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Gemini Man

(3 popcorn boxes)

  Director Ang Lee has brought us some amazing films… Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon… Brokeback Mountain… Life of Pi… I expected great action scenes in Gemini Man and was not disappointed.

  Will Smith is amazingly charismatic, but his films are hit and miss at best…Men in Black… After Earth… Suicide Squad… I expected him to be charming in Gemini Man and he was.

  In Gemini Man, Henry Brogan (Smith) is a highly specialized and valued hitman for the government. He is retiring, but he has come across some information that makes him dangerous to the government. Of course, we all know what that means. AMF is the phrase used in the film. Adios, M.F. Funny.

  As Brogan is evading the government squads out to kill him, he meets and keeps Agent Danny Zakarweski (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). That is a wise choice. This character is well-written and much more interesting than Brogan, I fell in love with her.

  As the government runs out of agents to send after Brogan, Clay Verris (Clive Owen) an evil private businessman/ mercenary (there is always an evil mercenary) sends his secret weapon. Yep. A Brogan clone. You already know that from the previews? Shoot.

  The great action scenes and great chemistry between Brogan and Danny can’t help the fact that the storyline itself is flawed. I feel the writers were trying to be shocking with the clone idea, but it really wasn’t shocking.

  I will give the film three boxes out of five. I would absolutely see it again for the motorcycle chases and Will Smith/Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Wandering into the DNA editing narrative to make solders who don’t feel pain was a fatal flaw. Not feeling pain doesn’t mean a human clone body will continue to fight when it’s been riddled with bullets or knifed in the liver.

  Gemini Man is rated PG-13 for violence and action. And yet, it didn’t seem terribly violent. Maybe a little too cleaned up for an assassin film. Try watching The Professional, The Bourne Identity (any Matt Damon Bourne film) or John Wick. Much better assassin films.

  Check this week’s issue of the Frankenmuth News for a complete listing of shows and times.

MOVIE TRIVIA

   Mary Elizabeth Winstead looked vaguely familiar to me so I tried to find something I’ve seen with her in it. Apparently, she does appear in this really good FX show in 2017. The show is based on a Coen brothers film.

LAST WEEK’S MOVIE TRIVIA

  Nick Nolte has had a loooong and storied career, but I laugh just thinking about his comedic turn in this 1986 film starring Bette Midler and Richard Dreyfuss. Down and Out in Beverly Hills.