Wanted

Wanted

9 out of 10

Posted: 07/25/08

Running time: 1:50

MPAA rating: R (Strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language and some sexuality.)

Peruvian rating: Mayores de 18

Cast: James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann.
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Script: Michael Brandt & Derek Haas and Chris Morgan, based on the comic book series by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones

Photography: Mitchell Amundsen
Score: Danny Elfman
Distributor: Universal Pictures

Wanted is the best pure-action movie I've seen in some time. This is an old-school film that uses 21st century filming techniques - lots of bullets and shooting and blood and kicking plus some slow-motion and amazing stunts. Do you want a deep plot? Three-dimensional characters? Drama and romance and Shakespearian dialogue? Well, you won't get anything like that in Wanted. On the other hand, if you want to watch a motion picture that knows how to get your blood pumping, a movie that's filled with action sequences that are, let's face it, pretty ludicrous, but that nevertheless manage to generate tension and excitement, then Wanted is your film. The storyline might not be completely credible (it is sometimes a little ridiculous, I must admit), but it is interesting enough to make the viewer care for the characters, have fun with the action sequences, and enjoy the visual eye candy.

The movie tells the story of a thousand-year old secret society of assassins called the Fraternity. Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy), an accounts manager who lives a boring and miserable existence, is about to find out a couple of truths: firstly, his father, who abandoned him when he was born, was an assassin, secondly, he has inhereted his amazing skills at killing, and thirdly, his daddy has been killed by renegade Cross (Thomas Kretschmann). Now, the Fraternity wants Wesley to join them so that he can kill Cross. He is recruited by the big boss, Sloan (Morgan Freeman), and the über-sexy Fox (Angelina Jolie). Wesley's training is as tough as it gets but the moment he's ready, he knows it is time to go and avenge his dead father. But are things as clear as he thinks they are?

Director Timur Bekmambetov proved with his Night Watch movies that he knows a thing or two about directing action, and he shows his skill here. He provides with everything from slow-motion shootings to jumping cars, vehicles running into trains, exploding armies of rats and knife fights. He directs these sequences with flair and style, making extensive use of slow motion, reminding the audience of films like 300 (because of the CGI blood) and The Matrix (because of the technique itself), but always making sure that violence looks as poetic and, dare I say it, "beautiful" as possible - this reminded me a little of John Woo's films. The best thing about these scenes, though, apart from the fact that they look great, is that they are actually exciting. Explosions and shooting by themselves can be a little boring, but when they generate tension (as in here) and they involve characters the viewer actually cares about - as in here; this is due to McAvoy's acting and the fact that he starts as a miserable loser and then turns into a super-killer - they can be really fun to watch.

Performances are excellent for a film of this sort. Although James McAvoy's American accent is not precisely perfect, he nevertheless manages to make his character as sympathetic as possible. We root for the guy because he starts as an Average Joe - the scene in which he screams at her obese boss and hits his "best friend" - who had been having sex with his girlfriend from time to time - with a computer keyboard made me laugh and root for the guy. Angelina Jolie is also really good as Fox - she's as sexy as any woman can be (although her skinny Madonna-like arms are a little eerie) but also demonstrates that she can kick tons of ass. Her butt shot is a little gratuitous but... who cares? Morgan Freeman injects some energy into the character of Sloan, and supporting performances by Terence Stamp (who is a little underused, actually), Thomas Kretschmann and Common are effective without being remarkable. This movie belongs to McAvoy and supersexy Jolie, I'm afraid, not the supporting actors.

Wanted is an old-school actioner disguised with CGI blood, slow-motion shots and curving bullets. The film is an - almost total - success because it manages to provide with compelling action sequences that excite the viewer, as well as characters worth rooting for who, apart from having their own non-action scenes in which they shine (the first few minutes of the movie that detail Wesley's daily, boring life are by no means derivative), manage to make the action even more exciting. Jolie looks amazing, Freeman adds some class to the proceedings, and McAvoy proves he can be a really compelling action hero. Shakespeare it ain't, but as a pure-action, slow-motion driven, sometimes-hilarious, sometimes-blood-pumping motion picture, Wanted is a surprise success.