Safe House (R)
Mike:
Scott:
Mike: Tonight we are reviewing Safe House, about a young CIA agent who has to take care of an asset after his safe house is breached.
What did you think Mike?
Michael I: It's exactly what I would expect from the combination of Denzel Washington and Tony Scott. Wait, what? Tony Scott didn't direct this movie? Really? Oh, sorry.
Mike: Yeah, I don't think I remember the last Denzel movie that wasn't directed by Tony Scott.
Daniel Espinosa must be a student of Scott, though.
Michael I: They've definitely become a duo in recent years.
Mike: I can't say that I have seen one of his movies before, though.
Michael I: That's because this is his first big studio film. And it's surprisingly good.
Mike: I could also say that this might be a missing Bourne movie. There are a lot of similar elements. Since I love the Bourne movies, this is a compliment.
Michael I: In what ways was this a Bourne-esque film?
Mike: The action, as well as the questions about who is on what side, good or bad.
Michael I: I think the Bourne series has influenced a lot of modern action movies, including this one. It's not afraid to let the camera off the tripod.
Mike: Yes, but I think everyone has taken this to an extreme. I am not a fan of "shaky cam". Especially during car chases and fight scenes.
I like car chases and fight scenes and I would like to actually SEE them.
Michael I: There are a few directors that can do this well -- give the audience all the action, with making sure that they're not completely confused about what's happening. Steven Soderbergh did a good job with this on his recent film, "Haywire".
Mike: I dont mind it for close up conversation, which I think they do well here, but I think it gets overused.
The cast includes, Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleason and Sam Shepard.
This has an all star cast here, but the movie boils down to the relationship between Denzel and Ryan Reynolds.
Michael I: And how much master manipulator Tobin Frost(played by Denzel) can get into Ryan's head.
Mike: As a viewer you want to like Tobin, because its Denzel washington after all. But you feel strange, because you don't know what his deal is.
Ryan has come a long way from "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place".
I thought he was going to have just a comedy career, but like Bruce Willis before him, he has turned into a great action star.
Michael I: So with all of the plot's twists and turns -- which there are a few -- Safe House becomes a pretty good ride.
Mike: So Mike, how do rate this?
Michael I: I'm giving it a 3.5 out of 5. I'd like for Denzel to start living up to his billing of 'this generation's Sidney Portier' and switch up his genre offerings. As much as I like him, his roles are starting to mesh together to me.
Mike: I give this a 3 out of 5. With Denzel lately, it is a coin flip as to whether it's going to be good or bad. I think this one is entertaining, but I was more impressed with the action than the actual plot.
