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Craig Younkin
Movie Review
Wanted
By Craig Younkin Published June 29, 2008
US Release: June 27, 2008
Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov
Starring: James McAvoy , Angelina Jolie , Morgan Freeman , Terence Stamp
R for strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language and some sexuality.
Domestic Box Office: $134,392,000
Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov
Starring: James McAvoy , Angelina Jolie , Morgan Freeman , Terence Stamp
R for strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language and some sexuality.
Domestic Box Office: $134,392,000
B
Wanted looked cool from the trailers, but I’ve seen MTV hacks come along with their flashy style to make up for bad storytelling. I walked out surprised and thrilled at what I saw.
“Wanted” looked cool from the trailers, but I’ve seen several other MTV hacks come along with their flashy style to make up for bad storytelling before. That and perpetual bad movie promoter Anjelina Jolie is in this so I didn’t want to jump on this movie's band wagon just yet. Then I found out that its director, Timur Bekmambetov, is no hack at all but actually a visionary responsible for one of the most visually impressive franchises in Russian history, the Nightwatch/Daywatch series. I was interested in seeing what he had to offer and I walked out surprised and thrilled at what I saw.
The plot is based on a series of graphic novels by Mark Millar about a boring office drone named Wes (James McAvoy, Atonement). Wes is hated by his boss, his girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend, and his average-ness is so bad he’s having panic attacks. Then he meets a beautiful woman named Fox (Angelina Jolie), a sexy assassin who knew Wes’ father, another assassin, before he was murdered. She recruits Wes into the Fraternity, a secret society of assassins who train Wes to avenge his father’s death by unlocking his genetically given killing abilities. The Fraternity is filled with brilliant marksmen and women, including its leader Sloan (Morgan Freeman), who teach Wes strength, accuracy, and quick reflexes but he soon learns that there is more to these people than meets the eye. It all comes down to a choice, control his own destiny or let the Fraternity control him.
The movie, written by Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, and Chris Morgan is sort of a concoction of “Fight Club” and “The Matrix.” It’s been seen before but you enjoy the enthusiasm nonetheless. It scores big laughs as it establishes Wes as a pathetic, disrespected loser, and big applause once Wes becomes “the man” he was born to play. The quitting of his day job couldn’t be any more priceless than the way it is written. The story gets a little light and barely holds together after that point but luckily Timur Bekmambetov is every bit the craftsman I expected, giving the film its style and kinetic energy.
This movie does things with cars that are awe-inspiring and exciting. Anjelina Jolie drives with her feet from the hood while firing off a shotgun. McAvoy causes his to fly in the air so he can kill a guy through his open car-ceiling window. It also does great things with trains, whether it be agility training on top of one or throwing one off a cliff with people inside it. And curved-bullet killings, shots through the head from miles away, and the blood splatterings are everything a good “R” rated summer action movie should be.
The cast also does nice work. McAvoy gives a star-making performance and finds just the right note to play Wes. He goes from being a lovable piss-on to genuine bad-ass with ease and he really couldn’t be funnier while doing so. And this is exactly the kind of role Anjelina Jolie should play more of; one that allows her to be dangerous as well as gorgeous and seductive. There is one scene where she is called upon to make Wes’ girlfriend crazy-jealous and I’m convinced that she is the only one who could play it to such perfection. And Morgan Freeman is basically playing Morgan Freeman, a man so wise you have to believe everything he says. Bottom Line: “Wanted” is funny, well-acted, and breathlessly exciting.
The plot is based on a series of graphic novels by Mark Millar about a boring office drone named Wes (James McAvoy, Atonement). Wes is hated by his boss, his girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend, and his average-ness is so bad he’s having panic attacks. Then he meets a beautiful woman named Fox (Angelina Jolie), a sexy assassin who knew Wes’ father, another assassin, before he was murdered. She recruits Wes into the Fraternity, a secret society of assassins who train Wes to avenge his father’s death by unlocking his genetically given killing abilities. The Fraternity is filled with brilliant marksmen and women, including its leader Sloan (Morgan Freeman), who teach Wes strength, accuracy, and quick reflexes but he soon learns that there is more to these people than meets the eye. It all comes down to a choice, control his own destiny or let the Fraternity control him.
The movie, written by Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, and Chris Morgan is sort of a concoction of “Fight Club” and “The Matrix.” It’s been seen before but you enjoy the enthusiasm nonetheless. It scores big laughs as it establishes Wes as a pathetic, disrespected loser, and big applause once Wes becomes “the man” he was born to play. The quitting of his day job couldn’t be any more priceless than the way it is written. The story gets a little light and barely holds together after that point but luckily Timur Bekmambetov is every bit the craftsman I expected, giving the film its style and kinetic energy.
This movie does things with cars that are awe-inspiring and exciting. Anjelina Jolie drives with her feet from the hood while firing off a shotgun. McAvoy causes his to fly in the air so he can kill a guy through his open car-ceiling window. It also does great things with trains, whether it be agility training on top of one or throwing one off a cliff with people inside it. And curved-bullet killings, shots through the head from miles away, and the blood splatterings are everything a good “R” rated summer action movie should be.
The cast also does nice work. McAvoy gives a star-making performance and finds just the right note to play Wes. He goes from being a lovable piss-on to genuine bad-ass with ease and he really couldn’t be funnier while doing so. And this is exactly the kind of role Anjelina Jolie should play more of; one that allows her to be dangerous as well as gorgeous and seductive. There is one scene where she is called upon to make Wes’ girlfriend crazy-jealous and I’m convinced that she is the only one who could play it to such perfection. And Morgan Freeman is basically playing Morgan Freeman, a man so wise you have to believe everything he says. Bottom Line: “Wanted” is funny, well-acted, and breathlessly exciting.
Craig's Grade: B
Craig's Overall Grading: 340 graded movies
| A | 10.9% | |
| B | 41.8% | |
| C | 31.8% | |
| D | 15.3% | |
| F | 0.3% |
