The Bricklayer

The film is still running through my mind. While I enjoyed the film, the director used every bloody cliche in the book. Setting scenes to give the viewers a comparison impression between James Bond, and The Bricklayer. You might almost thinking they were trying to create a "Brand" so that there could be future Bricklayer films. Transparent hopes of more, when the film has so many flaws may be doomed to disappointment. Many of the scenes also had actors either posing for the scene, or either looking at the camera, or every other way except at the camera. Some of them near broke their necks avoiding looking at the camera, even when they were in very abnormal postures. The film editing was sloppy, even when a better edit would have avoided revealing the more obvious flaws.

I went to see it because of the name of the great actor Aaron Eckhart on the bill. Contrary to many others, I do still really appreciate many of his latest movies, but this is definitely not one of them...

The bad: Aaron Eckhart does a good job at acting, it's not his fault this movie flopped, but his opposing leading actress has got ZERO charisma or chemistry. Who decided to cast her? She acts like she walked straight of the set of a cheap television soap series. A total nobody.

This whole movie has got a cheap look and feel. But let's forget about all that for a moment, the only crucial question left is: has it got riveting action or suspenseful plot turns. NO!

Aaron Eckhart fans be warned, he does still act well, but this movie is quite a tedious dread to watch.

What happened to movie producers? Does anyone care about the movies they create anymore? There was a time when casting a role in a movie came down to the best actors you could get. With that said, I dont think Nina Dobrev was a good casting choice.

This movie is yet another cookie cutter secret assassin flick. There is not a whole lot of chemistry between the 2 main characters and I think Nina Dobrev is partly to blame. It doesnt seem like she's putting much effort into her role in this movie and it shows! Aaron is a good actor but when you pair a good one with one that's not putting in the effort, it brings the whole movie down. The Bricklayer is another movie that I will say is not the worst i've seen, but it is not very good either.

Former CIA operative Victor Radek (Clifton Collins Jr.) is killing European civilians opposed to America with incriminating evidence on the CIA. The publicity is destroying America's reputation. CIA analyst Kate Bannon (Nina Dobrev) uncovers Radek's identity and tells CIA Director O'Malley (Tim Blake Nelson). With so much possible blow-back, he assigns veteran operative Steve Vail (Aaron Eckhart) and Kate to take down Radek in an off-the-books operation.

In the old days, this is a mid-tier action thriller with some mid-tier actors. The story is basic at best. Quite frankly, I don't like Radek's scheme. There has to be a better way to get his revenge. There isn't much in terms of twists and turns. There is one shock reveal, but nobody cares about that by then. The production value is passable with some functional action. There are some minor plot holes and inconsistencies. For example, Vail takes down a dozen thugs in a club, but the next night, he struggles to take down one of those thugs in a fair fight. The movie doesn't seem to know what it is. This is a marginal film that will be lost in the stream.

"The Bricklayer" crumbles under the weight of its own predictability. Clichéd plot-lines and illogical turns make this B-movie feel like a dusty relic from a bygone era. While promising a gritty thriller, the film delivers more eye-rolls than excitement.

The narrative cracks are evident from the get-go. Characters behave with questionable motives, and the action sequences lack punch. The cheap production values do little to elevate the experience, leaving viewers yearning for a trowel to smooth over the rough edges.

Despite its flaws, "The Bricklayer" isn't completely without merit. A few scattered witty lines and a fleeting moment of genuine suspense offer glimpses of what could have been. But ultimately, these are just bricks scattered amidst a crumbling wall.

If you're seeking a cinematic masterpiece, you'll find this film more like a pile of rubble. However, for fans of campy B-movies who enjoy a generous helping of cheese with their action, "The Bricklayer" might provide a mildly diverting afternoon distraction. Just don't expect it to win any awards for architectural brilliance.

Overall: A predictable and uninspired thriller that fails to build any real excitement. Skip this one unless you're craving a cinematic power nap. Rating: 4- out of 10 IMDb stars.