As a long-time action movie enthusiast who’s seen more than my fair share of CIA agents with murdered wives, I can confidently say that “Classified” is a film that doesn’t exactly rewrite the genre’s rulebook, but it certainly adds a few pages to the B-Movie Acting Guide. Aaron Eckhart, our perennial CIA agent, delivers a performance that’s as grizzled as ever, and his character’s emotional journey is as deep as a puddle on a hot summer day.
Apart from death and taxes, there’s an undeniable pattern in life: If Aaron Eckhart is involved in a movie, chances are he’ll portray either a current or former CIA operative, often with a deceased spouse. Some might find this recurring theme unremarkable unless the movies, like Roel Reiné’s latest offering “Classified,” consistently fail to impress, following the similarly generic Eckhart thrillers “Chief of Station” and “The Bricklayer.” In these films, Eckhart once again assumes the role of a CIA agent with a murdered spouse.
According to the B-Movie Acting Manual, Eckhart doesn’t expand his range as much as refine his signature squinty-eyed gaze and Clint Eastwood gravelly voice to maintain his status as a reliable star in streaming films. In this movie, he portrays Evan Shaw, a CIA agent who dozes with a gun, sews up his wounds with a staple gun, and adheres to a code of conduct that includes unconventional maxims such as “act swiftly and carry less.” Evan appears like the Sad Batman meme brought to life in a low-budget adaptation, which, it could be said, carries no dishonor.
However, the movie titled “Killers,” written by Bob DeRosa (the 2010 film featuring Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher), burdened him with numerous action thriller tropes, sluggish fight sequences, unengaging gunfights, and an ill-suited Abigail Breslin. On the bright side, it appears that Malta’s efforts to attract Hollywood productions are successful; the outdoor scenes in “Classified” showcase the stunning landscapes of Malta quite beautifully.
Typical Tale of Evil Government and Greedy Corporations
The movie’s initial titles reveal an impressive 29 executive producers, a significant figure that highlights the challenges in producing such a film, even one of mediocre quality. This number briefly diverts our attention from the introduction of Shaw, a solitary CIA assassin who has spent the past two decades silently obeying orders by deciphering coded ads for his next target’s identity.
Following the receipt of his task, he obtains a briefcase containing various weapons, and subsequently carries out the assassination of either a high-ranking political figure or an influential CEO. Shaw’s unwavering loyalty towards his CIA superior (played by Tim Roth, who is typically exceptional, but appears somewhat lackadaisical in this film, as if he joined solely for the Malta location) might seem implausible, but it serves well to establish a plot revolving around government deceit and malicious corporations.
It’s not surprising that Radu Ion opts for a series of rapid-fire shootouts, chases, and fights instead of focusing on the more subtle villainous elements. After all, it’s these high-octane action sequences that eventually lead us to the intense, digitally enhanced fight scenes and car accidents. The catalyst for this adventure is Kacey (Breslin), a MI6 analyst who suggests that the government agency sending Evan his tasks has been dismantled for some time. This raises the intriguing question of who’s been giving him his orders, leading Evan to reluctantly join forces with Kacey in search of the truth.
Eckhart’s Story Is Hard to Care About
In simpler terms, it’s not surprising that we don’t feel sympathy for Kacey being Evan’s long-lost daughter since this isn’t a characteristic of B-movies. Breslin brings needed humor and liveliness to this tense thriller, but her portrayal of Kacey as someone who could survive the constant gunfire she encounters seems unconvincing. Fortunately, the villains chasing them are poorly skilled shooters, and their combat abilities have been deliberately weakened so that Breslin and Eckhart can participate in the action scenes.
Eventually, Evan and Kacey ascend the criminal hierarchy, with some scenes featuring dialogue that seems too contrived, such as “Aren’t you afraid the boss won’t be angry with us?” The film Classified demonstrates that films shot digitally can look stunning, and a drone camera is an effective tool for depicting scale on a budget. However, these visual elements cannot mask the shortcomings of the overall production. Unfortunately, Reine’s cinematography lacks the intensity even a low-budget studio film might possess, and his melancholic score fails to build suspense or enhance excitement, despite presumably aiming to reflect Evan’s internal struggles.
Classified Works Better as a Trailer than a Feature Length Film
DeRosa’s compilation of dramatic statements and ominous warnings paints Evan as a loyal soldier who suffered for trusting a corrupt administration, while the real power lies with corporate entities. However, Classified struggles to convince us that these recurring criticisms offer anything substantial beyond empty promises. This struggle is more noticeable when there’s no heartwarming resolution in Evan reconnecting with his daughter.
This movie primarily focuses on providing mindless excitement, featuring plenty of Aaron Eckhart’s intense expressions and numerous gunfights that scatter concrete pieces across the sky. Unfortunately for some viewers, the storyline appears to be a haphazard combination of overused action thriller tropes, drawn from a well-worn playbook, as it navigates through different CIA agent characters with murdered wives that Eckhart might portray next.
Starting October 22nd, you can purchase or rent the film “Classified,” distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Saban Films, digitally.
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2024-10-21 20:31