Before Anthony Mackie returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), he stars in the Apple TV series “12 12 12”, reuniting with his “Synchronic’ co-star Jamie Dornan.
I’m still an advocate for “Synchronic”, so the prospect of seeing these two share top billing again immediately caught my interest. This time, Mackie plays disgraced FBI agent Jack Strickland, while Dornan portrays Paul Galvin, an American career criminal determined to take on one last job.
Their target? A bank vault buried beneath Zurich. As someone who can’t resist stopping to watch “Inside Man” whenever it’s on, I find this setup intriguing. Creators Jim Keeble and Dudi Appleton, who serve as writers, showrunners, and executive producers, structure each episode around three clocks: 12 months to plan the robbery, 12 hours to execute it, and 12 days to deal with the aftermath.
Both Mackie and Dornan also serve as executive producers, alongside pilot director Kari Skogland, who previously directed Mackie in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”. That means two reunions to look forward to, and I’m eager to see what Skogland and Mackie bring to a character already facing challenges before the story begins.
The familiar aspect of the plot is Paul deciding he can squeeze in one more score before settling down with marriage and fatherhood. I’ve seen enough of these types of series to know that “one last job” is often the most dangerous phrase a man can utter.
Jack has his own motivations for ensuring this job goes smoothly, which adds an interesting dynamic between the two characters. Paul seeks a future beyond his criminal past, while Jack aims to salvage his tarnished career. Both have compelling reasons to walk away, which makes their determination to continue worth exploring.
Jack Kesy plays Bobby Galvin, with Agathe Rousselle as Severine and Sallie Harmsen as Lena. I’m especially glad to see Rousselle appear, especially after her performance in *Titane*. She has a knack for making viewers curious about her characters even before we learn much about them, which is essential in a story where the order of revelations adds to the appeal.
However, I do have a reservation about the format. With three timelines, the writers have three opportunities to keep me hanging, and there are only so many times I want to be pulled away from a scene that’s getting good.
What I’m most interested in is what occurs after the vault doors are opened. I’m eager to see the satisfaction of careful planning paying off, followed by the tension of a character facing an unexpected decision.
A year gives Paul plenty of time to envision what his life could be after the job, while twelve days give Jack ample opportunity to disrupt that vision. This aspect of “12 12 12” is what I would keep coming back for, even if the vault itself drew me in initially.
Final Grade: B+
The first two episodes of “12 12 12” will be available on Apple TV tomorrow, with new episodes released weekly until Christmas Day.
Nineties R&B was home to many female groups, so standing out took more than good looks and a major industry endorsement. I still remember seeing Allure in a Vibe ad and thinking how gorgeous those four women were. The question was whether they had the talent to compete in the music scene.
In 1996, I first heard the Houston quartet Ideal on the Original Gangsters soundtrack. Their interpretation of Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues,” featuring the Chi-Lites, caught my attention.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit 2004 and highlight Romeo’s debut solo album, formerly of Immature. Titled “Food for Thought” and released on June 22nd, this project marked the singer’s change of name to Young Rome in an effort to distance himself from the youthful sound of his group, much like his bandmate Marques Houston had done a year earlier.