American Assassin (2017)
Michael Cuesta
Writers:
Stephen Schiff, Michael Finch, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz. Based on the novel by Vince Flynn.
Cast:
Dylan O'Brien (Mitch Rapp), Michael Keaton (Stan Hurley), Sanaa Lathan (Irene Kennedy), Taylor Kitsch (Ghost), and Charlotte Vega (Katrina).
Opening Sequence:
The world of the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) field agents, undercover and beyond. Agent enters a room, pulls his gun, walks around a corner, takes a peek to see his advantages, and disadvantages. Behind the agent is his back-up, a swarm of other agents following to make sure the situation is handled accordingly.
Taking the fight to the enemy, no matter what the cost. The high speed chases, the cool visuals as the cars race through the city streets, making the perfect scene.
X-files, Homeland to Jack Bauer racing against the clock in 24. The heroes, villians are all present. Either it's CTU, CIA, or the FBI in these action packed sequences, that makes up conspiratorial situations. The extreme is fused with reality, it takes us all over the world, the battle between good and evil. It's either a man holding a white cat, or aliens taking a sibling causing one man to search for the truth. Iraq, Iran, conspiracies throughout the region makes Carrie Mathison, and Jack Bauer a force to be reckon with.
Review:
Mitch Rapp (Dylan O'Brien) and Katrina (Charlotte Vega) vacationing on a beach, enjoying the sun and the water. Rapp leaves shortly to get some refreshments of the alcoholic kind. It doesn't take too much time, after all he had told Katrina he would return quickly. His intentions were true to the heart. He had wanted to propose to her, but as he had reached for the drinks his glass shattered. Bullets whizz from all areas, taking down the bartender. His head flew back as his body smashed into the backdrop of the bar, killing him. Rapp gets down, trying to figure out the situation. Gunmen come out of the shadows, taking down everyone in their sights.
Rapp runs to Katrina and notices the bodies all over the beach, he then is shot, the shooter turns and kills his girlfriend. Blood spews from her mouth, as Mitch reaches for her. He blacks out, and awakens in another time, place, situation. His world has changed him since the death of his girlfriend. MMA, Boxing, firearm practice, and his search for his girlfriend's killers has landed to terrorists. Mitch Rapp has changed, those men that day, changed him to becoming a killing machine. Those men are not fathers, working everyday people, but targets that committed the ultimate crime. The payment is simply death.
The film is really good, with that being said, not going to compare the books because i haven't read them. First let me congratulate Dylan O'Brien for an awesome job as Mitch Rapp. You really could see the difference between characters in let's say Maze Runner, and Teen Wolf, which gave him a great start to his career. Three different characters, reactions, emotions but each has a unique vision that only Dylan can contribute to those wonderful characters. All the characters were memorable, and made each watchable.
Mitch Rapp is by far one of his best characters to date. Granted i love Stiles, but Mitch does it all from my perspective. From fighting hand to hand, to peeking around the corner with sharp, silent set of skills that make the man very dangerous. From what i hear, and read the books were very good, so i hope that the film went along the path of the novels. Even if it didn't the movie still was very good.
Michael Keaton does a fabulous job as Stan Hurley. The character is imposing, demanding, and smart. He knew from the start that Mitch Rapp would follow his lead. The core to the story is all about the characters and this film definitely had all the pieces. Keaton's performance is on target, his presence in the film was amazing. Loved him in Spiderman: Homecoming, and definitely loved him in this story. He fit the part of a badass instructor for the CIA. Training the operatives and bringing them out to the field.
Taylor Kitsch as Ghost was very believable. Understanding that a soldier in war could get PTSD, or have some of mental health issue. Especially when he grabbed the explosives, big enough to destroy a whole city. Kitsch's performance was wonderful, he made the villain fun, entertaining, not bad for old Gambit right? Yes he was in that Wolverine movie with Ryan Reynolds, you know the one where Kitsch plays Gambit. Either way his character in American Assassin was ruthless as Ghost. I'm glad they picked Kitsch for the part.
The bad in American Assassin is that it's plot isn't really that intriguing. Take James Bond for example. He starts the film with a story, a how, why, all is present, but the hidden agenda by the villain is there. The final Act comes out hard and fast, enough to make the film memorable. Ghost in American assassin was good, but you don't ever see his disdain of Stan Hurley. Sure he managed to torture Stan Hurley. It made good visuals but it could've been used to expand the plot. They just follow him a bit, and Ghost disappears. I just wish Ghost had more sequences so that when he catches up to Hurley and Mitch in the hotel, the viewer knows why. Sometimes seeing the bad guy making things happen makes confrontation exciting and memorable.
Sorry but to me that's kinda weak. If these actors weren't in the film, American Assassin would've been a horrible movie. Do i regret watching it, no. Because it does deliver as the actors take the script to a higher level. Do i want a sequel, more Mitch Rapp. Definitely yes, because the character alone is good. Better than a Jack Reacher, but doesn't surpass James Bond. The film is not complicated, Rapp knows what he needs to do. Go after Ghost, one of Hurley's agents which made the film that much better. But his revenge is lost, and i would like to see more of that in future films.
Mitch Rapp's story is interesting and i personally can't wait for the next installment of these films. The story of a man who lost his soul, his love of his life. The guy manages to carry the weight of the world. It started on the beach, and ended up in a helicopter, overlooking an explosion that could've taken out a whole city. But Mitch Rapp ended up beating the opposition. The next installment Consent to Kill is currently in development and I'm looking forward to reviewing it.
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