Film Review: Wanted
Jolie and McAvoy Redefine Action Movie
Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) leads a pathetic, anxiety-plagued life and seemingly by chance, hardened assassins Fox and Sloane (Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman) induct him into the Fraternity, killers who rid the world of those preordained to die from the Loom of Fate. However, a rogue assassin, Cross (Thomas Kretschmann), targets Wesley, and he attempts to track him down whilst also rediscovering himself.
McAvoy, Freeman and Jolie Present Acting Prowess
McAvoy has come a long, long way since his British TV days, and this film should open doors for him toward more roles like this and his previous turn in The Last King of Scotland. Morgan Freeman plays a slight variation on his mentor role, which is actually refreshing, particularly when his character swears, something that you'd never think Freeman would do, and indicative of the movie's ambition to mess with your head and upset convention.
Jolie’s ice-queen demeanour and waif-like appearance are perfectly matched for her character. Fox is an emotionless assassin, and Jolie plays it as such. She's not even in the film that much, but she does fine with the scenes she plays out, though it's clear to see it wasn't exactly a challenge. As with so many action films, there is Jolie and then no-one else feminine that stands out unfortunately.
Supporting Cast, Director Contribute Class and Action
The criminally under-appreciated Thomas Kretschmann (King Kong, Downfall, The Pianist) plays Cross, the antagonist throughout, presenting a cold, ruthless assassin alongside Terence Stamp and Common, playing variations on gunsmiths, and Stamp delivers exposition whilst Common presents the assassin's creed, along with Brit actor Marc Warren, as a bunch of soulless guns-for-hire; it's not a stretch for them.
Timur Bekmambetov moves from his mad-cap Watch trilogy to Hollywood action, and the Eastern-European's propensity for the most ridiculous stunts is carried over seamlessly to Hollywood. Bekmambetov doesn't so much direct as allow everything to go off onscreen, and despite the massive amount of action, the director manages to present the conflicts Wesley encounters quite well, and personalise the characters enough to show he is not all explosions and blood.
CGI Complements the Film; Altogether a Mad Movie
Like many of the new wave of action films, the visuals are where Wanted is at its best. The CGI used in the film is obviously CGI, but it's excellent in context. When it’s shown what happens between a Dodge Viper and a bus, and then later a passenger train and a ravine, it's evident that Wanted doesn't care what's real and what's not; it cares only about going over the top.
The film is totally insane on every level, and what lets it down is the disinterest with which the actors play their characters. However, this is the only issue with the film, and any person can enjoy it, as long as their brain is firmly switched to the off position, because no thought is required to enjoy or watch this movie.
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