Thursday, April 28, 2016

The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: CRIMINAL


The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: 
on CRIMINAL (2016, 113 minutes, R)

The Quick of It -
The choices this week were tough on a minor level, but CRIMINAL won out.  And it was a decent choice...


Growing up through the years Kevin Costner built and stumbled in his career, I have a place in my movie-critic-heart knowing he can be great.  In this film, he plays as Jericho Stewart, a man who suffered major brain damage and sitting on death-row, and is the solution to a CIA botched operation.  They crack open Bill Pope's (Ryan Reynolds) brain to transfer memories, and things only get botchier from there. 


With supporting roles handled by an aged Tommy Lee Jones, the ever-powerful Gary Oldman, the titillating Gal Gabot, and the serial villain Jordi Molla, CRIMINAL played out as a very different spy story.  This is all thanks to the writing team of Douglas Cook and David Weisberg, with Costner's performance strengthening the depth of the troubled antihero.  Director Ariel Vromen (also known for THE ICEMAN... of little note) must have considered this a dream project.


This is a great film for spy action that has a very different and brutal spin.  Costner plays that meanest non-spy guy you will ever watch in action, making you want to see what he will do next... and next... 

Grade: B+

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