​FILMS

survivor

2015 review number 93:

Survivor: (Action/Crime/Thriller): 70 out of 100: Pierce Brosnan as a bad guy in an action/thriller? Surely that couldn't be true. Yes, Brosnan portrays the assassin with little emotion and it's up to Milla Jovovich to perform the heroic deeds. Not a promising start, is it? Factor in the 8% tomato rating on Rotten Tomatoes and you'll be curious as to why I've rated this so high. Even the audience score on that website is 32% so I guess this is my guilty pleasure action movie for 2015.

 

Kate Abbott (Milla Jovovich) has been recently appointed as a foreign service officer in London. Her main role is to determine which travellers could pose a threat as terrorists, therefore denying them a visa to travel to the United States. She is forced to go on the run when she is framed for a bombing and murders she didn't commit. To complicate matters, an assassin and expert bomb maker in Nash (Pierce Brosnan) is pursuing her in order to prevent her from ruining the plans of a terrorist. Kate can only trust three people, her friend Lisa (Genevieve O'Reilly) and two colleagues, Sally (Frances de la Tour) and Sam Parker (Dylan McDermott).

 

The movie begins with a war battle which turns up the volume in sound effects. One of the soldiers captured is forced into propaganda videos and this plays a pivotal role in the actions of Bill Talbot (Robert Forster) who also works with Kate in the immigration department. There's quite a few twists and turns like this one. Some of them make sense, some of them don't. It's probably the far-fetched nature of the story that has turned off most viewers. If you're prepared to suspend disbelief, you're sure to experience a lively time but it won't be something that you'll long remember, hence the popcorn feel of the production.

 

Most of the film has been shot on location in London, England and Sofia, Bulgaria. There are some spectacular aerial views of London which enhance the visual experience. Technically, the film is superior with its editing first rate in the action scenes.

 

Fans of the charisma and exuberance usually shown by Brosnan will be disappointed because of his portrayal of a cold-hearted killer. There's nothing appealing about him. He actually doesn't suit the role as it's hard to imagine him as anything but a good guy in action flicks. Jovovich has appeared in a number of action films and is a heroine you could cheer for.

 

If you don't mind action/thrillers that take you on a roller coaster ride which has some preposterous scenarios, then you're going to enjoy Survivor. I cannot accuse it of not being entertaining. Judging by the poor audience reaction, perhaps your opinion might be different to mine.

 

Starring Milla Jovovich, Pierce Brosnan, Dylan McDermott and Robert Forster

(96 minutes)

Parental advice: Violence, coarse language and adult themes

Additional scene during or after credits: No

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvkhoqo6QQ4 (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Wednesday 1st July, 2015)

 

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