Friday, July 4, 2008

Wanted


Last Friday my cousin picked me up after work and we treated ourselves to dinner and a movie. I'd been waiting for months for Wanted to be released, and my cousin really loves James McAvoy - me, too! - so we were psyched.

You have to understand a few things about me.


I'm not a chick flick kind of gal. I'm a Kill Bill kind of gal. Wanted is exactly what I want - and this film delivers in spades. My cousin literally sat on the edge of her seat several times. It's fantastic.



I can't get enough of superhero origin stories. Wanted follows this format, even if Wesley, the main character played by James McAvoy, is not technically a superhero.


Both my cousin and I have a soft spot in our hearts for the tortured hero.
















And we both have a healthy appreciation for James McAvoy. It's win-win, really.


I've mentioned previously how much I love Night Watch and Day Watch, two Russian urban paranormal films by director Timur Bekmambetov.


"Wanted marks the Hollywood debut of a Kazakh filmmaker named Timur Bekmambetov," writes Brian D. Johnson for MacLean's magazine, "who's like the directorial equivalent of the Russian mob. Wielding the camera like a switchblade in a steam bath, he could teach Quentin Tarantino lessons in savagery and give James Cameron a crash course on how to shoot a fight scene on a derailing train. Wanted is one hard-core, blood-drenched action movie."



Best of all, the Russian actor I love so much from Night Watch, Konstantin Khabensky has a supporting role in this film. And for the first time, I got to hear him speak in English!!




Work it, James.











Here's the trailer. Oh - I've already seen the film a second time, on Canada Day. Twice and counting...

11 comments:

Unknown said...

Have you seen Hancock? I was wondering what you thought of it. This film looks really cool. Hope you had a great Canada Day!

Be well, Sniz

Thomma Lyn said...

Wanted looks like a way-cool movie! I look forward to seeing it. :) Fabulous photos and trailer, too!

Akelamalu said...

James McAvoy is excellent! I really must see this film.

Unknown said...

Great - I'm a Kill Bill kinda gal too!

Wylie Kinson said...

Ha - I've seen it twice too!! I went by myself the night my hubby came home from his business trip and liked it so much I dragged him to it the next night!

I do chick flicks AND action flicks, and comedy, drama,... I like a bit of everything, but it has to be done well. Wanted was done brilliantly!

James McAvoy was fabulous. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. Does he not remind you of Gerard Butler?? Some of his facial expressions had me shaking my head thinking they MUST be related.
The action was non-stop thrilling. Angelina Jolie was perfect in her role of Fox.

Ah gee, I was going to blog about this today, but you've done it so well, I think I'll skip it :)

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Wylie - there can never be too many blog posts about 'Wanted'. Go for it!

James McAvoy definitely reminds me of Gerard Butler - hence the attraction. Same Scottish gene pool, of course. They definitely get the same crazed look in their eyes when they're about to do something intense. I LOVE it when they do that.

And I believe I'm off to watch it a third time with Brad...

Anonymous said...

I wondered if it would be good! Thanks for the encouragement! We'll go check it out!

Anonymous said...

Hmm.. is it really good? He's a bit on the small side for my taste, and I didn't like him in Becoming Jane, but I did think he looked pretty good in the trailer. I actually like Jolie, too -- but all the scenes I saw in previews with her looked so over-acted...

HeatherK said...

I'm with Wylie on chick flicks and action flicks. Many movies for many moods. I've seen a few movies over past couple of weeks but not Wanted.

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Isabella - James definitely does not rate in your 'what-attracts-Isabella' criteria. But he really does it for me. Beautiful eyes with so much emotion, a beautiful voice, the crazy Scottish thing - I can't resist...

Jill said...

I'm jealous of you Julia! I want to see that movie!