Safe House

Sometimes generic can be entertaining, right? Sometimes something that you have seen a hundred times before can be entertaining the hundred-and-first time, right?


Correct. If you got Denzel in your movie that is. 


Safe House tells the story of Westin (Ryan Reynolds) who works for the CIA by basically doing nothing. He guards a safe house in Cape Town, South Africa and nothing ever happens and he is looking for a more exciting life. Long story short, Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) is a rogue CIA agent and he gets brought into the safe house out of pure chance and...well its basically a be careful what you wish for story from there. Everything goes to hell and CIA conspiracy happens left and right. My friend made an interesting point once the movie ended. He said, "You know what would be a really good twist in a movie like this? If the CIA had NO corruption." I had to laugh, and sadly agree. But regardless, the movie is still entertaining even if the plot has been done to death. 

Fantastic. Actor.

Speaking of death...Safe House has some really great action. And for an action buff like myself to say that is pretty surprising because I thought that it would be pretty generic. And the weird thing is that it IS generic, but it is done so well and so intensely that there were a few scenes where I was holding my breath at the intensity. A car chase through Cape Town and a fight near the end of Ryan Reynolds vs. another safe house keeper flash in my mind. The type of action is similar to the Bourne movies, which is both a good and bad thing. Good because they are intense and visceral, bad because the camera work is out of control. I realize that shaking the camera makes a fight seem more intense, and it works. But when I get the feeling that the camera man is just throwing the camera up in the air during a fight scene, it is too much. Safe House treads that line closely.

In Africa. Dont matter, Im still going to wear my hoodie.

Along with the been-there-done-that-dont-care-it's-still-cool action scenes, the movie profits greatly from its two leads. Ryan Reynolds for once breaks out of his usual funny, d-bag persona and actually plays a real person, mostly successfully. I say mostly because the "romance" in the movie seems unnecessary and poorly acted on both parts -- typical for this type of movie. But the villain (or is he?) played by Denzel Washington shows just how great of an actor he is, again. He owns every role he is in and exudes bad-assedness with ease. Not Oscar worthy, but captivating nonetheless. 

(B.A.M.F.) ^ (2)

Where Safe House falters, and it falters big time, is in its middle. It is just So. Damn. Boring. After an exciting beginning, the dialogue drags, and the movie seems to come to a screeching halt. I cant quite put a finger on it, but I know I dozed off for a few minutes and that is just unacceptable. The middle is basically where the film's lack of originality shows. Was it ever going to be a classic like Shooter? Not in a long shot, but it was certainly better than the middle of the movie gives it credit for. 


So, what have we learned today?


Sometimes generic looking movies can still be entertaining and surprise you. Sometimes films lacking originality can actually...um...lack originality. And sometimes Denzel Washington can make a movie that much better just by being on screen. Correction can ALWAYS make a movie that much better. 


And that's a safe bet. 


Pros:

• Some really intense action scenes. Car chase and near-the-end fight scene are expertly choreographed
• Denzel Washington is perfect as always and he and Reynolds have good on screen chemistry
• Location of South Africa is refreshing
• The beginning is well layed out and exciting and the ending wraps everything up nicely
• Loud action. The gunfire is fierce and almost forces you to cover your ears. 

Cons:

• The middle is so boring. Just unacceptably so
• Love story is one of the most useless love stories I have ever seen
• Tells an old familiar tale of the CIA and all of its corruption. Hardly any surprises in the whole movie and these days that is what a movie needs to distinguish itself from the rest of the pack

Rath's Review Score: 7/10