Hollywood big wigs in ‘Criminal’

THE thrilling espionage movie starring Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Kevin Costner and Tommy Lee Jones tracks the story of the right man in the wrong body. In a last- ditch effort to stop a diabolical plot, a dead CIA operative’s memories, secrets, and skills are implanted into an unpredictable and dangerous death- row inmate in hopes that he will complete the operative’s mission.

Criminal delves into the inner workings of the mind when CIA agent Bill Pope (Reynolds) tragically disappears in the middle of an urgent, top-secret mission. He has been tracking the brilliant hacker known as “The Dutchman” (Michael Pitt), who, while navigating the lawless Dark Web, has uncovered the means to take charge of the entire weaponry of the U.S. military’s Central Command.

With Pope’s death, every vital piece of information he discovered about The Dutchman and his whereabouts is wiped out forever, until the CIA embarks on an unprecedented medical intervention – an experimental surgery that might implant Pope’s DNA directly into the synapses of another man’s brain.

Maverick neurosurgeon Dr. Franks ( Tommy Lee Jones) carries out the procedure but first finds the one person who might be able to absorb Pope’s memories: a treacherously unhinged death-row convict named Jerico Stewart (Costner), whose childhood brain damage makes him unpredictable yet an ideal candidate. Left without empathy or emotions, Jerico might provide a blank slate for taking on Pope’s memories.

opens today from OctoArts Films International.

Charlize Theron is back as Snow White’s ex-tormentor Queen Ravenna in ‘ The Huntsman: Winter’s War’