Point Blank | Film Review

Hey Guys x

I think this came out sometime last week, and it was immediately on my radar. Mainly because I'm a huge fan of Anthony Mackie and would basically watch anything he does. But thankfully, this had a really intriguing description, so I watched it as soon as I could.

It's about an ER nurse (Anthony Mackie) who is forced to team up with a criminal (Frank Grillo) when the lives of his wife (Teyonah Parris) and unborn baby are put in danger.

I really enjoyed this movie, which surprised me because, based on the description, it seems like a really generic action movie that's been made a thousand times before.

I think it's a remake of an older film, but I haven't seen the other version so I can't really compare. However, from the first scene it feels really original and interesting. You want to know what's going to happen to these characters before you really know who they are.

It's really nice to have a protagonist whose side you're on from the start. Paul (Anthony Mackie) is a character that you instantly sympathise with, and because of this, he's the main reason that you're interested in how the film will play out.

Even though the characters are vastly different, and one is a criminal, they are both characters that you root for. While this happens for the character of Paul right away, it takes a bit of time to warm to the characters of Abe (Frank Grillo) and Mateo (Christian Cooke), but the fact that you do get to really like these characters, no matter what they've done, is a testament to good writing, directing and character development.

There's also a great connection between Paul and Abe. While it doesn't quite turn into a buddy-comedy, there's something intriguing about the fact that these two characters need each other to get through the situation, even though in ordinary circumstances their paths would never cross. Of course, this trope is used in movies all the time, but there's a reason for that - it usually works as a draw for the audience. There will always be something interesting about opposites forced to work together.

My favourite thing about the movie was that the ER nurse doesn't becomes a super-skilled master assassin. He knows nothing about fighting and that shows all the way through - something that doesn't happen that often in action movies.

It also has a satisfying ending, which is definitely something that I didn't expect.

Overall, it's the age-old story of 'what would someone do to protect their family' on a small, manageable scale, with limited characters that you can get to know intimately, and an enjoyable story.

7/10

Lou