While audience members long for the realistic yet raw film concerning assassins, they have been greeted with several exaggerated tales from the likes of Quinton Tarantino and Michael Davis. Stuffed with unrealistic situations, overdone characters and improbable confrontations, the films are always hit or miss, never pleasing everyone and never generating large box-office numbers.
However, at least a few of those stereotypes looks to change with the release of Universal's Wanted.
Containing an all-star cast and a script that is as fun as it is gruesome, Wanted is a pure thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through.
As the film opens up, we are introduced to Wes, a hopeless man who spends his life going through the motions and never really making a decision for himself. He isn't happy, and sadly allows anyone and everyone speak down to him. But, all that is about to change when a series of events pave a new path for Wes' future , one full of power and true meaning.
Waking up his usual self, it takes only minutes for Wes to find himself trapped within a heated car chase and shoot out, one that ultimately leads him to Sloan, the leader of the Fraternity, a group of assassins that kill based on fate. There, Wes is taught how to control his previously misunderstood powers, using them to his advantage in the war that they call life.
Brought to the big screen in style, Wes is played by up and coming actor James McAvoy. Though he has never been in charge of carrying a film, McAvoy does a brilliant job here as he represents two polar opposites with Wes.
At the beginning of the film, McAvoy seems distant, out of it even; yet, as the film progresses, the audience vividly sees a transformation within his character as Wes becomes more confident, daring and entertaining. His dialogue begins to contain wit as he starts to think for himself, never settling for what others tell him and always wanting to play by his own rules.
Along for the journey are two former Academy Award winners in Morgan Freeman and Angelina Joile.
Tackling the stern and fierce role of Fox, Angelina Jolie reveals more than her inner kick-ass mentality as she bares it all, giving men one more reason to check out this film. But other than the obvious, it is Jolie's ability to use subtle acting and bold movements to personify both her character and her interactions with Wes. Serving as Wes' trainer for the Fraternity, Fox has a lot riding on her job; yet, Jolie's calm but intense approach helps sell her part and gives Fox give off a raw and authentic vibe that not only warrants but demands your attention.
In addition we have the backbone of the story in Fraternity leader Sloan.
Plagued by fate and a traitor, Sloan has a lot on his plate; however, he is represented as a laid back and confident man of experience. Never rushing or showing any signs of uncertainty, Sloan always looks to have things under control. Even when things get out of hand and become the work of destiny, Sloan never loses his cool, instead standing strong, determined that things will go his way.
And what better man to bring a guy like Sloan to life than Morgan Freeman. Using an unbelievably strong tone and a quiet, almost serene approach to his relationship with Wes, Freeman is able to create a mysterious yet likable character out of the man in charge.
However, even with three brilliant but expected performances to light up the screen, it was the film's story and twist that really made it all come together.
What I find truly amazing about certain films is how their writers are able to create such complete scripts. Very rarely do you get to sit down and watch a film that is so well put together, that no scene or action is unwarranted. Every small movement has a purpose and will be either referred to later on or pivotal in an unexpected twist that you should have seen coming all along. Luckily, Wanted is one of those films.
From the very beginning when we meet Wes, everything that occurs on screen has a reason. And though we may not know what it is at the time, before the final credits role, its purpose is put front and center.
Additionally, I have to commend the film for its amazing twist. While watching the film, I found myself so caught up in what was taking place on screen that I forgot about any possibility of a twist "“ making the crucial change in direction and dynamic drastic and effective as ever.
Together, all these elements came together to form an unrealistic assassin film like all the others. However, where it steers different is in its control, centering on the plot and characters within the story and building a plot around their lives, not the other way around. As a result, audience members are greeted with a more defined and controlled Kill Bill or Shoot 'Em Up, and for that they can count their lucky stars.
