Exclusive film review: American Assassin

By Debbie Stowe

DIRECTOR: Michael Cuesta

STARRING: Dylan O’Brien, Michael Keaton, Sanaa Lathan, Shiva Negar, Taylor Kitsch

ON AT: Movieplex Cinema, Grand Cinema & More, Happy Cinema, Cine Globe Titan, Hollywood Multiplex, Cinema City Cotroceni, Cinema City Sun Plaza, Cinema City Mega Mall, Cinema City ParkLake

Read more about

Build21: Innovation in real estate development through blockchain

read more

The 21st century’s seminal “American assassin”, whose influence seems to extend to most of the spy thrillers made since the early 2000s, is Jason Bourne. Whether it’s in the grayish European settings, kinetic cinematography, furious rooftop chases, or hand-to-hand combat between jaded hotties, everyone seems to be copying Matt Damon’s ex-CIA asset.

It’s no different here, in Michael Cuesta’s passable action flick. Traumatic events in his personal life have led Mitch Rapp (Dylan O’Brien) to turn terrorist hunter. Implausibly, within 18 months he morphs from carefree beach bum into fearless fighting machine, fluent in Arabic and fully versed in the Koran, all the better to trap Middle Eastern bad guys.So effective is Mitch at taking down jihadis single-handedly, that he is recruited by CIA black ops to work on a special program (a bit like Treadstone) under no-nonsense Cold War veteran Stan Hurley (Michael Keaton).

The movie’s striking opening, which presents Mitch’s motivation for taking on the terrorists, is soon largely forgotten, replaced by a standard espionage storyline that involves dodgy Russians, corrupt politicians, missing polonium, double agents, maverick spies going rogue and other things you’ve seen many times before.

American Assassin is raised slightly above the many similar Bourne-again movies by the casting of Keaton. His talent and range are somewhat wasted here on a clichéd and unchallenging role, but his presence and robust performance add a touch of class. Another heavyweight is David Suchet (aka Poirot), albeit in a minor role.

But it’s all about the stunts and set pieces in this type of action thriller, and these are decent enough to render a forgettable movie entertaining enough.