by Josh Sewell
The Killer’s Game
(Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, language, some sexual material, brief drug use and nudity. Opens in theaters on September 13.)
In this action/romantic comedy hybrid, Dave Bautista plays Joe Flood, an assassin diagnosed with a terminal illness just as he meets Maize (Sofia Boutella), the love of his life. Determined to make sure she’s financially secure after he’s gone, Joe takes out a hit on himself so she can benefit from his hefty life insurance policy.
However, when complications arise, Joe must rely on a good friend (Ben Kingsley) to help him protect Maize and stave off an army of his murderous competitors (including Terry Crews, Pom Klementieff and Scott Adkins). In a shocking twist nobody saw coming, a lot of people die.
When it comes to pro wrestlers who’ve made the leap into acting, Bautista is by far the most compelling. While his colleagues Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena started off with interesting roles, the former is too worried about his brand to take any real risks, and the latter needs a new agent ASAP. His recent choices have been abysmal.
Bautista, on the other hand, has made a genuine effort to collaborate with great directors and used his Marvel cachet to stretch himself as a performer. That’s what he does with his surprisingly endearing performance in The Killer’s Game. On the surface, it seems like yet another John Wick rip-off, but it gives the actor a chance to try his luck at genres he traditionally wouldn’t be a match for.
Winner
(Rated PG-13 for some strong language, sexual material and drug material. Opens in select theaters and available On Demand starting September 13.)
In this fact-based look at the life of whistleblower Reality Winner (Emilia Jones), screenwriter Kerry Howley and director Susanna Fogel chronicle her offbeat childhood in a Texas border town, her work as a translator with the Air Force and her time as an NSA contractor. However, when Winner’s conscience prevents her from keeping Russia’s meddling in United States elections a secret, she decides to leak the truth and accept the consequences.
Howley and Fogel take a different route than HBO’s straightforward 2023 docudrama Reality, which starred Sydney Sweeney. Instead, they attempt to fit Winner’s life within the context of a traditional coming-of-age dramedy. I respect the decision – especially since it has the potential to draw in more mainstream viewers – but it ends up being a mixed bag when they focus on the more comedic and romantic aspects of the character.
Granted, the filmmakers are attempting to humanize a figure who has only grown more divisive in the years since her fateful decision, but it sometimes comes across like they’re trying to satirize a story that’s still too fresh to make light of. Winner is much stronger when it focuses on the character’s family life (thanks to compelling supporting performances from Connie Britton and Zach Galifianakis as her parents, and Kathryn Newton as her sister) and the hypocritical nature of her job.
Regardless, even though the film doesn’t always work, it’s worth checking out to see a different spin on the material. That’s particularly true if you somehow don’t know what actually transpired.
Grade: C+
(Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, language, some sexual material, brief drug use and nudity. Opens in theaters on September 13.)
In this action/romantic comedy hybrid, Dave Bautista plays Joe Flood, an assassin diagnosed with a terminal illness just as he meets Maize (Sofia Boutella), the love of his life. Determined to make sure she’s financially secure after he’s gone, Joe takes out a hit on himself so she can benefit from his hefty life insurance policy.
However, when complications arise, Joe must rely on a good friend (Ben Kingsley) to help him protect Maize and stave off an army of his murderous competitors (including Terry Crews, Pom Klementieff and Scott Adkins). In a shocking twist nobody saw coming, a lot of people die.
When it comes to pro wrestlers who’ve made the leap into acting, Bautista is by far the most compelling. While his colleagues Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena started off with interesting roles, the former is too worried about his brand to take any real risks, and the latter needs a new agent ASAP. His recent choices have been abysmal.
Bautista, on the other hand, has made a genuine effort to collaborate with great directors and used his Marvel cachet to stretch himself as a performer. That’s what he does with his surprisingly endearing performance in The Killer’s Game. On the surface, it seems like yet another John Wick rip-off, but it gives the actor a chance to try his luck at genres he traditionally wouldn’t be a match for.
