For some reason, I had not seen this movie when it was released but thanks to the recommendation from another movie enthusiast I got caught up. If you enjoyed the series McMafia, co-written then directed by James Watkins, you will like Watkins' work again. The producers managed to get a good cast, an interesting storyline and topped it with lots of action, none gratuitous, kind of like the first two Bourne movies.
Early on, the movie wastes little time before plunging you in the action; you get a sense where this may be heading and can't wait to see how it develops. There's a scene that will really have you on the edge, perhaps even gasping and if you suffer from vertigo you will not forget it; I thought at the time that it was a dangerous thing to attempt, either that or the undetectable special effects were perfect. I sure hope they used stunt doubles, because... you'll see.
The Sean Briar character seemed tailor-made for Idris Elba, going by the several performances I've seen from this actor; either it was or Elba made the lead his own. From the first scene when Briar is introduced, you know he will be at odds with the rules, the protocols and what is expected of the almost rogue CIA agent, but you also know he's one to get the job done. Michael Mason is the second main character, played Richard Madden, from Games of Throne fame, and it's a character with a complex background and an even harder mission, if you can call it such, to complete. I would best describe it, without making it a spoiler, as being caught between a rock and a hard place. Some keen script writing, and you solved the problem of conveying Mason's character complexity, as you quickly figure out.
Now some may be critical of how plausible the story develops, but it isn't anything we haven't seen some form of before; a little suspension of disbelief never hurt anyone, besides, it was necessary to go where it goes. I wondered about the budget for this production, for a second, then I didn't care anymore, I just enjoyed what I saw. There's comfort in tried and true formula 'good guys are the bad guys, and money, corruption, is the best vilain', which is what you'll get here. The ending begs for a sequel, I thought; I'd like to think this was intentional, but it ties it all up nicely, which I felt was unexpected given the mostly European cast, production and of course the venue I always like, Paris.
