Should you watch this if it’s free? Yes.
Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? If you’re a fan of any of the cast, yes.
Score: 2.6/5
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 113 minutes (~2 hours)
“Criminal” is a science fiction action thriller about a remorseless criminal who has the mind of a CIA agent implanted in him. He soon finds that with great power comes great responsibility. It stars Kevin Costner (Jericho Stewart), Gal Gadot (Jill Pope), Tommy Lee Jones (Dr. Franks), Gary Oldman (Quaker Wells), Alice Eve (Martha Lynch), Michael Pitt (Jan Stroop), Jordi Molla (Xavier Heimbahl), Antje and Traque (Elsa). It is rated NC-16.
“Criminal” is filled with talented cast members who put up good performances, and has a very interesting premise to start with. The problem is that it doesn’t explore the ramifications of its premise as thoroughly as it should, instead trying to make it a symbolic fable about… emotions? It’s not clear what “Criminal” is trying to achieve, even if you can see the ending coming a mile away. Also, it’s slightly amusing to see so many actors from Batman films coming together (Gal Gadot/Wonder Woman, Gary Oldman/Commissioner Gordon, Tommy Lee Jones/Two-Face).
Highlights
The conflicted Dr Frank
Dr Frank (Tommy Lee Jones) may be on the cutting edge of neural technology, but he’s the most morally conflicted of all the characters. You can see his ethical side struggling to overcome his scientific mind as he conducts the memory implantation procedure. Even later, it’s a constant battle not to let his academic curiosity overpower his medical principles. Tommy Lee Jones gives a riveting performance as the pained professor, and is the most well-rounded character in the film.
Letdowns
Forced symbolism
You know that the film wants to explore themes of omniscience and omnipotence thanks to the names and references, like Heimbahl (sounds like Heimdall, the Norse watcher god) and Orwell (who wrote 1984, a dystopian novel when the government surveils everything), but these issues aren’t actually explored in the film. Then there are oh-so-symbolic names like Pope (morality) and Jericho (penetrating barriers) which again, suggest themes without truly going there. It feels forced and patronising, and you question the point of all this symbolism in the first place.
Exaggerated gore
There’s a heaping amount of blood and violence and pain, but it’s just there for the shock factor. It feels tasteless since it’s not necessary for plot or character development. One or two demonstrations is enough to show that Jericho (Kevin Costner) is a hardened criminal, rather than belabouring the point through yet another violent bashing. The film forgets about it later on, showing that it wasn’t even that important to the story in the first place.
Inept law enforcement authorities
Can Quaker Wells (Gary Oldman) and his officers do anything right? They’re the last to know, the last to arrive, and the last to do anything in every situation. All the other factions are smaller and have fewer resources, but somehow they can achieve so much more. It’s a wonder they’re able to accomplish anything, besides screaming at Jericho half the time.
Awkward semi-romance
You can see this coming a mile away. Jill (Gal Gadot) is Bill’s (Ryan Reynolds) wife, and Bill’s memories are placed in Jericho. So when Jericho meets Jill… what are we supposed to feel? Do we root for Jill-Jericho, since Bill is in Jericho? But then Bill is dead, so isn’t it sort of being unfaithful on Jill’s part? We can’t root for Bill-Jill for obvious reasons. It’s a jumble of emotions, and no matter who you root for, it’s going to feel kind of like some gross violation.
“Criminal” feels like it should be a good movie, but it isn’t.
“Criminal” opens in cinemas 21 April, 2016 (Thursday).
This review was also published on Yahoo!.
Does anyone know how they found my name, Jan Stroop, and why they liked to use it? I am a real Dutchman, I twitter, but I am no hacker.
Well, it’s fiction.