The Enforcer

Got back from cinema tonight and I don't think I regretted going. It is a bit laughable at times in terms of plot believability(l (how did Banderes know the Chinese restaurant worker would happen to have the money clip???)

But crucially ....I never got bored and never looked at my watch

It's 90 mins which is my best movie length

Dumb, inconsistent plot, weird plot developments, poor character narrative and lots of weird funny

However...Banderes is a good actor as is the young lad. Nice sunny scenery and good action

Glad I went and I'd recommend going to watch it as a simple fun movie. Go and see it.

Wow, did they get things wrong with this movie.

BEWARE: THIS IS NOT A TOUGH ACTION MOVIE. AT ALL.

Worst combination of genres possible. Clint Eastwood perfected the tough guy genre. Liam Neeson did it again with the "Taken" series. But Antonio Banderas fails to become a real tough guy. Not because he cant act like one, but because of this TERRIBLE script that cant seem to decide wether this is sentimental tearjerker or a tough action crime movie.

Not any good? Well, the start was really violent and heavy and impressive. I honestly thought I was in for a solid butch action crime movie. But that promising start only lasted for some 20 minutes. Bummer!

The bad: then after some 20 minutes we suddenly get to see "tough" criminal Antonio Banderas suddenly turn into a sentimental dad, stuttering and embarassing himself while seeing his daughter for the first time in years.

Then after that we get to see minutes long of a lovey dovey romantic scene with another supposedly "tough" crime guy. And this goes on and on throughout the entire movie. Apperently sentimental wokism has even penetrated the crime movies genre!

Really strange and CRINGEWORTHY mix of ( a little bit) of violence and LOTS of sentimental lovey dovey stuff.

But its not outstanding in any matter, its projects that ''starting to get worn out'' actors do, when the ka-ching busters are way in the past, just to survive, a enforcer and his apprentice, with a little bit fighting, a little bit violence, a little bit gore and a little bit of love and emotions. Its mostly flat on caracter development, and youll have to be deep in the dark to eventually pick up the code of the language used. Also the end part where somewhat abrubt and storyless, they couldve made more there and quit some nonsense erotic scenes that plotwise where pretty much used as a timefiller.

But nevertheless, mr banderas saves the pieces of glory in the end, he has still the voice and the demeanors to act as a keg of black powder, the grumpy old man just wonder if he speaks so gebrochent english in real life??? A small recommend.

Some of the external reviews say this film is "predictable." Not really a fair criticism, all films are predictable in that they all have a beginning a middle and an end. They all tell a story. The real issue is, is the film entertaining, does it hold the attention, does it connect? In this one, Banderas (age 62!) plays the semi-retired hitman feeling pangs of regret, trying to do the right thing. Similar to 1995's Assassins, where he played opposite Stallone. Does the film work? Yes? Mainly because of his star power, good direction, editing, casting. He makes you care about what happens next. Above average. Recommended. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Methodical and meandering at a good pace we are entertained immensely by all in the film but, its Antonio Banderas who holds each and every part of this amazing crime thriller together. The script is good and rolls out perfectly from everyone whilst, the individual roles are enacted with realism and believable feelings.

The story is slightly different from the usual crime thriller - in so much as it can be - because, its a film that has three story's going on but they are smoothly fused together. As being a film of the times it is a lot more graphically violent, but not so much as to make to cringe or throw up. It had an old film noir feeling to it at certain points, and the undercurrent that this adds is a treat to watch unfurling towards a climax of uncertain happening. Editing and lighting and camera angles were all just right, unhurried and tight but not cropped out of view etc.

One of this years well worth watching films I will say. Banderas has still got the skills!