AKA

Dalibert is no stranger to this genre of action film. He could have taken the easy route and strung together a series of action tropes to move things along. He knows how to do it. He has done it before. And well. But this time he rolled the dice on a much harder bet. This time he teased out the characterizations to keep the viewer hooked. This is most definitely NOT some sort of clever hodge-podge of different movies. The closest analog is MAN ON FIRE 2004, which also relies heavily on the interaction between a hardened killer and a young boy. This may not be a film for everyone, but the more time you spend with it, the more interesting it gets. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

AKA (2023 release from France; 118 min) brings the story of Adam Franco, an undercover special opps guy who is afraid of nothing or nobody. The French Minister of the Interior's chief of staff orders Franco to infiltrate a criminal gang in order to track down the whereabouts of a bombing suspect.... At this point we are less than 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the feature length directing debut of Morgan Dalibert, previously a well-known cinematographer. Dalibert co-wrote the script along with Alban Lenoir, the erstwhile stunt man-turned-actor who plays the role of Adam Franco. These two know each other well, having collaborated on "Lost Bullet". Here they bring a gritty crime drama. I must admit that based on the film's opening sequence, I was expecting something more glamorous, but once the story really got goin, I found myself fully invested. Let me be very clear, tough: this is a very violent movie, and the body count is off the chart, so if that is not your thing, please find something else to watch. Eric Cantona alert! Yes, the French soccer star from the 1990s who played for Manchester United for 5 years, has continued to build a very nice acting career after retiring from football. Here he plays the head of the criminal gang, one of the pivotal roles in this film. Bottom line: my expectations were surpassed with this movie, and these 2 hours just flew by.

AKA started streaming on Netflix just last weekend, and I watched it last night. If you like a crime drama that is gritty and violent, yet that is also wildly entertaining with solid performances all around, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

The rating (6.7) doesn't justify this beautiful movie.

Take Jason Bourne and John wick and add alot of emotions and drama and realness.

The action is very raw, the suspense keeps you on the edge from start to finish, some twists here and there and the performances are the real treat here.

Specially from the main character. How he is Introduced and where he gets at the end of movie is understandable. Unlike many big action/thriller (big budget) movies, you actually understand every characters decision making. Even those who don't get much time for character development.

For a Netflix movie, it can't get much better. We need more of this Netflix. Budget well spent.

What a nice action gem. The cinematography is fabolous. It's very much like Hard Boiled; Die Hard and all those big 1990's action movies rolled into one.

Alban Lenoir is a star! Such cinematic presence with chic style and gaelic flair! C'est bon! Wow. Eric Cantona can act as well. Some great lines from him.

The storyline is a nice twist and turn and not at all mundane like most cliche gangsta movies. It's refreshing and stylish with some magnificent direction.

Saïdou Camara does a great cool calm and collected job of Pee Wee. Philippe Résimont is also a class act. The scene of the heist is very much like John Woo's Hard Boiled and Michael Mann's Heat as well as Die Hard. The drugs' den takeout is very much stylised like Oldboy but with guns instead of a hammer.

It's a nice movie and something I can easily watch again. It's popcorn entertainment and another gem in the recent French cinema wave. Just keep them coming!

Morgan S. Dalibert your cinema reminds me of Jean-Pierre Melville! Super!

AKA is a TV Movie, WTH???

Hollywood should take notes and learn a lot from this film. This is a low budget so the special effect is basic. The fight choreography is very simple but excellently executed, but I'll elaborate further in the next paragraph. Soundtrack didn't ruin the film.

The fight or action scene was surprisingly old school and excellently timed. The best things about the fight scenes are how effective and good the timings and movements were well planned and make sense as if it was directed by a martial artist coach for a marine or army.

The actors act good, the main character is a bit too stoic but he was supposed to have an air of mystery. And then the direction of the director was very enjoyable. Almost like music video but with a specific street wise style.

And in conclusion, this is one of the most enjoyable low budgeted action movie. The storyline might not win any award, but if you're looking for a good entertaining action movie, you'll like this.