John Woo makes comeback in the United States by reminding his belonging to the best in staging action and putting unbalanced in that Chad Stahelski in grave flawlessly. However, Silent Night as many director’s films required good scriptwriting.
Make action film almost hasn’t talks is amusing thing. Nevertheless, it can’t change simplicity of screenplay of Silent Night. I increased in unsure before watching in that conception willn’t workable with this script. Dialogs asked to be in many scenes. Relationship of protagonist in acting of Joel Kinnaman with his wife played by Catalina Sandino Moreno were of these places. It surprises that solution wasn’t found in scene Moreno texts to his husband who situates in the next room. He didn’t deprive capability to hear, which would one of ways to make logical. I don’t think it was demonstration of modern society degradation. A talented storyteller would find out how resolve in such state. A movie would act greater with mute conception if main personage bereft his wife too, because Joel Kinnaman does magnificent demonstration of inner stance while Catalina Sandino Moreno sometimes performs with no authenticity and there were episodes where I did not see that she is a mother who lost own child though she is an excellent actress. But that once texting and reading of messages was performed impossible fast by both performers.
John Woo can stage a touchable drama. Music of toy penetrates every time. John Woo amazes in his directing inventiveness. Combination of dropping tear and bullet is incredible shot. However, half of movie goes on preparation to revenge in recovery and training what would be original hundred years ago in silent movie era. I would reduce non-action part on twenty minutes at least. A script doesn’t intend to be extraordinary. It’s quintessence of simplicity as expected. And this narration hurts reality. Impossible mumbling of doctors could absent. I didn’t understand behavior of characters few times and any simple explanation could put in how main character detected criminals. Modern approach of training through videos whereas training montage is lovable, but whole sequence is short, non-unusual and primitive. One scene in which he begins and doesn’t succeed and one scene where he masterfully does skill wielding. Moreover, his pumped body doesn’t look natural and it’s impossible to reach such shape through few demonstrated exercises. I would include learning of special skills as tying knots.
Action episodes are festivity of creativity, unpredictable and hype as firework on Independence Day. John Woo does what always he could – he gets to sense cruelty and feelings of personages. Shooting made to forgive a generic plot and few places of action could be better elaborated as many fighting scenes stink of choreography, but not forever. Inexplicable of screenplay intervenes. Whole movie about a man who wants vengeance. He slays bunch of gangs and suddenly decides to drive away from conflict with no strong motive. No doubt, he will change mind while everything will conclude to worst. Revelation of all memorable gang members disclose stereotypes. How many times can use a big size guy whom not easy to defeat? Action begin to lose fire of elaboration here. A screaming woman stays in open position and shoots from KRISS Vector is where creativity drops dead. The protagonist and joined detective stay behind columns and could attack her in reloading twice. Then director forgets on presence of other character in straight confrontation with the woman by making her shooting policeman impossible. Same nonsense in dealing with criminal leader, which lead hero could slay on place. However, he and law officer die in reckless variant.
I would wish to clear with that. Does movie has message on what happens if defund police realize? It would wonderful if that line would be used though it wouldn’t improve the script certainly.