Oscar Winner Adrien Brody’s Epic Flop: The Untold Story of ‘Air Strike’!

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Adrien Brody, a highly skilled actor in Hollywood, has been garnering attention lately due to his latest Oscar victory. In the film “The Brutalist,” Brody delivered an exceptional performance that earned him his second Academy Award for Best Actor. Other notable contenders for this award included Timothée Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”), Colman Domingo (“Sing Sing”), Ralph Fiennes (“Conclave”), and Sebastian Stan (“The Apprentice”). However, Brody managed to outshine them all in this competitive race.

It’s well-known that Adrien Brody is highly acclaimed as an actor today, but not everyone knows that he has also been in some big-budget box office failures in the past. One such movie is Adrien Brody’s 2018 film Air Strike. Given that he worked with Bruce Willis and Mel Gibson (who was a producer on the film), it probably wasn’t what Brody expected, but unfortunately, Air Strike did not fare well. With a budget of $65 million, this WWII epic, meant to honor wartime resilience, faced one obstacle after another, eventually failing to even get off the ground.

What Is ‘Air Strike’ About?

In the movie “Air Strike,” a key storyline revolves around five Chinese individuals standing firm to safeguard a crucial military device in Chongqing, under constant bombardment from the unyielding Japanese Air Force. Yet, the film doesn’t solely focus on this central plot; it expands into various subplots, shedding light on the extremely dangerous and devastating impacts of warfare not only for combatants but also for blameless bystanders.

The movie starts off with an explosion, laying the groundwork for the events that follow. It takes place in 1937 China, which is experiencing intense bombing by the Japanese. As they flee to the city of Chongqing to survive and protect their home, the Chinese find themselves at the heart of the story. The main character is Col. Jack Johnson, portrayed by Bruce Willis. His role is to instruct a Chinese fighter group, who, despite having few resources and facing immense opposition, are tasked with repelling enemy attacks and shielding their homeland.

In a shift from the main plot, the storyline of Air Strike incorporates the theme of revenge through a character who is a pilot and has lost his brother. Interestingly, this same pilot had distributed leaflets over Nagasaki, an action that motivates the Japanese to capture him at all costs. Meanwhile, another subplot follows a pilot-turned-spy trying to smuggle a crucial, confidential artifact – potentially capable of altering the war’s outcome – through dangerous territories. Besides highlighting the perilous lives of the pilots, Air Strike also sheds light on the devastating impact of war on ordinary civilians, emphasizing the human toll of the conflict.

Why Did ‘Air Strike’ Flop?

In theory, Air Strike appears to be an ambitious movie boasting a somewhat convoluted but robust storyline. History has shown that films with complex plots can still thrive, though. Regrettably, however, Air Strike never quite managed to gain altitude. Despite boasting well-known Hollywood actors along with its gifted Chinese cast, it ended up being a colossal flop. The film received harsh criticism on both the commercial and critical fronts, ultimately sinking due to reasons such as production controversies, flawed execution, and distribution troubles.

A key factor contributing to Air Strike’s downfall was the financial scandal surrounding actress Fan Bingbing, who starred in the movie. Her tax evasion was exposed on Chinese television by host Cui Yongyuan, causing a seismic shock in the entertainment industry and ultimately proving fatal for Air Strike. Bingbing remained out of the limelight for several months, and the scandal’s lingering impact on the film’s reputation resulted in significant delays and negatively affected its standing before it even hit the screens.

Besides the embezzlement controversy, Air Strike struggled with subpar production values as well. Although the film boasted impressive sets and convincing aerial battles, several scenes were perplexing due to sloppy CGI effects and disjointed narratives that unfolded concurrently, despite their simultaneous occurrence. As a result, Air Strike was plagued with a lack of clarity, making it challenging for viewers to fully appreciate the action.

Eventually, the movie, initially planned for a Chinese cinema debut, got canceled at the last moment due to scandals and intense government review. Instead, it was distributed through streaming platforms in the U.S. rather than having a wide release. To put it simply, the film had limited distribution and failed to achieve noteworthy success at the box office.

What Do Viewers and Critics Think of ‘Air Strike’?

Due to the unfavorable anticipation surrounding the movie before its release, it’s hardly unexpected that both critics and audiences didn’t take a liking to Air Strike. On Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer, the film has dismal 0% approval, while viewers have given it a low score of 12%. If there is any agreement about the movie, it’s that Air Strike was undoubtedly a failure. Reza Noorani, from The Times of India, echoed sentiments commonly held: “Air Strike” was a massive letdown.

Although it has a flawed script and lackluster plot, the film stands out for its stunning fight scenes. Regrettably, apart from these actions, this World War II movie offers little else that’s engaging or inspiring.

In line with critic’s opinions, viewers too voiced disapproval about the film’s complex plot and special effects in their comments. Although some attempted to find positive aspects of the movie, they failed, acknowledging that the film appeared poorly made and sloppily assembled when viewed as a whole. Both Adrien Brody and Bruce Willis have faced criticism for being involved in a production of the quality found in ‘Air Strike’. A viewer expressed their thoughts by saying:

Initially, I was quite enthusiastic about this film due to my fondness for Bruce Willis and World War II-themed movies. However, I was sorely disappointed. The film’s special effects, such as the artificial-looking planes and explosions (though they might have been intentionally exaggerated), were poor. The last action scene featuring a plane landing on a truck was so unrealistic and laughable that it left me in fits of laughter. It’s hard to believe that Bruce Willis would be involved in a production of this quality. And Adrian Brody, who seemed to have just five lines despite being billed as having a significant role? His appearance felt more like a brief cameo than a substantial part. Goodness!

I was excited for the movie because I love Bruce Willis and WWII films. But it was terrible. The fake-looking planes, explosions (maybe they were supposed to look that way), and unrealistic actions made me laugh. The last scene where a plane lands on a truck was so ridiculous! It’s hard to believe Bruce Willis would be in such a movie. Adrian Brody had just a few lines, yet he’s listed as a major character. That felt more like a quick cameo than a significant role. Wow!

Air Strike is now available to stream on Tubi and Peacock.

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2025-03-09 20:08