbuster. Downey’s eccentric mastery and experiments (the equivalent of CSI in 1890’s London) are engaging. There are thrilling scenes in a boat yard and atop Tower Bridge.

Rachel McAdams plays a clever, gorgeous criminal foe. She is Holmes’ equal in every way, and fascinates him.

Finally a bomb powered by radio waves is defused. Holmes gazes out a window and marvels about the future with this new technology.

A sequel is planned for 2011. Brad Pitt was rumored to be considering the role of Holmes’ nemesis Professor Moriarty.

If you like Sherlock Holmes, you might enjoy:  The Ghost Writer; Shutter Island; True Grit; The American; The Wind Journeys.

Sherlock Holmes   2009 / PG-13 / 2 hrs, 8 min

Cast Overview: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan, Kelly Reilly, Hans Matheson, William Hope

Director: Guy Ritchie

Genres: Action and Adventure, Action Thriller, Period Piece

Iron Man 2 ***

 

Robert Downey Jr. returns with heart and pizzazz as Iron Man 2’s comic book action hero. Downey plays Tony Stark, billionaire playboy industrialist who relishes his role as global troubleshooter and guardian of the nation’s safety.

While Stark wants to remain an independent do-gooder, both Congress and his friend Lt. Col. Jim Rhodes (Don Cheadle) press him to sell his technology to the government.

Dramatic tension builds early as we discover that the nuclear powered device keeping Stark alive is also poisoning his blood. The circular disc over his heart is failing, and only the discovery of a new element strong enough to power it will save Iron Man.

Mickey Rourke beautifully develops bad guy Ivan Vanko, a Russian physicist whose father first developed the Iron Man technology. Vanko feels that he, not Downey, is its rightful heir. Rourke brings to Vanko pathos and sensitivity (he’s very fond of his white cockatiel). With growling determination, he pursues Downey at a Monaco racetrack, electrical whips crackling from his gladiator garb.

In an unpleasant surprise, talented Gwyneth Paltrow mars Iron Man 2 as shrill, hormonally raging Pepper Potts, Downey’s love interest turned Type A CEO of Stark Enterprises. Paltrow’s tiresome stereotype detracts from the film. There is scant chemistry between her and Downey.

Luckily Paltrow’s circumspect assistant Scarlett Johanssen steals the show as Natalie, also known as secret agent and martial arts expert Black Widow. It’s Johanssen who reaffirms our faith in strong women heroines in action thrillers.

As the story continues, Cheadle gets to soar and wage combat in an Iron Man suit. Samuel Jackson is excellent as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Nick Fury, perhaps the only person who can keep Downey’s ego at bay, at least for a few moments. Sam Rockwell struts about as a rival industrialist who recruits Rourke to garner a lucrative government contract.

Iron Man 2 features plenty of metallic clashes and laser shootouts, along with spectacles such as Tony Stark’s expo at the former World’s Fair Grounds in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York. Overall director Jon Favreau has crafted a fitting opening to Summer 2010’s action thriller season. Good acting raises the bar in Iron Man 2.


Iron Man 2 2010 / NR / 2 hrs, 4 min

Cast Overview: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Samuel L. Jackson, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson

Director: Jon Favreau

Genres: Action and Adventure, Comic Book and Superhero, Action Thriller