 |
| Maggie Q is The Protege |
There's something about a well-acted, solidly directed thriller that's very appealing in today's overcrowded cinematic and home video marketplace, where action films are a dime a dozen, and sifting through them all to find the good ones is often a thankless task. The Protege, which was released last year to little fanfare and so-so reviews, is actually well worth checking out. The film, directed by Martin Campbell, who also helmed Goldeneye (1995) and Casino Royale (2006), is an entertaining tale about a top-notch assassin named Anna, who works as a contract killer. Anna was rescued as a child by Moody, a veteran hit man who raised her and trained her to be the best in the business. Anna and Moody take on difficult and high-paying assignments, but only accept contracts on those targets they feel deserve to die.
When Moody is killed, and an unsuccessful attempt is made on Anna's life, she tries to find out who wanted her and her mentor dead. The trail leads to someone from Moody's past, and as Anna investigates, she crosses paths with Michael Rembrandt, a skilled assassin who plays a cat and mouse game with her. He seems to be working for whoever is behind Moody's death, and the botched attack on her. While they're essentially enemies, there are some powerful romantic sparks flying between Anna and Michael. As she gets closer to the truth behind what's going on, Anna may have to choose between her feelings for Michael, and getting revenge for Moody's death. But there's more to the story than Anna bargained for, and the truth could change her life forever.
The Protege is an engaging thriller, and features a terrific cast including Maggie Q as Anna, Samuel L. Jackson as Moody, and Michael Keaton as Michael Rembrandt. Robert Patrick of Terminator 2: Judgement Day and The X-Files, is also featured in a supporting role as an old friend of Moody and Anna's. Maggie Q, best known for her roles in TV series like Nikita and Designated Survivor and films such as Mission: Impossible III and Live Free or Die Hard, is excellent as Anna, and she has great chemistry with both Jackson and Keaton. Samuel L. Jackson is his usual entertaining self, and Michael Keaton is fantastic in his role. His fight scenes with Maggie Q's Anna are well-choreographed and brutal. They may be on opposite sides, but their attraction is undeniable, and you can feel the romantic energy and sexual tension between these two characters.
The film may have some familiar plot elements, but it's an absorbing espionage tale, written by Richard Wenk, who also scripted the Denzel Washington version of The Equalizer, and the Jason Statham thriller The Mechanic. The Protege is smoothly directed by Martin Campbell, a veteran of the Bond films mentioned above, as well as other highly-regarded thrillers like The Mask of Zorro. The film is a fast-paced, colorful, and diverting popcorn thriller, with some excellent cinematography by David Tattersall. The movie is worth seeing, and will definitely satisfy fans of well-crafted, old school action films. The Protege is now available on DVD, Blu-ray and for online streaming. Here's a link to the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wujj1QTk5kY.
No comments:
Post a Comment