A Top-Notch Thrill Ride

Rating: 8/10 (28 June 2008)

Every so often, a movie comes along which is so utterly captivating that you are able to forgive any plot holes or mistakes that there may be. Wanted is one of those films. Directed with excellent style and surprising assurance by Russian director Timur Bekmambetov, filled with perfect performances and jam-packed with some of the most memorably superb action sequences of the last couple of years, Wanted is one hell of an experience.
Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) leads an almost non-existent life. His girlfriend is cheating with his best friend behind his back, and his boss frequently bullies him. Plus, he continually has severe panic attacks. However, after an encounter with the slinky Fox (Angelina Jolie), Wesley discovers that they aren't panic attacks. In fact, Wesley has inherited near super-human abilities from his father, who has been murdered by a rogue assassin named Cross (Thomas Kretschmann). In an attempt to avenge his father's death, Wesley joins up with Fox and a group of assassins known as the Fraternity. However, things aren't what they seem...
One of the chief assets of Wanted is that in brilliant Scottish actor James McAvoy, it has a solid and human centre. McAvoy's Wesley Gibson starts the story as a nervous wreck of a human being, and ends it as possibly one of the coolest movie heroes of the year. McAvoy sells Wesley's transformation effortlessly, creating a likable, smart and ultimately heroic character who is easy to relate to and to root for. Plus, McAvoy has a near-impeccable American accent to boot. What more could you want?
McAvoy also has great support. As Fox, Angelina Jolie is pure dynamite. Not only is Fox as sultry as her name might suggest, but Jolie also adds intriguing layers to the character which stop her from becoming your typical love interest. Her final scene is surprisingly powerful in how Fox is willing to carry out her beliefs to the very end, no matter what the cost. Adding his usual gravitas to proceedings, Morgan Freeman is typically great as Sloan, the leader of the Fraternity, bringing an elderly zest to the role. He also has one absolute humdinger of a line, which is likely to shock anyone who is familiar with his work. In smaller roles, rap artist Common is solid as a fellow assassin, whilst British actor Terrence Stamp makes a welcome but short appearance in a crucial role.
The film is directed with a grand vision and spectacular artistry by Timur Bekmambetov. Bekmambetov does a fantastic job here, bringing unbound creativity and magnificent care to his role in the film's production. There are some absolutely outstanding moments of pure visual power in this film. Take the film's opening gunfight, in which a man drives through a window before engaging in a mid-air gun battle. This moment is potentially iconic, and Bekmambetov stages it with such perfect imagination and timing that it has a spike of adrenaline which separates it from similar scenes in other films (Matrix Reloaded etc). Bekmambetov also stages the film's other action sequences just as perfectly. As well as this Bekmambetov shows several moments of wit by using his visual style, and is aided by a surprisingly smart and confident script.
Speaking of action, Wanted is one of the best films in that field for the past few years. A marvellous extravaganza of a sequence which starts as a supermarket shoot-out between Fox and Cross (Thomas Kretschmann is terrific) and evolves into a no-holds-barred car chase is one of the most magnificently executed action sequences of this year and possibly more, and is full of wonderful invention and humour. Later on in the film, there is a sequence involving a train and a literal cliff-hanger which has to be seen to be believed, whilst the final showdown doesn't disappoint in terms of its mind-blowing imagination and beautiful staging. The crew behind this film, notably Bekmambetov, most certainly know how to craft exhilarating action, and they have managed to accomplish that by the bucket-load here.
When everything's been said and done, Wanted is one of the year's must-see movie events. Its premise alone is one worth investigating, but without the unrestrained brilliance of Timur Bekmambetov's imagination, James McAvoy's exceptional lead performance, a flawless supporting cast and absolutely majestic action sequences which are ablaze with life and creativity, Wanted wouldn't be anywhere near the stunner of a thrill-ride which it has become. It is already being touted as this year's Matrix, and, whilst I wouldn't totally agree with that statement (The Matrix, in my opinion, is a genre-bending classic), Wanted still stands out in the crowd. As well as that, the pitch-perfect final scene, complete with a killer final line, left me thirsting for more.