What if someone gave you the opportunity to leave the existence you have always known behind for a chance to live a life beyond your wildest dreams? I think any of us who have spent time slaving away for eight hours a day in an office cubicle have asked ourselves that question. The answer can be found in 'Wanted', starring James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, and Morgan Freeman, which opens on June 27th and loosely based on the graphic novel by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones.
In the film James McAvoy plays the title character, Wesley Gibson, an Account Manager who is living an ordinary life of pushing paper while being pushed around by everyone from his boss to his best friend, and his overbearing girlfriend. One night after another lackluster day, while Wesley is getting his prescription anxiety medication filled at the local pharmacy, he turns to see a leggy brunette staring at him.
That woman is Fox, played by the always-stunning Angelina Jolie. Fox tells Wesley that he is part of an elite team of assassins and that his father whom Wesley never knew had been killed by one of their own. Suddenly Fox whips out her semi-automatic weapon as we see the man who killed Wesley’s father is at the pharmacy trying to kill Wesley.
This is the beginning of Wesley’s journey where he must choose to leave the existence he knows to become the new man he has always longed to be or so he thinks. When you join the secret order known as the Fraternity, you must become a killing machine, carrying out orders determined by fate. You live by the code: kill one, save a thousand.
Acclaimed director Timur Bekmambetov, widely known in his home of Russia with box office hits there such as Night Watch and its sequel Day Watch, has turned what could have been a typical action film into a captivating journey of sight and sound.
The effects team should certainly be commended. Though a great deal of CGI was used in the film, you would never know it, as the effects are incredibly realistic. With a score by Danny Elfman, the music definitely helps propel the story and left me wanting to run out to the nearest Best Buy to purchase the soundtrack.
Morgan Freeman plays the head of the Fraternity, Sloan, and it’s a character we have seen him play before. However, with a slightly surprising twist at the end of the film, Freeman shows a much darker side to his character that is refreshing.
Probably the highlight of the film is McAvoy’s performance. Best known for his roles in last year’s critically acclaimed and Oscar nominated film Atonement as well as his highly touted performance in 'Last King of Scotland', McAvoy’s performance is simply captivating as he transforms from a pathetic loser to cold blooded killer.
Though Angelina Jolie could probably have chemistry with a dead fish, her chemistry with McAvoy is palpable and one moment in particular is, to put it bluntly, hot.
If you are looking for an entertaining movie and you don’t mind some serious violence, I highly recommend 'Wanted'. The story is not only fun, but there are some really surprising turns to keep you engaged. Wanted really harkens back to classic action movies like 'Die Hard'.
If you are a devout fan of the graphic novel you may be disappointed as the movie is far different. However, if you're open to a loose retelling of Millar's story, I assure you it’s well worth the price of admission.
'Wanted' opens June 27th in theaters nationwide.
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