Movie Review - Beckett

John David Washington is the son of Denzel Washington, a now iconic Black actor. I'm sure John David would not like to be compared to his father and wants to distinguish himself. The film starring John David that was released previous to this was Malcolm & Marie (2021), which to me was John David performing so much like his father. This film is one where I don't see John David doing Denzel or any of Denzel in his son. The reason is because John David's role here is with little dialogue for most of it and it's breathless in its action that is gritty and brutal. Denzel did The Book of Eli (2010) and The Equalizer (2014), which are in that vein, but most Denzel movies play off his charm and his ability to talk, as well as the slickness of how he does things or things around him. This film feels too dirty and scrappy, even for Denzel. Denzel has done a couple of films with Tony Scott who likes dirty and scrappy, but even those films felt too slick and well produced. This production almost feels like guerilla filmmaking.

This is a thriller, one that is about a man who becomes ensnared in political and criminal intrigue, eventually going on the run and being chased. The best in that genre were those by Alfred Hitchcock with the prime example being North By Northwest (1959). Other films in the genre that came to mind was Three Days of the Condor (1975), Judgment Night (1993), Breakdown (1997), Collateral (2004), No Country For Old Men (2007), Sleepless Night (2012) and Desierto (2016). These types of thrillers often possess a bit of action, if not a lot. They're not action films but often have the kind of action that I prefer, action that is more grounded, certainly more realistic. Yes, the action in science-fiction, comic book flicks and even franchise films today is generally not grounded or realistic. Recently, F9: The Fast Saga (2021) is a gross example of action that isn't grounded or realistic at all.

Not since The Revenant (2015) though have I seen a role that feels so physically demanding on an actor. Even though I'm sure that John David Washington was never in any real danger, it feels like it. Leonardo DiCaprio went to extremes in The Revenant that Washington didn't have to do. The environment and situation weren't as harsh. Yet, Washington's performance, as well as the hair and make-up team need to be commended for selling the dirty and scrappy nature of this adventure. Washington's titular character is on the run and we follow him for a very scruffy ride. The greater context of which feels mostly on the periphery even though a scene literally puts Washington's character right in the thick of it. No, this film is really about a man trying to survive, a man who isn't a hero and doesn't possess extraordinary skills, but is a true every-man. There is one moment that stretches credulity, but I mostly forgave it.

Rated TV-MA.
Running Time: 1 hr. and 50 mins.

Available on Netflix.