I don’t think anyone would’ve considered him a romantic lead before, but Bautista proves he’s got the chops to make a name for himself in romcoms. Granted, it helps that he delivers a bunch of one-liners and executes some stunning fight choreography in his brawls with Crews, Adkins, etc. while also making googly eyes at Boutella (who finally delivers a solid performance after years of being squandered in lackluster projects). Kingsley is also terrific, delivering maximum comedic effort despite somewhat limited screen time.
Although director J.J. Perry gets a bit too crazy with some of his choices (there are a couple of arc shots that triggered motion sickness), he understands the value in letting Bautista use his wrestling experience to stage quite a few truly brutal sequences. I just wish the filmmaker didn’t rely so much on video game-level CGI blood. I’m sure budget constraints played a big factor in the decision (seriously, there’s a ton of gore), but I miss the days of squibs and red corn syrup.
In addition, it’s wild how much The Killer’s Game has in common with Knox Goes Away, Michael Keaton’s thriller from earlier this year. Not only are they both about hitmen reckoning with their past and making final arrangements, both characters are even diagnosed with the same rare condition (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease). Even weirder, both movies are distributed by Lionsgate.
Tonally, however, the films couldn’t be more different. The Killer’s Game is a silly, fun comedy while its predecessor is far more somber. I’m not sure how well the film will perform at the box office, but I could totally see this becoming a new franchise for Bautista under the right circumstances. He’s certainly got the charisma to keep the character going.
Grade: B
Although director J.J. Perry gets a bit too crazy with some of his choices (there are a couple of arc shots that triggered motion sickness), he understands the value in letting Bautista use his wrestling experience to stage quite a few truly brutal sequences. I just wish the filmmaker didn’t rely so much on video game-level CGI blood. I’m sure budget constraints played a big factor in the decision (seriously, there’s a ton of gore), but I miss the days of squibs and red corn syrup.
In addition, it’s wild how much The Killer’s Game has in common with Knox Goes Away, Michael Keaton’s thriller from earlier this year. Not only are they both about hitmen reckoning with their past and making final arrangements, both characters are even diagnosed with the same rare condition (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease). Even weirder, both movies are distributed by Lionsgate.
Tonally, however, the films couldn’t be more different. The Killer’s Game is a silly, fun comedy while its predecessor is far more somber. I’m not sure how well the film will perform at the box office, but I could totally see this becoming a new franchise for Bautista under the right circumstances. He’s certainly got the charisma to keep the character going.
Grade: B
(Rated PG-13 for some strong language, sexual material and drug material. Opens in select theaters and available On Demand starting September 13.)
In this fact-based look at the life of whistleblower Reality Winner (Emilia Jones), screenwriter Kerry Howley and director Susanna Fogel chronicle her offbeat childhood in a Texas border town, her work as a translator with the Air Force and her time as an NSA contractor. However, when Winner’s conscience prevents her from keeping Russia’s meddling in United States elections a secret, she decides to leak the truth and accept the consequences.
Howley and Fogel take a different route than HBO’s straightforward 2023 docudrama Reality, which starred Sydney Sweeney. Instead, they attempt to fit Winner’s life within the context of a traditional coming-of-age dramedy. I respect the decision – especially since it has the potential to draw in more mainstream viewers – but it ends up being a mixed bag when they focus on the more comedic and romantic aspects of the character.
Granted, the filmmakers are attempting to humanize a figure who has only grown more divisive in the years since her fateful decision, but it sometimes comes across like they’re trying to satirize a story that’s still too fresh to make light of. Winner is much stronger when it focuses on the character’s family life (thanks to compelling supporting performances from Connie Britton and Zach Galifianakis as her parents, and Kathryn Newton as her sister) and the hypocritical nature of her job.
Regardless, even though the film doesn’t always work, it’s worth checking out to see a different spin on the material. That’s particularly true if you somehow don’t know what actually transpired.
Grade: C+
Reach out to Josh Sewell at joshsewell81@gmail.com
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