- Film Review
- Reviewed By Jeremy Aspinall
-
3 out of 5
The first Hollywood movie from Timur Bekmambetov, the director of phantasmagorical Russian fantasy horrors Night Watch and Day Watch, is a high-octane action adventure adapted from the cult comic book of the same name. James McAvoy does a sterling job as office drone Wesley Gibson who goes from zero to super-skilled hitman when he's recruited by an underground guild of assassins led by Morgan Freeman. Among his fellow killers is a smoulderingly cool Angelina Jolie, who acts as mentor to the initially gauche McAvoy as he tries to accept his destiny as the son of the world's greatest assassin. Bekmambetov brings his unique eye for hyper-kinetic action to the chase sequences, and there's plenty of understated mordant humour to leaven the inevitable ludicrousness of the violent mayhem. It may not be the most original of tales - there are echoes of The Matrix - but the director's visual flair and the charisma of the lead actors make this an entertainingly over-the-top experience.
Plot Summary
Action adventure starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Following the death of his father, put-upon accountant Wesley Gibson discovers that the man had a secret identity as a super-skilled assassin. After an attempt on his life is thwarted by the sultry Fox, Wesley is taken to the headquarters of an elite group of killers where he's told he has inherited his father's skills and must unleash them to protect himself.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Wesley Gibson
- James McAvoy
- Sloan
- Morgan Freeman
- Fox
- Angelina Jolie
- Pekwarsky
- Terence Stamp
- Cross
- Thomas Kretschmann
- The Gunsmith
- Common
- Cathy
- Kristen Hager
- The Repairman
- Marc Warren (1)
- Mr X
- David O'Hara
- The Exterminator
- Konstantin Khabensky
- The Butcher
- Dato Bakhtadze
- Barry
- Chris Pratt
- Janice
- Lorna Scott
- Puja
- Sophiya Haque
Crew
- Director
- Timur Bekmambetov
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