Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Rudhrakash Jaiswal, Randeep Hooda, Golshifteh Farahani, Piyush Khati, David Harbour, Wayne Blair, Rob Collins
Distributor: Netflix
Runtime: 116 mins. Reviewed in May 2020
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This is a Netflix action show, a star vehicle for Chris Hemsworth moving into real life (or a fantasy of real-life and military action) away from the Marvel Universe. Hemsworth produced the film. It was written by Joe Russo who collaborated with his brother, Anthony, on the Captain America and Avengers movies. This film was directed by Sam Hargrave who collaborated with the Russo Brothers and has credits for 80 films for his stunt work. It shows in this film.
One wonders whether it was a good idea to open the film with Chris Hemsworth in action but actually being shot, seemingly fatally. Of course, the whole action of the film will build up to this sequence.
The film also opens in India with some affluent schoolboys, especially a young boy called Ovi. The young actor, Rudhrakash Jaiswal, proves himself to be a strong screen presence, sharing a lot of the time with Chris Hemsworth, but creating a credible character. His father is in jail, and affluent gangster. Ovi is abducted by a rival Bangladeshi gangster lord. The father wants his son recovered and asks his manager, the supervisor of his son, to get the boy back, no holds barred.
In the meantime, we are taken to the Kimberleys and introduced to Chris Hemsworth as Tyler, an available mercenary. (And some scenes with Wayne Blair and Rob Collins to give an authentic Kimberleys atmosphere.) His previous connections, especially in the person of Nick Khan (Golshifteh Farahani) arrives to persuade him to take on the case.
After the opening with the wounded Tyler, the caption says two days ago. And, what an exhausting, rather impossible, two days it is. Tyler confronts the captors, shows them why he is a mercenary, takes the boy. What follows is, as expected, all kinds of chases, vehicles crashing, soldiers pursuing, narrow escapes, hiding, using wits… Eventually, there is a dramatic pause with Tyler and the boy bonding, Tyler telling him his life story, giving Chris Hemsworth a chance to act over and above his action skills.
One might say that this is a film for combat-fans. There are many fights, many brutal moments, a huge body count. Which means that the film is targeted for those who enjoy macho action (though there is are some interventions by Niki Khan, including her being a crack sniper).
This is the kind of material made popular by Stephen Seagal or Jean-Claude van Damme. Chris Hemsworth is more credible as an action hero than both of them.
As has been noted, action for combat-fans.
Peter Malone MSC is an Associate of the Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting.
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