Immortal Theron leads the way
The Old Guard Netflix, July 10
One might assume that turning 40 inspired Charlize Theron to ratchet up the ass-kicking action hero in her films because since 2015’s Mad Max; Fury Road via Fast and Furious and Atomic Blonde, she has been busy thumping people onscreen. And she is very good at it. Netflix’s latest action blockbuster sees her at it again, but this time as an immortal ass-kicker. It’s a kind of Interview with the Vampire/Mission Impossible crossover with good intentions and a ropey script.
Over a scene of dead bodies, a voiceover describes how exhausting it is to be immortal. Then we meet Andy, short for Andromache the Scythian (Theron) and Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts), Joe (Marwan Kenzari) and Nicky (Luca Marinelli) on their way to a meeting with former CIA agent Copely (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who wants to recruit their elite team of ass-kickers to rescue a group of kidnapped African children. Booker has organised the meet but Andy is reluctant, still, they go ahead and they end up being the group of dead bodies from the opening scene.
No sooner shot or stabbed than they heal, their immortality a gift and a burden that has taken them through lonely centuries. But Copley has worked out their secret and, in mourning for his wife, he feels it can be used for a greater good, enter scheming pharma prodigy Merrick (Harry Melling). However, the immortals discover there is a new member of their kind, Nile
(KiKi Layne), a Marine whose miraculous recovery from death has not enchanted her colleagues. Andy wonders why there is a need for a new immortal.
Gina Prince-Bythewood directs Greg Rucka’s adaptation of his comic, which was illustrated by Leandro Fernandez. It’s refreshing to see a female-led action film. The film is also ethnically and orientationally diverse which works well in contrast with the pointless divisions that have marked the history through which these people have lived. The human element of being immortal is highlighted too but none of it is deep, Merrick is a real stereotype baddie and that lack of subtlety is seen throughout the film. It’s good fun and a mediocre film but the ending lays the ground for a sequel. HHH AINE O’CONNOR