![]() ![]() But it’s still a great start, nonetheless. Obviously, not many critics have taken the time to review the film or even see it, for that matter. However, this is a dark and more dramatic role for Chan, which intrigues us.Ĭurrently, the Tomatometer sits at 80 percent based on five reviews (four fresh and one rotten). Most of his work contains comedic elements. The early reviews are here, and based on the Rotten Tomatoes score and what critics are saying, it’s a solid action flick. Now, with The Foreigner, he’s making a return as an action star. He has been doing some foreign and animated films here and there, but most of his recent work has been flying under the radar. In reality, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen Jackie Chan in a big motion picture. The early reviews are in for The Foreigner, and based on the Rotten Tomatoes score, it’s a solid return for Jackie Chan. Available on Netflix now here in the UK (another Netflix original?), its well worth a look.By Brandon Crespo 5 years ago Follow Tweet Pierce Brosnan shoulders one of the strangest Irish accents ever recorded on film but its his aforementioned likeness of Gerry Adams that perhaps makes the whole film a little too uncomfortable to watch considering its clearly a work of fiction.Īt any rate, its a finely made thriller that delivers on all fronts even though liberties are clearly taken with the politics and the action sequences, well-staged as they may be, stretch credulity somewhat. The pace of the film is brisk and the tension well-maintained over a near-two hour running time. Now in his early sixties its a little bewildering (and scary) seeing him performing such physical stunts and fight routines, but its perhaps his dramatic work here as a grieving father that most impresses. ![]() Chan, has always, is warmly charismatic in his role as a grieving father and the fight scenes are very impressive- indeed it may be one of the most challenging roles of his career. Quan has a Special Forces background that belies his mild-mannered old-man exterior and proceeds to hound and threaten Hennessy to give up the names of his associates responsible for the bombings in London.ĭeftly directed by none less than Martin Campbell of Casino Royale, Goldeneye and The Mask of Zorro, The Foreigner may be daft with pretty ill-informed politics but as an action thriller its great. Quan travels to Northern Island to confront Hennessy and sets off a bomb himself as a warning that he wants names. Hennessy, naturally for this kind of film, isn’t quite as innocent as he claims although it is clear he not in control of what is clearly escalating- a second bomb goes off in London, killing civilians on a London bus. ![]() His attention then turns to Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Liam Hennessy (Pierce Brosnan, a (misguided?) doppelganger for Gerry Adams here) who was once a member of the UDI/IRA but now rejects acts of violence and has no knowledge of who is responsible (but assures the British authorities he will try to find out). First Mr Quan makes a nuisance of himself at Scotland Yard when he repeatedly wants to know how well the investigation is going and who is responsible for the atrocity. Mr Quan (Chan) is a London restaurant owner who is taking his beautiful young daughter shopping in the city and you just know the day is not going to go well- a bombing takes place which kills Mr Quan’s daughter and a group naming themselves the real IRA claims responsibility. The film seems so indebted to films like Taken, First Blood, and Patriot Games that I really expected it was one of those ‘original’ screenplays cooked up over re-watching a DVD collection- it really does seem so formulaic at times (sequences of Chan being hunted down by Irish thugs in woods is almost a retread of First Blood, with the thugs suffering all sorts of traps and one-sided violence). I was actually surprised to learn that the film is based on a 1992 thriller written by Stephen Leather titled The Chinaman (why the title change, I don’t know, as Jackie Chan is often referred to as ‘the Chinaman’ through the film). If you do, there is actually much to enjoy here. This is one of those films where you have to leave common-sense and reason at the door and just go along with the madness. ![]()
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