Directed by the writer of Bad Boys, Middle Men and Code Name: The Cleaner comes Vanquish, a movie so empty it evaporates from your mind before you blink.
For those interested about the thin plot, Ruby Rose plays a former drug courier who’s daughter is held hostage by former cop in a wheelchair, Damon (Morgan Freeman). Against her will, she faces a bunch of gangsters that are so easy to beat, it seems any of us could’ve done the job.
As you can tell, I have nothing positive to say about this movie. Co-written by the rather unknown Samuel Bartlett, Vanquish is a by-the-books action flop that lacks any character development, story arc, skilled filmmaking and the worst of all – FUN. If they would’ve put some good jokes in it, or made the action more spectacular (you don’t necessarily need a big budget for this), the 90 minutes a viewer ends up spending on this wouldn’t feel like such a waste.
The one time Rose has shown promise, was with Batwoman which seemed to change the course of her career, but she then decided to step away from the project after its first season. If this is what she wants to do, I hope she has fun with it, but the lack of emotion on her face tells me a different story. Freeman has had an amazing career and we all know how talented he is, but with yet another awful title on his resume, how much longer can we give him a free pass? The wooden acting and uninspired line delivery of the entire cast is unforgivable.
Vanquish is just there. The editor goes rogue halfway in, the colour grading is far away from pleasing and besides all that it’s just a mystery as to how this was made in the first place. Often I can look beyond basic filmmaking if a narrative is appealing enough to keep me intrigued, but when you insert a “flaming queen” who calls his passed out toyboys on the couch Boycock, Mancock and Robocock, I can’t help but roll my eyes and check out.
2020 and 2021 have been rough for cinema, but Vanquish sets the bar extremely low.
Signature Entertainment presents VANQUISH on Premium Digital Platforms 28th May
Review – Vanquish
Reviewed online (screener provided by Signature Entertainment), May 26, 2021. Rating: 15. Running time: 94 min.
PRODUCTION: (UK) A Signature Entertainment release of a March On Productions, Capstone Group production. Producers: Nate Adams, Johnny Martin, David E. Ornston, Richard Salvatore. Executive producers: Barry Brooker, George Gallo, Gary Leff, Julie Lott-Gallo, Christian Mercuri, Roman Viaris, Stan Wertlieb.
CREW: Director: George Gallo. Writers: Samuel Bartlett, George Gallo. Cinematography: Anastas N. Michos. Editing: Yvan Gauthier. Music: Aldo Shllaku.
CAST: Ruby Rose, Morgan Freeman, Patrick Muldoon, Nick Vallelonga, Julie Lott, Hannah Stocking, Joel Michaely, Miles Doleac, Paul Sampson.