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Red

What it's about:

Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIA's top agents, but the secrets they know just made them the agency's top targets. Framed for an assassination, they must use their collective cunning and experience, as well as a bit of teamwork, to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers.

What we thought:

One of the first noticeable features of Red is that the cast is dripping with a wealth of veteran talent: Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Mary-Louise Parker and Richard Dreyfuss. This may sound weird, and yes, even a bit old-timerish, but these experienced actors will definitely make it worth your while, so here are the top five reasons why you should watch Red:

1. Helen Mirren handles a fully automatic rifle so convincingly that you might start to think acting is only a fun extracurricular activity for her. Mirren plays Victoria as a very happy and well-adjusted woman, arranging flowers and baking her way through life and, oh yes, doing extra "jobs" on the side to keep her sane. Mirren is charming, funny and hardcore as the cold-blooded killer for hire.
 
2. Bruce Willis stepping out of a spinning car, mid-accident, guns ablaze. He’s 55 and yes…he’s still got it. Director Robert Schwentke has produced one of the best action stunts I’ve ever seen and hopefully other directors will follow in his footsteps. Die Hard fans will definitely enjoy Willis in the role of smooth and skilled Frank, especially the hands on fighting scene between him and the young CIA agent William Cooper, played by Karl Urban. 
 
3. John Malkovich…well, just for being John Malkovich. Playing a retired CIA agent who was injected with LSD everyday as part of an experiment, Marvin is weird, random and paranoid. He carries a stuffed pink pig around with him, he believes that the government is out to kill everyone, especially him, and he doesn’t like to be called old. It's another wacky notch in Malkovich's belt of crazy, memorable film roles.

4. Mary-Louise Parker plays Sarah, a love interest for Frank. It’s very refreshing to see someone over the age of 40 going toe-to-toe with someone who, let’s face it, isn't 30, or even 40, anymore! Sarah works at a company that administers pension funds and Frank calls her almost everyday about his pension cheque that apparently gets "lost". When Frank is attacked by assassins in his home he knows that they will also go after Sarah and decides to kidnap her for her own safety. And surprisingly, Sarah likes this new adventure, or rather first date Parker is naturally witty, charming and perfectly cast in the role.

5. The storyline might be a bit predictable, but it’s definitely not boring and it’s also not over the top (Salt, anyone?). The actors being the age they are, perform stunts that are actually believable and looks real. The humour isn’t forced either – there is more than enough experience and just plain class in this movie to make it an experience that has to be seen on the big screen.
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