Aaron Eckhart continues his trend of top-lining second-tier action flicks in “Classified” from Saban films. Roel Reiné directs the film from a script by Roel Reiné. Evan Shaw (Aaron Eckhart) is a CIA officer who has spent the last two decades alone in the field. He uses the “Help Wanted” section of the newspapers to get his orders from the agency.
Things take a turn, though, when his long-lost daughter Kacy Walker (Abigail Breslin), now a UK MI6 analyst, tracks him down to deliver shocking news: his CIA boss, Kevin Angler (Tim Roth), has been dead for years, and the division, long since shut down. Together, they set out to discover whose orders he’s been executing. As an avid film buff, I am okay with a low-budget actioner. If the script is mundane and the plot is clichéd, all I ask is that the film taps into the fun aspects of the plot and focuses on the action scenes.
Given what Roel Reiné accomplished with the film “Fistful of Vengeance,” I had some hopes for the film. Sadly, from the opening scene, which is too bucolic to be accurate, the director takes the side of a latent tension that takes precedence over real “action. Eckhart’s hero wears a grimace that says I’m tired of playing roles like but determined to get that paycheck. The brooding tough guy persona doesn’t work this time around.
One-time Oscar nominee Abigail Breslin doesn’t fare much better. Instead of giving her character some moxie, she comes off as annoying. The argument could be that she’s a grown woman with “daddy issues,” and that was the purpose, but her chemistry with our lead is almost non-existent. The two previously worked together on the 2007 “No Reservations” film, where they had chemistry. However, after seeing this film, maybe their lack of chemistry is the Breslin accused Eckhart of “aggressive, demeaning and unprofessional” behavior on set.
Tim Roth’s portrayal essentially adheres to the stereotypical boss archetype and, akin to Eckhart, appears to be motivated primarily by financial incentives, failing to showcase his full potential. The remaining segments of the film exhibit a lack of coherence in tone, characterized by disruptive flashback sequences and unremarkable action scenes.
While it may not land on my ten worst yet, “Classified” is one even action movie purists can skip.
Final Grade: D+
“Classified” is available to buy or rent digitally tomorrow.
Martial arts auteur Siyu Cheng delivers his latest action-packed fest in “The Tai Chi Master” from Well Go USA. The Tai Chi Master” examines the journey of Zhang Junbao, a dedicated disciple of Wuji, who emerges as a crucial figure during significant upheaval.
On a musical level, the documentary is a library of Williams’ great works. It’s dramatic performances of his most famous songs, such as the classic “Star Wars” marches, the grand piano music from “Jurassic Park,” and the melancholy music from “Schindler’s List.” Each song is part of a narrative, a call to revisit old films and remember their heart-wrenching connections. Its thrilling finale (which celebrated his work on “Harry Potter”) also underscores the longevity of his music among audiences today.
Megan Fox teams up with director S.K. Dale to bring her feminine wiles to the world of A.I. in “Subservience” from XYZ Films. Will Honley and April Maguire wrote the film’s screenplay. Alice (Fox) is a lifelike, artificially intelligent android who can care for any family and home. Looking for help with the housework, struggling father Nick (Michele Morrone) purchases Alice after his wife Maggie (Madeline Zima) becomes sick. Alice suddenly becomes self-aware and wants everything her new family has to offer, starting with the affection of her owner — and she’ll kill to get it.