One Line Review: The Protege, which was supposed to be an action film, ended up being a parody.
Youtube Trailer The Protege
Starring: Maggie Q, Samuel L Jackson
Director: Martin Campbell
Release Date: 19 August 2021
Introduction
Maggie Q dominates the film even in the credits, for contractual reasons, the name of Michael Keaton appears first. Q has this look between a totally assumed femininity bathed in new codes of defense against persistent misogyny when the opportunity arises. As is the case here. Slender, sculptural, convincing, determined, she is in almost every scene in this revenge film by New Zealander Martin Campbell, among others, two James Bond, GoldenEye / The Eye of Fire (1995) and Casino Royale (2006).
Plot analysis and the constant flaw in the spy movies
So, Anna was raised by a world-class assassin after she gets abandoned by her parents. But after he (the assassin) gets brutally murdered by a renowned gang, Anna decides to take revenge. Actually, she swears to take revenge. Which kinds of makes it deeper and, you know, serious. The boredom in these stories remains that they are complicated, creating a multitude of characters, to the point that we no longer know where we are. What does it matter since Campbell has the perfect sense of timing, this timing, for the impure, this good moment which allows us to win the toughest tale of enemies, favors surprises even if it means confusing the spectators and seems to have an innate sense for the mastery of action scenes, here very numerous and inevitable.
The only moment of respite, a brief bed scene between Anna (Q) and Rembrandt – does he master his art of crime like the master of painting? Over time, Michael Keaton seems to get younger and, here, gets rid of his usual tics; Between Anna / Q and Rembrandt / Keaton, we are ready to dream of a possible love affair without expecting Campbell to bring us back to order.
Let’s check the elements of the movie
Predictable? Not really. Clever? Probably, with a rather peculiar sense of humor, a bit old-fashioned it must be admitted, but still functional, small replicas or murderous observations that the scenario of Richard Wenk (a regular in action films led by all these He-men – virile men or also known as big bra s, so present on the screen a short time ago) still makes it effective.
But here, the job is taken by a resourceful woman, strong-minded, unbeatable, retaining her femininity. Sign of the new times which are not to displease, giving films of this genre a new touch, a desired parity in the distribution of roles.
“Revenge is expressed in the guise of a woman with two faces that are, after all, that a single. As for the French Protégé of the original title, it refers to a Vietnam with colonialist sources, including those of France.”
And there is also Samuel J. Jackson (Moody), always equipped with such conviction in his role that one cannot find fault with him. On another note, Campbell allows himself a nod to his James Bonds by locating the action in various countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Viet Nam). In these stories of fights, explosions, clashes of all kinds, evil is everywhere and the cinema is there to take care of punishing bad boys (“Bad Guys” wherever they are.
Conclusion
Men enter, fight, take revenge, kill, disappear. Revenge is expressed in the guise of a woman with two faces that are, after all, that a single. As for the French Protégé of the original title, it refers to a Vietnam with colonialist sources, including those of France.
