What I’m watching: A different kind of action filmDate: 12/28/2020 After watching “Molly’s Game,” several years ago, I became a fan of Jessica Chastain. She is an intelligent performer who makes interesting choices, the latest of which is “Ava.”
Although she has been criticized for appearing in an action film, this is an example of a movie that reinvents the genre.
Ava is a contract assassin who works for an unnamed organization. She has come to that job after serving in the army, which was motivated by the fact she had become an addict and needed to do something that would take her away from that world.
There is a lot more to Ava’s reasons, though, to undertake this job. She has many unresolved issues with her family, who has not seen her for eight years. She wants to confess something to her mother and reconcile with her sister who is engaged to Ava’s former fiancé who she left with no notice or reason.
While she is considered among the very best of her colleagues, she does something she is not supposed to do: she asks her victims what they have done to deserve to die. Although she has promised not to do so, she is found out when a colleague follows her and uses a long-range microphone to listen to her.
The fact she has done this prohibited action, once more sets into motion a series of events aimed at her. At the same time, she is attempting to square up her past actions with her family.
The result is a film that is quite different than the usual action film. There is far more time dedicated to the central character and her internal struggles. Essentiality, she wants to do something that is justifiable with her job as her personal life has been filled with incidents she can’t justify.
Chastain is quite capable of doing the action sequences and in one climatic fight she and Colin Farrell certainly do a lot of their own stunt work as director Tate Taylor uses a lot of close-up shots with both performers.
What I liked about the film is its concentration on character and motivation. Ava is very efficient in her job, but has a very damaged personality. Usually in his genre, you don’t often see that kind of approach.
John Malkovich, Common, Firth and Geena Davis round out an impressive cast and they all handle their roles with understatement.
Rated R for violence, “Ava” is a refreshingly, but dark take, on the action genre.
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