Bastille Day
Director: James Watkins
Talent: Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Kelly Reilly, Charlotte Le Bon
Released: 22nd April
Sean Briar (Elba) is a CIA operative known for his insubordination and take-no-prisoners attitude. Michael Mason (Madden) is a pick-pocket living hand-to-mouth on the streets of Paris. When a case of mistaken identity brings these men together, things get crazy, many people get dead and the audience gets exactly what they’d expect from Bastille Day: a solid B-grade action movie.
There’s nothing overly spectacular about the film’s premise or its execution but it does just enough to keep your heart-rate slightly above its resting minimum. Elba is in full Luther mode: Briar is a menacing guy, tough and mean. His operative-on-the-edge is the best part of the film. The buddy elements with Madden are ill-considered and never really come together. Comedy gold it’s not, and neither is it action gold really, but instead a well-polished silver. An easygoing movie that doesn’t ask too much of the viewer yet delivers just enough thrills and spills to validate its existence. It’ll do.
Words: Luke Maxwell
