Acclaimed Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame filmmaker duo The Russo Brothers continue to put their mark on both the theatrical and streaming worlds.
They produced, wrote, and directed this big-budgeted Netflix action-thriller, that even managed to entice the usually indie-film specialist Ryan Gosling – as a deadly ‘Jason Bourne-esque’ assassin.
It has already been given the green light for a sequel – much like the Chris Hemsworth-led Extraction was a Russo Brothers-produced Covid pandemic hit for the streaming service two years ago already has – and it’s not hard to see why.
Without ever really moving the needle.
In fact, pretty much like the aforementioned Extraction. Good solid ‘Saturday night takeway’ actioner fare.
Oscar-nominee Gosling’s (La La Land and Bladerunner 2049) ‘Sierra Six’ – who was recruited to work as a killer for the CIA’s ‘Sierra’ program in return for his jail freedom after murdering his abusive father – is hunted down by the same security agency that trained him after coming across sensitive information that implicates rising company official Denny Carmichael (Regé-Jean Page).
Stopping at nothing to extract said ‘corruption’ data from the now ‘gone rogue’ Six – who is aided by fellow agent Dani Miranda (No Time to Die’s Ana de Armas) and retired former-boss Donald Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton) – Carmichael hires Chris ‘Captain America’ Evans’ sociopathic mercenary Lloyd Hansen to track him down and retrieve the hard drive.
And while this has been done more impressively elsewhere, a few twists and turns and solid production values, coupled with ‘game’ performances from leads Gosling and Evans, and an always-good-value Thornton, makes this energetically watchable.
It could have maybe done a little more in all areas across the board to really make it a genre stand out – which leaves it in the ‘grey’ middle-ground zone for action films – but with the Russo’s finger-prints all over it, this is definitely well worth two hours of your time.
ESP Rating: 3/5
Gavin Miller
Netflix Exclusive, Out Now
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana De Armas, Regé-Jean Page, Billy Bob Thornton, Jessica Henwick, Shea Whigham, Robert Kazinsky, Alfre Woodard & Callan Mulvey
Running Time: 2 Hrs 9 Mins
Directors: Anthony & Joe Russo