6/10: An okey actionflick.
6/10 (solid)
In short:
Unoriginal script (though not as common the last decade and a half) with a few additions that avoids making it cliché but missing pushing it up onto real heights. The soundtrack does not hit home and lets the movie down.
Mel Gibson at times is back to what made him a household name (if you exclude the lethal weapons). An okey actionflick overall, but not more.
In long:
This is quite similar cinematograpical to a cleaned up version of "Get the Gringo (2012)" and also revolve around similar crime. The storyline is unoirignal and so is the turn of events, though it does somewhat smoothly slide through them and avoiding becoming a cliché doing so.
The cinematographical language - the orange combined with the black and while on the road blue makes a contrast that draws connotations, which could or could not be on purpose (a little unclear as filters to strengthen that effect, seems to be lacking).
Erin Moriarty plays the annoying teen better than most Ive ever seen, probably the best performance in that category - atleast for a long while. She evolves under the movie and even if the character is a little far fetched at the start the character has real depth which allows for some acceptance of the initially irrational and annoying behaviourpattern the character displays.
[Rant] Oh yes, I dislike the allegedly freemasonic honoring with that stagename, she will also always be overshadowed by the connotations to Sherlock Holmes that it brings which makes the connotative allurement of picking it disputable at best. [Rant]
In the end of the it you have Mel Gibson, back at heights which made him a name most people know (Braveheart and thereabouts), the sentimental bits have not fully been there in his action movies (note in excluding thrillers) of late but as a dying hero he could finally get that out into his character again.
Pro's
• Individually good performances by the leads.
• It's decent action
• Unintentional or not - cinematographical language.
Con's
• Leads lacking in chemistry
• Misses to reach the real heights.
• Macy is too well-known for such a small role like that and by having a very known actor in a small role it removes focus from the leads and the plot (by associations he brings - much like Steve Zahn in the Great Buck Howard 2008).
End notes:
If Mel Gibson keeps on improving (or rediscovering) his acting like this Hollywood can't ignore him any longer (too much green to be had). Another (real) Lethal Weapon coming up before it is too late (physically speaking), though I would rather see him in a warrior role - medieval or the like.
[EDIT] Spelling.
Ignorance is only a bliss if you haven't reached awareness.
My imdb posts are getting altered.