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Friday, April 19, 2024
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HOLLYWOOD 3 DAYS TO KILL
EDITOR'S PICK
'3
Days To Kill' cliched plot with unconvincing graph (IANS Movie Review)
Rating: ** and 1/2
Writer Luc Besson has done some clever tweaks to the recycled story of a dying
contract killer on the verge of reconnecting with his family. One last mission,
a sexy handler with a deceitful agenda and '3 Days to Kill'.
The film tries to ape several different genres: a family drama, a love story and
an action spy thriller. However, many of these aspects fail to come together
into something concrete. Unfortunately, the plot is so cliched that it quickly
becomes a bore.
In this distinctive action-thriller, Kevin Costner plays a characteristic
licensed hit-man Ethan Renner, working for the CIA. After learning that he is
suffering from a terminal illness, he decides to give up his high stakes life in
America and returns to Paris to finally build a relationship with his estranged
wife Christina, whom he fondly calls 'Tina' and daughter Zoey, whom he
had previously kept at bay to keep them out of danger.
But he is soon tapped by a mysterious agent named Vivi Delay to identify and
help assassinate two international marketer of terrorist weapons - Wolf and
Albino - in exchange for an experimental and potentially lifesaving drugs. It is
an offer he can't refuse.
Juggling between his work and his family forms the crux of the story. The
narration gives equal footage to both.
To break the tension and add a different comical dimension to the story is the
track of black squatters residing in Ethan's long locked house in Paris.
Apart from the regular shootout and hotel blasting sequence, there is a dazzling
scene showing Ethan kidnapping an accountant on a Paris boulevard in broad
daylight.
With a gruff and unpretentious look, the charismatic Costner plays his role
convincingly. He delights the audiences as an action hero and at the same time
equally wows them as an endearing and lovable father.
He plays each scene as if he meant it, with honesty and sincerity.
Hailee Steinfeld as the stubborn and brash daughter is a competent actress and
she holds her own against Costner
Connie Nielsen as Ethan's ex-wife is not just the love interest for Costner,
hers is a solidly-written female character, but unfortunately she is not long
enough on screen to make a strong impression.
Amber Heard as the mysterious femme fatale Vivi Delay lacks depth. Her constant
wig-changing over-the-top approach takes away the seriousness of her character.
Eriq Ebouaney as Jules, the patriarch of the family that seeks refuge at Ethan's
place, is a cheerful personality and has easy-going charm, which makes his
scenes pleasant.
The others who leave an impression are Jonas Bloquet as Zoey's boyfriend Hugh, Tómas
Lemarquis as the villain Albino, Bruno Ricci as the Italian henchman named Guido
who in his desperation willingly trades off his mother's secret spaghetti sauce
recipe, and of course the kidnapped accountant.
Overall, with respectable action scenes and good production quality, the visuals
are well laid and edited. Director McG has managed to put up a good show, but
the film lacks the wow factor.
And the fault lies in screenplay writers - Adi Hasak and Luc Besson's cliched
plot, which is steaming with some major unconvincing graph.
