Beckett

This movie was not for John David Washington, they should have cast someone else. The acting was generally really bad, I felt nothing for the characters and I also didn't connect with the story. The Characters who are seemingly "in-love" had no chemistry between them. The camera work and editing were the biggest let down, some of the shots were out of focus....not artistically out of focus, like incompetent DP out of focus. Editing department should have cut those out. Some scenes were shot like it was a low budget student film. This movie was hard to watch because the overall quality was really poor.

I really don't understand the criticism to this film, yes I do understand it may have been a bit unrealistic at times but in life or death instances you may just be overpowered. I found this film very intense, maybe it was being lost in a country with a giant language barrier or it was the thought Of the police trying to assassinate you! It almost made me not wanna go on holiday even after being locked down for a year and my man John Washington always pulls through with the performance, please ignore the hatred and check this out if you get a chance.

The movie was ok but nothing special. On the plus side the Greek scenery at the beginning was beautiful and wild and reminded me of lord of the rings, the acting of most of the cast and especially Washington was really solid too. Now for the not so good. The plot was really weak and almost paper thin the main idea was great but the execution not so much. Another thing that bothered me as a person who lived in Athens for 6 years is that they made it look like a distopian third world country which was weird because Athens is a really beautiful City. I get that the movie is set in a distopian political alternate reality but they made Athens look like Baghdad or something. As a final verdict I think the movie is watchable but had potential to be much more if the writing was better.

As a thriller, Beckett is a dull primer on the genre, employing every trope, gimmick, and theme ever, all in one action plot so predictable as to be risible. In addition, it is so indebted to moving the plot favorably for the titular protagonist (John David Washington) that its coincidences exceed logic.

Beckett and April (Alicia Vikander-underused) are blissfully vacationing in Greece ("I think I'm having a love attack," he says-yikes for the dialogue) when their auto plows at dark into a home that just happens to be the hideout for conservatives who have kidnapped a little boy, the son of a prominent politically left candidate. Such an improbability kickstarts the plot that has the thugs tracking Beckett and nothing else.

At several points that Beckett escapes, we can be assured that he will survive because of his extraordinary good luck in doing so. Each set piece of his escapes also seems disjointed enough from the main plot that it could exist outside of this film, albeit some are well executed if not fabulous.

Because of his ability to get out of each tough spot, I have forgotten most of them; all I know is that Beckett cannot be stopped, despite multiple wounds. The people along the way who help him are not as lucky.

Washington is durable if not a bland, a stoic face that accompanied him when he was chased in Tenet as well. Vikander remains one of the best actresses of her time even if she's gone early from Beckett when she is unfortunately delivered by her lover's sleepy driving. Lena (Vicky Krieps) is a rebel who helps him along the way to seeking refuge from his pursuers in the American embassy, another wasted talent.

As for who represents what in the political part of the film, I haven't a clue except that the candidate at the rally seems to be more liberal than the organization pursuing Beckett. Netflix is the home of this disappointing thriller-even during pandemic time, I can't recommend it.

Beckett is an unusual Netflix original because it actually has an artistic quality to it. Its set in greece and really uses the greek culture and landscape to a point where you can feel it. The cinematography is so beautiful and so is the Sound design. The plot is gripping and you really will keep guessing how the hell this is happening to an ordinary man. I'd always been having trouble figuring out if Washington is an amazing or just a mediocre actor, but he makes his best performance yet, if you ask me. He is not your typical fit action hero, that knows how to fight bad guys and he is often more lucky than skilled plus he has a more realistic looking body than most of these type of movies.

UNFORTUNATELY this movie has some plot holes and loses momentum at the end, which is a bit of a shame. The mystery that gets unravelled is a bit meh, so I dropped my rating to a 6, but it deserves around 6.9. Anyway its a good suspenseful, beautiful and enjoyable little thriller!

(And as some reviews already said it, the person(s) responsible for the title should find another job, its a bit ridiculous naming this movie beckett)