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- The Old Guard falls back on the familiar a bit too often, but the world it builds and its charismatic cast keep things interesting and offer plenty of potential, even if it doesn't spawn a franchise.
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Jul 10, 2020 · Though it contains more dramatic sequences than most superhero movies, “The Old Guard” doesn’t scrimp on the good, old-fashioned violence. Combat scenes are filmed so you can see who’s doing what, and edited together for maximum carnage and effect by Prince-Bythewood’s usual editor, Terilyn A. Shropshire .
A group of mercenaries, all centuries-old immortals with the ablity to heal themselves, discover someone is onto their secret, and they must fight to protect their freedom.
- (288)
- Gina Prince-Bythewood
- R
- Charlize Theron
Netflix's 'The Old Guard' finds Charlize Theron once again playing a life form vastly superior to humans.
The immortal warriors of Netflix’s The Old Guard, adapted by writer Greg Rucka from his own graphic novel series, must wrestle with these expectations. Why is it that we cling so firmly to the...
- 3 min
- Clarisse Loughrey
- Life after deaths.
- 19 Movies and TV Shows You Didn't Realize Were Based on Comics
- Verdict
By Joshua Yehl
Updated: Dec 4, 2020 1:02 am
Posted: Jul 10, 2020 5:20 pm
The Old Guard is now playing on Netflix.
Netflix’s The Old Guard tells the story of a clandestine group of four immortal mercenaries -- with an emphasis on “old.” Some have lived centuries, while the leader of the group, the apathetic and jaded Andy (Charlize Theron), is so ancient she can’t even remember how long she’s been alive. It’s an intriguing premise, and it allows for plenty of fascinating character work as we learn about the unique traumas one can develop after living a few too many lifetimes. But while The Old Guard is mostly enjoyable, a few shortcomings stop it from fully living up to its potential.
The movie -- based on The Old Guard graphic novel series by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández, with a screenplay by Rucka -- kicks off when a militarized pharmaceutical company learns of the group’s secret and hunts them down so they can monetize whatever’s giving them unnaturally long life. At the same time, a fifth immortal pops up on the grid and it’s not long before she’s recruited to the team. The villain winds up feeling a bit toothless, so the real source of conflict becomes the existential crisis that comes with finding out that death no longer applies to you.
Andy has fought in battles longer than there have been history books, and she finds herself bitter with the ever-declining state of the world. Why did she fight all those battles if things only seem to have gotten worse? Andy’s philosophical debates between her teammates, and the way they reflect on their long lives, fuel the film’s best scenes. It’s these damaged characters with this undying condition that sets this action thriller apart from numerous others in the genre, and the filmmakers service the concept well. Copley, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, has a bit of an obsession with the group, and it’s his heartfelt performance that helps create a sense of awe at what they can do.
When US Army soldier Nile Freeman (KiKi Layne) dies in the line of duty and finds herself unexpectedly back among the living, the team is compelled to enlist her. Nile offers a fresh perspective to the bitter Andy, and she becomes the gateway character for the audience. Unfortunately, Nile is often relegated to asking question after question so things can be explained to her, leading to scene after scene of clunky exposition.
The rest of the group consists of the melancholy Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) and the brave and bold couple Joe (Marwan Kenzari) and Nicky (Luca Marinelli). Though they’ve resigned themselves to spending their years as hired guns, they add an incredible amount of warmth and humanity to the story. Joe and Nicky in particular are a gift -- they’re a badass, openly gay couple who have no qualms about cutting down a room of goons using guns and swords. You don’t see that every day.
That these immortal mercenaries use bladed weapons from their original time along with modern firearms adds a bit of flair to the action scenes. Speaking of which, the whole team fighting together is an absolute blast to watch. They’re like a well-oiled machine -- a nice detail that shows what a few hundred years of teamwork will do for you.
The Old Guard is a run-of-the-mill genre action movie at first glance that becomes so much more once you dive in. Charlize Theron delivers an excellent performance as Andy, a hardened, flawed, and complicated character who leads a team of undying mercenaries, each with their own intriguing backstories that go back hundreds of years. The story opens the door to a fascinating mythology of ancient warriors and immortality, although things get a little clunky when it comes time to explain how it all works. Still, The Old Guard is well worth watching if you’ve got an itch for something new.
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Jul 9, 2020 · An ex-C.I.A. guy, Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), recruits the team for a mission that turns out to be a trap. That pharma boss, Merrick (Harry Melling), whose hooded sport coats are perfect signifiers...
Jul 7, 2020 · Adapted by Greg Rucka, who created the original 2017 comic along with illustrator Leandro Fernández, The Old Guard is filled with such human moments, both frivolous and profound — quiet...
