Director:Â James Watkins
Cast: Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Charlotte Le Bon, Eriq Ebouaney, José Garcia, David Georgiou, Mohamed Makhtoumi, James Cox, Jérôme Gaspard, Laura-Ann Brand
Rating:Â 15
Running Time:Â 92 mins
Release Date:Â April 22nd, 2016
It is a case of unfortunate timing that BASTILLE DAY, with a near-the-start scene of a bomb going off in a Paris public area, should be released in the shadow of the tragedy of Brussels in recent weeks. It will be a crying shame if critics and social commentators will decry and criticise the film-makers, distributor and actors of this film for showing a lack of respect.
I don’t feel this is the case and I for one do not expect the film to be withdrawn like COLLATERAL DAMAGE (2001) was post-9/11. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s film suffered a holdback because of the World Trade Centre attack and a similar sense of situation. It is a fact of life that sometimes art imitates life. What’s interesting that it is always thrillers and action films, as well as horror, that get berated in the light of tragedy, seldom other genres.
In 1987, Â for example, the original LETHAL WEAPON was released around the time of the Hungerford Massacre, in which Michael Ryan, a disturbed individual, shot several innocents in this Berkshire, England, town. It didn’t stop one of the tabloids offering 12,000 free tickets to see the film, which they described in the paper as ‘the film sensation of the year’
We live in enlightened times and since Daniel Craig took over as 007, the series has been more focused on a grounded sense of awareness in the world, something that has ensured the franchise has moved with the times.
Another debate that will definitely come out of BASTILLE DAY’s release is the answer to the question that has been formulating at many parties and in discussions amongst 007 fans and purists:
“Can we see Idris Elba as James Bond?”
There is a long time to go before the final decision is made. In the meantime, BASTILLE DAY gives Elba a chance to show his chops in an enjoyable Paris-set thriller that like another recent release, Kevin Costner’s CRIMINAL, uses city locations effectively to stage great action. Just like CRIMINAL, it does rely on paying homage to previous glories, in this case the likes of TAKEN and the films of Luc Besson and DIVA, the classic cult film from 1982.
Elba is Sean Briar, a CIA agent (Elba comes across in this as more suggestive of Nick Nolte’s Detective Jack Cates from 48 HRS (1982) than 007) who is seeking a pickpocket Michael Mason (Richard Madden). At the outset of the film, Mason uses a naked female as a distraction so he can pick the pockets of observers in a Paris town square, from which he sells the goods to a local pawn shop salesman.
Meanwhile Zoe Naville (Charlotte Le Bon) is given the mission of planting a bomb in a government building, but chickens out at the last minute when the building has cleaning staff in it, having been informed that it would be empty. Mason swipes the bag containing the device but discards it just before it blows up. Mason becomes the prime suspect and the net widens to include Briar, Mason and Naville….
As with CRIMINAL, there is sufficient suspense, action, thrills and a smattering of good natured humour throughout BASTILLE DAY to keep the audience focused and indeed at the screening I attended, there was applause as well, always a good sign and something I have enjoyed hearing from the time I saw the original DIE HARD on it’s debut 70mm bow at the Odeon West End in February 1989.
Elba and Madden are a great pairing. Having not seen much of Elba’s work, he has proved his worth here. As to whether he would make a suitable 007, Â he certainly has shown some promise in the role of Briar here, but I would suggest he looks beyond that iconic role and tread his own path to great success in action – he has all the attributes that a true action superstar has. Still, we shall see who he comes up against in the running as the next phase of the legendary series commences over the next decade.
As with CRIMINAL, I struggle in the case of BASTILLE DAY a little bit with the lack of originality and over-reliance of similar works of the past, which is understandable given the plethora of reboots and Marvel movies out there at present. Not that I wish them to stop being made, merely that film-makers have evolved so much with the technology and editing choices they can make using visual effects and craftsmanship that focus on character evolution should be part of the process more. Admittedly, there is stunning intense camerawork and editing on show here which adds to the thrills and enhances the performances to a new height.
It still comes down to good storytelling and screenwriting choices, but in the meantime, leave your troubles at the door and let Idris Elba take you for a Paris thrill-ride.
Verdict
