Writing Movie “WRONGS”

By Jim West

 

The Protege

Directed by Martin Campbell

Written by Richard Wenk

 

Assassin films typically follow one of two basic plot-lines; last job gone wrong, or can’t seem to stay retired.  This film goes with the first plot line of a last job going wrong.  Although it is somewhat predictable, it does offer some intense scenes between Michael Keaton and Maggie Q.  Assassin films are known for slick fight sequences and gun battles.  This film delivers, but does miss its mark when it comes to giving the audience what they really want.  More Keaton.  Michael chews up every scene with his presence.  Maggie Q plays a stoic role that never seems to deviate character wise so comes off as one dimensional.  I felt they could have developed her role more.  Let get down to it.

Here comes the spoilers.

A young girl named Anna is found with four dead men she killed by Moody (Samuel Jackson) who takes her with him form Vietnam.  She gets trained by Moody to be an assassin and they conduct jobs together.  Moody celebrates his birthday and tells her about a person he is trying to get information on.  She returns home to England and one day finds her bookstore ransacked and assassins attempt to kill her.  She meets Rembrandt (Michael Keaton), and the film is immediately better when these two are on screen as the chemistry is formidable.

She gets captured by an assassin named Duquet and he attempts to interrogate her but fails.  Rembrandt comes in to try to get her to cooperate and he fails also.  When they leave she takes out her captors and escapes.  Anna goes after Duquet and kills him, but Rembrandt comes to the house and she attacks him.  They end up in bed and part ways with the promise that when they meet again it will be deadly.

Moody returns to reveal he faked his death and Anna and him team up to takeout the man responsible for all of the events of the film.  The shortcoming of the film is right here when Moody returns.  Nothing is shown via =flashback of what he has been working on or doing this whole time.  Just hey I am back now.  Some explanation is needed and would’ve been useful.  Otherwise this film is straightforward and everyone meets their demise as expected.  I would have loved to seen more of Rembrandt’s character.  A film based just on his character would be a treat as Michael Keaton is simply phenomenal.

Thanks for reading Writing Movie ‘WRONGS’.