American Assassin (2017)
Director: Michael Cuesta. Rated: 18. (111 mins).
Thriller/Suspense/Film Noir
Rating: 4/5 - very good lots to enjoy
Synopsis
Young American Mitch Rapp (Dylan O’Brien) is holidaying in Tunisia with his girlfriend Katrina (Charlotte Vega) when they are swept up in a terrorist attack on the beach.
Katrina is killed and, fuelled by hatred and a need for revenge, Mitch is recruited to the CIA. Becoming a ‘Black Op’, he sets out with his mentor, veteran operative Stan (Michael Keaton) to track down the men responsible. But they are waylaid when an even more potent threat, ‘Ghost’ (Taylor Kitsch) threatens to destabilise the whole world by even more deadly means.
Review by Jason Day
It's a big thing for a film critic to admit they missed a film.
Even more so to say they drove across counties to make sure they saw the aforementioned, neglected movie the next day.
And very glad I am to plead guilt to both of these things. After mixing up screening dates, I'm happy to report I finally saw American Assassin and highly recommend you do the same.
See the film, I mean, not miss it.
This is exceptionally well directed, macho, jingoistic stuff. As O'Brien traverses the age old Hollywood formula of wet-behind-the-ears rookie trained by a grizzled veteran (Keaton) to slay the baddie (Kitsch), there is little new added in to the mix, apart from director Cuesta's visceral, intimate technique.
More is said with the myriad close-ups of smiles, grimaces and smirks in this film than is ever said. And commendably so.
Settle in for some brutal but thoroughly well-made action set pieces...and it's not often I say that.
For more, read the full review: http://bit.ly/americanassassinfilm
Cast & credits
CBS Films/Lionsgate/Di Bonaventura Pictures/Nick Wechsler Productions. (18).
Producers: Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Nick Wechsler.
Writers: Stephen Schiff, Michael Finch, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz.
Camera: Enrique Chediak.
Music: Steven Price.
Sets: Andrew Laws.
Dylan O’Brien, Michael Keaton, Taylor Kitsch, Sanaa Lathan, David Suchet, Scott Adkins, Joseph Long, Charlotte Vega.
Image courtesy of Lionsgate
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