Hollywood Hues
Slam-bang action

Timur Bekmambetov’s Wanted begins as a visual delight but soon becomes boring,
writes Ervell E. Menezes  

James McAvoy fails to impress in Wanted

TAKE a simple, gullible employee harassed by his sadistic woman boss and plodding in an interminable rut and get him to run into a sexy killer who makes James Bond, Superman and Batman look pretty tame. With lightning reflexes and the ability to whiz into space, this woman completely transforms our simpleton in Wanted into a super killer.

Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) is the one who is transformed and Fox (Angelina Jolie) is the super agent who magically endows him with these superpowers. Of course, she is aided by a host of killers who are a demolition squad under the leadership of a glib but ruthless boss Sloan (Morgan Freeman).

They belong to the Fraternity that is more than a thousand years old and their task to carry out killings of anyone given by fate itself. It is not for them to interpret, but only deliver the orders. Wesley’s dad is killed by one of the secret society members and the boss wants Wesley to avenge his death. The training is grossly violent, with the candidate beaten to a pulp and then put into a wax bath to heal. Fox plays a big part in the training.

From the outset, it is slam-bang action with special effects that are astounding. It is a visual delight but soon it tends to become blas`E9, like the many thrilling performances in a circus. The special effects, however, tend to numb one’s sensitivity despite an imaginative script by Michael Brandt. Derek Haas and Chris Morgan imbues it with an element of suspense with the different twists and turns in the story.

Do they really want him to avenge his dad’s killer or is it only a ploy by the boss Sloan? Is Fox too part of the ploy? We come to a stage where suspicion is sprinkled like mustard and no one can trust anyone. Russian director Timur Beckmambetov, creator of Night Watch series, one of the most successful Russian film franchises, is in his element. These Fraternity members can shoot from anywhere, from overturning cars and speeding trains. The stunts are breathtaking with cars even running into trains. In an open market the Russian director is put to good use by Hollywood. So is actor Konstantin Khabensky in one of the cameos.

There is not much by way of acting with James McAvoy, fresh from his success in Atonement being fairly impressive and Angelina Jolie just going through the motions as in Tomb Raider and other action films Her outstanding debut in Girl Interrupted is only a distant memory. Morgan Freeman is at best competent and oldie Terrence Stamp looking like a cross between Clint Eastwood and Jon Voight is cast in a minor role as a Russian bullet expert.

If one wants to leave your thinking caps at home and just be numbed by razzle-dazzle slam-bang action, Wanted is just the film for you. But you must also have a stomach for so much gory violence. Surely, not really recommended.

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