This movie was one of those on my list titled in my mind library as ‘saved for later.’ Somehow, the later seemed like it wasn’t forthcoming and I felt the need to declutter my to-watch list. I had too many films I knew I wasn’t going to watch saved. At some point, during the deletion process, I got bored and decided that instead of deleting blindly without really knowing what each one entails, I was going to watch their first ten minutes but in 3x mode. If I’m impressed with what I see, I’d let it stay. That was exactly how I ended up watching this entire movie. I liked it for coming with enough chaos, somehow saving me from the boredom that comes with Monday.
Kate Beckinsale plays Avery Graves, a top-tier CIA agent whose life goes downhill in one phone call. Her husband is kidnapped but his ransom, is a file named Canary Black which Avery must get, forcing her to go rogue as she plays both sides of the line to survive and to save him.
I am one to fall for a plot with a female protagonist who is not only armored with wit but fighting skills and swiftness. One thing that sold me here was that they didn’t make her look lucky, she looks well trained. She’s precise, strategic and calm even when everything’s on fire. One second she’s defusing a bomb, the next she’s flipping a guy almost twice her size. Her intelligence shows in every move, no wasted shots, no dumb decisions, just straight-up control.
Also, the stunts, Whew. The chase scenes are intense, car crashes, rooftop runs, and some wild hand-to-hand combat that had me gritting my teeth. You can tell they actually put work into the choreography because nothing feels fake or overdone. The camera work keeps up with the action without being chaotic, and Beckinsale sells every hit like she’s been training her whole life for this.
But the best part? The betrayal. That twist of betrayal hits hard. Watching Avery realize the people she trusted the most were playing her was painful. I didn’t really feel the pain anyway but I felt disappointment.
That said, there’s a little bit of flaw like a few characters barely getting enough time to matter. Character like David, Avery’s husband and her sister. But honestly, Beckinsale carries this film on her shoulders and makes it look good while doing it. The balance of brains, brawls and betrayal keeps it interesting till the last minute. By the end, I was rooting for Avery like she was my cousin or something.
Rating: 7/10
I saw IMDbs rating and I was like, are these guys serious at all? Sighs.
Anyway, if you’re into high-stakes spy thrillers with badass female leads, sharp twists, and some seriously good action choreography, this should be your next fix.