When a terrorist bomb kills four people in Paris, the French police tag an American as the perpetrator setting a wayward CIA agent on his trail. But everything is not as it seems, the American is a minor criminal, specialising in pickpocketing and he has accidentally stolen the bomb which should have been placed by a young Frenchwoman. The two men go in search of the woman and in turn are being tracked by terrorists, or possibly by members of a French elite security force. Things come to a head at the French national bank, closed on Bastille Day.
Content.
There is a slightly silly chase across the Paris rooftops, done to death, you would think, by Bourne and Bond, some car chases in Paris, interaction in the CIA office and interogation in the CIA safe house. Once the villains get on the scent some shoot outs and an interesting fight in the back of a van. The final set piece in the bank is pretty good. Some nudity at the beginning without sexual intent and a bit of drinking in bars.
A View | This was a slow starter but I began to enjoy it more as the three protagonists have to form a team and bring their individual skills to the party. Not an American in sight, even the CIA head of station is Irish, which might account for its moderate cost (for an action film) and for its failure at the box office. But it is pretty good fun so worth a watch. | ||
Duration | 1h 32m | Rating (UK) | 15 |
Source of story | An original screenplay | ||
Director | James Watkins | ||
Writers/Script | Andrew Baldwin, James Watkins | ||
Starring | Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Charlotte Le Bon, Kelly Reilly and a whole load of French guys. | ||
Additional Info | The release of this film was troubled by actual terrorist events, which might have had a negative effect on its finances. The Naval College at Greenwich on the Thames stands in for the French National Bank |
Discussion
No comments yet.