Frank Grillo’s ‘MR-9: Do or Die’ is the Must-See Action Thriller of the Year!

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Over the years, he has established himself as one of Hollywood’s most dependable tough guys, and the action-packed Bangladeshi film MR-9: Do or Die could very well be among his finest works. This movie is currently gaining momentum on the Starz streaming platform, attracting a surge of action enthusiasts who are drawn to its explosive narrative that combines international intrigue, espionage, and gunfights.

MR-9: Do or Die is based on a well-known Bangladeshi novel series, starring our protagonist, code-named Masud Rana (ABM Sumon). In this thrilling tale, Grillo portrays an enigmatic adversary, orchestrating lethal arms trades that powerful authorities aim to halt. The narrative unfolds as Rana is recruited to bring an end to the violent rule of Grillo’s character, Roman Rains, and his brother Ricci (Matt Passmore), in a globe-trotting pursuit.

Over the past ten years, Grillo has been a consistent action thriller actor, yet many of his films have not received favorable critical acclaim – unlike most viewers, critics often find that gunfights in movies are repetitive and require something unique to earn positive feedback. However, Grillo’s strong on-screen persona has earned accolades on multiple occasions, especially in productions like “The Purge: Anarchy,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” as Rick Flag Sr in “Creature Commandos,” and “MR-9: Do or Die.” Notably, “MR-9: Do or Die” stands out for Grillo due to a scarcity of Rotten Tomatoes reviews.

Is ‘MR-9: Do or Die’ Worth Watching?

One critic who gave thorough praise to the film MR-9: Do or Die drew comparisons to Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible series, highlighting that despite its extended running time, it never felt tedious. Moreover, Michael Smith from MediaMikes expressed in his critique that the movie paved a definite way for potential sequels.

The acts are powerful, with Akbar’s timing being particularly well-executed. Similar to ‘MI: Dead Reckoning,’ the lengthy duration of the production flows swiftly. Additionally, there appears to be further depth to this journey yet to unfold.

From a devoted cinema enthusiast’s perspective, it would have been delightful to encounter a broader spectrum of critical opinions. However, in the spirit of reflecting contemporary America, where one-sided perspectives seem almost inevitable, I can confidently say that the movie has earned an unblemished rating in my book. Shifting gears to the audience’s viewpoint, opinions appear more fragmented, and it seems that appreciation for this film is largely dependent on whether you resonate with Grillo’s robust, action-packed acting style.

In a groundbreaking move for Bangladeshi cinema, this film – one of the country’s first with a global release and a substantial budget – is considered a pioneer in the field. As stated by Ishti in his review, “This is currently the best Bangladeshi action movie we have! A fantastic beginning. Imagine it being nationwide.” Similarly, Shuvo A emphasized the film’s significance, noting that “It’s the first Bangladeshi movie made on a large budget and with a broad platform. While there are areas where it could improve, it serves as an inspiration for our industry to produce bigger-budget films. That’s why I give it my highest rating. I hope this encourages others as well.

While others were less tolerant and not particularly fond of Grillo, as a one-star review from MD put it, “This was a terrible waste of $4… I could have watched Blue Beetle much sooner… I wanted to support my fellow countrymen… but little did I know they would create such poor quality… Well, I should have known with Frank Grillo as the lead actor it wouldn’t be so great… however, there was Milon… yet the director instructed him to deliver a monologue in English…” As the Bangladeshi film industry attempts to grow and establish itself within the U.S., there may still be some kinks that need to be worked out.

Ultimately, if you’re a Grillo enthusiast, this will spark your interest somehow. But if you’re anticipating a plotline that gives more focus to the non-American actors, you might be disappointed.

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2025-03-12 16:32