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Movie Review: “American Assassin” Treads Familiar Territory

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When Cold War veteran Stan Hurley takes CIA black ops recruit Mitch Rapp under his wing, they receive an assignment to investigate a wave of random attacks on both military and civilian targets.

Throughout the screening of “American Assassin,” several previous movies ran through my mind, though not necessarily in a good way – largely because the earlier films were superior. There was a hint of “Taken,” a dash of “The Sum of All Fears,” and a smidge of “Battleship,” along with several others. In particular, the other films boasted a protagonist whose chemistry found a stronger connection with the audience.

Inevitable comparisons will be made to Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan character, but Jack Ryan’s backstory somehow seemed to matter more than the one the writers provide for Mitch Rapp. Jack Ryan had it all together – Mitch Rapp is clearly a work in process.

The movie opens with Rapp’s marriage proposal to his lovely girlfriend, played by Charlotte Vega, and then descends quickly into eye-popping tragedy. Rapp, played by Dylan O’Brien, is clearly inconsolable as the surviving victim, and equally clearly, he is a well-intentioned fellow. It’s just that when it looks like Michael Keaton wants to punch Rapp in the face, we sort of wish he would go ahead and do it in order to accelerate the learning curve of the new, rebellious recruit.

Not that “American Assassin” is a bad movie. Rather, more to the point is that audiences have been down this road many times before. As such, it was incumbent upon director Michael Cuesta to show us something new.

In “The Maze Runner,” O’Brien was well-suited as the young protagonist and as he matures, he may yet develop into a formidable leading player. However, his portrayal in “American Assassin” feels like too much, too soon – at least for this part.

Michael Keaton is right at home as Stan Hurley, Rapp’s ex-Navy Seal, now CIA handler. Keaton takes a potentially one-dimensional crusty old-timer role and breathes life into the performance. Other supporting cast members comport themselves admirably as well, including Shiva Negar, David Suchet, and Sanaa Lathan – all part of the CIA apparatus surrounding Rapp.

With a reported $33 million production budget, expectations for the film are relatively modest. Fight sequences are well-staged and happily avoid the now fashionable shaky-camera syndrome. The location shoots in Italy are often breathtaking to view. In addition, the film contains enjoyable moments of humor, including Michael Keaton’s brief homage to Hannibal Lector. Overall, as long as audience expectations remain suitably managed, “American Assassin” is a serviceable addition to the action/thriller genre.

In theaters Friday, September 15th

 

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Thomas Tunstall

Thomas Tunstall, Ph.D. is the senior research director at the Institute for Economic Development at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is the principal investigator for numerous economic and community development studies and has published extensively. Dr. Tunstall recently completed a novel entitled "The Entropy Model" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982920610/?coliid=I1WZ7N8N3CO77R&colid=3VCPCHTITCQDJ&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it). He holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy, and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Dallas, as well as a B.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.