Movie Review: Safe House

I can never quite get my head around Denzel Washington being a bad-ass. In my mind he's an ordinary, everyman hero-of-the-people so whenever he plays a psycho or supervillain I always feel like I'm watching my dad dress up in a Freddie Krueger Halloween costume. It might be scary, but I know it's still my dad underneath.

In Daniel Espinosa's Safe House, Denzel plays Evil Jack Bauer, a former CIA agent who's been off reservation so long, redemption seems impossible (should he even wants it in the first place). When Dark Denz comes into possession of a secret MacGuffin that could bring down some very bad people in very high places, suddenly everybody wants a piece of him: from waterboarding aficionado Robert Patrick (memo to the former X-Files Agent Doggett: who ate all the cow pies?) to sneaky espionage chiefs Sam Shepard, Brendan Gleeson and Vera Farmiga.

That's certainly a top notch cast... though the real star of Safe House is Ryan Reynolds, playing a vulnerable young pup determined to teach old dog Denzel some new tricks. Despite starring in the worst film of 2011, Reynolds can do little wrong in my eyes. He's an action hero with a heart and it's good to see him flexing his acting chops beyond his usual twinkly-eyed smart-ass roles to stand up against Denzel and co. in a Bourne-esque thriller that benefits from a fast-paced (and only occasionally implausible) plot and imaginative South African locations.

A cut above your average action movie then... if you can swallow Denzel as a bad-ass. (Robert Patrick certainly looks like he's game.)

Source Code

Sgt. Colter Stevens has just 8 minutes to discover who bombed a Chicago passenger train in order to help prevent future attacks. In theory, he gets as many shots at the eight minutes as he needs. Though like all the best time travel adventures, time is running out...

Equal parts Quantum Leap, Groundhog Day and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Duncan Jones's Source Code is my favourite film of the year so far. It manages to mix against-the-clock thriller with psychological mystery, plus also finds time for a very sweet romantic subplot. Like Jones's previous film, Moon, the less you know going in, the more you'll enjoy it. It has been the subject of much post-film debate in our office, though I will argue in defence of the majority of the time travel logic at work here (despite unreliable narrator Jeffrey Wright's dogged insistence that it isn't time travel) and the unexpectedly upbeat ending. Both worked for me, making this a movie experience that was equally thought-provoking, surprising and heart-warming.

Beyond the complex storyline and edge-of-your seat pace, the cast was perfect. Jake Gyllenhaal has floundered somewhat recently (Prince of Persia?) but this was as confident a stab at leading man as he's yet delivered - made me think of the first time I saw Matt Damon play Bourne... which is interesting as Gyllenhaal is rumoured to be pencilled in as Damon's replacement in that franchise. He was supported by two of the most naturally beautiful actresses currently working in Hollywood - Michelle Monaghan and Vera Farmiga, both providing warm and emotive turns. And then there's Jeffrey Wright, doing his very best 'creepy Orson Welles' impersonation in a role that's sure to gain him more attention. The first film this year that I've wanted to go right back in and watch again from the beginning, and a must-add to my DVD collection when that time comes.