Can 'Safe House' step out of the shadow of the highly-regarded Bourne series?
After watching the opening seconds for the new movie “Safe House” audiences might find themselves thinking, “Not another Bourne movie!” No, they are already doing that elsewhere.
The similarities are there, but many critics point out that 'Safe House' is a notch below the highly-regarded Bourne series.
As Michael Phillips at the Chicago Tribute says:
No matter how much 'Safe House' owes to the look, feel, concerns and cutting of Paul Greengrass' "The Bourne Supremacy" and "The Bourne Ultimatum," it's closer in quality to a Tony Scott movie.”
Scott's recent filmography includes 'The Taking of Pelham 123,' 'Unstoppable,' and 'Deja Vu' -- all of which starred Denzel Washington.
Like the Bourne films, the plot of 'Safe House' involves a rogue CIA agent -- played by Washington -- but doesn’t focus primarily on him.
'Safe House' centers on co-star, Ryan Reynolds, who plays Matt Weston, an inexperienced yet hopeful CIA operative who watches over a safe house in South Africa.
The movie revolves around what happens after Washington’s character, Tobin Frost, is brought to this safe house which is then compromised by a group of unknown men with guns. Weston then has to prove himself by escaping with and then protecting Frost at all costs.
Critics of the film are giving it mixed reviews, with many calling it mediocre at best.
Associated Press critic Christy Lemire thinks that the movie is high on thrilling scenes but low on deep thoughts
It seems 'Safe House' is unable to step out of the shadow of past successful CIA thrillers. In Phillips' review, he gives credit to the movie's ability to add depth to the characters based back at the CIA:
"Following the "Bourne" template, those muttering back in the CIA headquarters control room cannot control a damn thing. Sam Shepard and Vera Farmiga lend easy authority to their basically functional roles.”
The cinematography was also brought into question in many reviews. Many agreed that director Daniel Espinosa relies too heavily on close-ups and shaky camera work where it is nearly impossible to see anything happening.
Katey Rich at Cinemablend.com was concerned about the seemingly unimportant geography in the film. She focuses on the lack of information we are given during the film, which is supposed to provoke interest, yet left critics unsatisfied:
"Then there's nearly every other action scene, all of them plunging the characters into some location with no geographical logic to help us make sense of it.”
Audiences will have the chance to draw their own conclusions this weekend following it’s Friday opening.