THE OLD GUARD
Dir: Gina Prince-Blythewood (15 125 mins)
Theron plays Andromache of Scythia, a woman who has spent centuries trying to save mankind and is the leader of The Old Guard based on the graphic comic book with a screenplay by the comic’s writer, Greg Rucka,
Disillusioned with how the human race is turning out she has had enough of helping out as a gun or battle axe for hire with Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli fellow immortals. Another job pulls her back in, co-ordinated by CIA agent Chiwetel Ejiofor, saving some kidnapped children, but it’s all a ruse.
Their apparent deaths, mown down by soldiers, soon become resurrections as bullets are spat out of wounds and they turn the table on their attackers. It’s all been filmed however, and their immortal identities are now out there, and the Merrick pharmaceutical company, headed by a terrible, over the top Henry Melling wants to use them and their blood and tissue to create products that will earn him a fortune.
Trying to evade detection, the group discover, via hokey dream sequence that there may be another of their kind, Nile, a marine winningly played by If Beale Street Could Talk’s KiKi Layne, who has just survived a lethal stabbing in the call of duty in Afghanistan and has subsequently became ostarcised by her seemingly supernatural healing ability.
Theron grudgingly gets her to join their ranks following some brutal fisticuffs and the group of immortals go up against the nasty pharma company with John Wick style action sequences.
It’s serviceable enough but the potential scale of the story is rooted in the present day. Fleeting glimpses of Theron in the past, the Middle Ages and particularly when she is accused of being a witch with soul mate Veronica Ngo who suffers an apparently dreadful fate are more interesting than the rote action drama that makes up the majority of the film. Layne and Theron shine whist the other characters are sketchily drawn save for a declaration of love between Kenzari and Marinelli.
The weight of immortality, seen in most vampire films Wolverine and more campily Highlander are broodily examined one more, Theron’s star power papering over plot holes and an often bland script.
The action sequences are kinetic and brutal, Theron and Layne whupping ass with aplomb, it’s a shame that the rest of the franchise begging film isn’t better.
Solid but not timeless.
***
Words: Keiron Self
Streaming on Netflix now
