Movies and Music

A FRANK MOVIE REVIEW – “Those Who Wish Me Dead”  –   8.0

by Marshall Frank

A FRANK MOVIE REVIEW

     “Those Who Wish Me Dead”  –   8.0

 

In a word: Captivating

 

If you are a nitpicker about correctness and accuracy, don’t see this movie. There are plenty of opportunities to think “Gotcha” in scenes that were a bit over-the-top for plausibility.

But if you go to movies to be entertained and impressed with spectacular edge-of-your seat visual effects, and some pretty good acting, then this was worth the ten bucks paid at the big screen theater. Actually, it’s worth seeing at the big theater as the 50” home TV screen won’t provide the same spectacular effects.

The first half plods along with scenes that stimulate curiosity. The second half is one death defying action after another. There are many aspects to the story, here’s one synopsis from an on-line viewer:

“Still reeling from the loss of three lives, Hannah (Angelina Jolie) is a smoke jumper who’s perched in a watchtower high above the Montana wilderness. She encounters 13 year-old Connor (played by Australian actor, Finn Little), a skittish boy who’s bloodied, traumatized and on the run all alone in the remote forest after watching a horrible, spectacular murder. As Hannah tries to bring him to safety, she’s unaware of the real dangers to follow: two relentless killers hunting Connor, and a fiery blaze consuming everything in its path.”

The special effects are outstanding. The killers, who are actually dirty cops, are relentless in their goals to kill and kill more, to save their corrupt butts. How the director (Taylor Sheridan) and his staff managed to shoot scenes that are virtually in the heart of massive raging forest fires, is a mystery.

If the “F” word bothers you, don’t see this picture. And yes, there is rampant violence. While Angelina Jolie remains one of Hollywood’s prime beauties, this film shows us she is a seasoned actress as well. But the real surprise is Finn Little, the little boy who faces horrors and challenges one could not conceive of. A great young actor indeed. We’ll see more of him.

Minus over-the-top implausibilities, this was a captivating picture. I would give it an 8.0 out of 10.

Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021) – IMDb