Point Blank

Smart action thrillers are rare. Rarer still is a smart action thriller that features a complex yet comprehensible (and credible) plot, characters you care about, and vivid, crisp directing. "Point Blank" is one of these rarities. It utilizes many elements of classic action films—an innocent "good guy" who unwittingly becomes caught up in a dangerous plot, a woman in jeopardy, corrupt cops, and unexpected twists. The film avoids cliché, however, and it moves along at lightning speed (total running time is about 80 minutes). The French setting is an added bonus, and the acting and editing are very well done. Subtract a star if subtitles annoy you.

I discovered this thriller ordering some good DVDs on Amazon. I thought it must not be bad with 4.5/5 stars and rating of 6.8 out 10 on IMDb. Then the running time with 80 minutes is not so long. In fact I wasn't disappointed and I spent with my wife an entertaining evening. All the actors and the director did a good job here. Some scenes were perhaps too violent and one or two sequences not very clear to follow. But if you can look away from these little flaws it works for a solid action movie. It's not the one you will talk days later but it's definitely one of the better ones you can buy or rent in this genre. Just check it out. It takes you quick on a fast paced and packed cat and mouse chase. This will take your breath away. 6/10.

Point Blank (2010)

Not to be confused with the semi-classic 1967 movie of the same title with Lee Marvin, this is not a remake or an echo of that. What this French action thriller is fits another category--the non-stop kinetic run from the bad-guys film, which has become a kind of staple. Think the Bourne movies, or a couple later Liam Neeson films, where the hero gets himself into a terrible situation that requires running and running and running.

And that's enough, in a way, because you can't stop looking. There are no lulls. In fact, some of the moments have such kinetic surprise to them they deserve study. Your stomach will turn. Don't expect a big rationale. Don't even quite expect to care for anything except that our main man, and his wife, survive the ordeal. There are crosses and double-crosses. There is horrid abuse of women which I could do without (the rationale might just be the perils of Pauline kind of thing, saving her with the handsome male to the rescue, but it's just plain abusive). There is one female cop who is a great tough archetype. And lots of bad violent men.

But, truly, none of this is meant to matter. You just grab onto the handles and don't let go. It's really really well made, visually, the camera-work and editing taking front seat. I'd see it on the biggest screen you can, since that's where it's all at.

this movie will keep your eyes open and sit on the edge of your chair once it starts. i often consider the good french action thrillers are the most creative and original, that's why Hollywood keeps copycatting and adapting from the french movies one after another once there are new good french thriller movies in the market. "the next three days(not a bad adaptation)" and "the tourist(just horrible!)" are the most recent examples adapted from the french originals.

this 'point blank' is a great thriller from beginning to the end. the chases from the hospital to the subway station and the chaos in the hospital and the police central are just exceptionally directed, edited, acted. i was sleepy before watching this movie, but once it started, the heavy eyelids just became light and wide open.

i didn't quite like the final scene. it seems a bit unnecessary but at the same time quite necessary, and that's a funny thought.

This was a punchy, French, action based film that was quite good, but with more developed characters, could have been brilliant.

Point Blank is well paced, dramatic, entertaining and I suppose most importantly believable. A criminal escapes murder, whilst in hospital, and forces his nurse to team up with him, as he avoids the police and his killers. The reluctant nurse aids the gangster, with his kidnapped pregnant wife held captive, to escape what is a corrupt police unit. To say any more would almost spoil the plot.

PB is ambitious, true to the action-chase genre and boasts some nice French cinema, and culture elements (especially visually), but ultimately comes up short of anything other than just plain good. A refreshing spin on this sort of thing, providing a decent afternoon's viewing.