There's a lackadaisy feel to "Beckett" that we just couldn't shake throughout its runtime. This massive disconnect between the viewer and the film, between its surprises and its mysteries, between its narrative and its action meant that while "Beckett" had interesting concepts all around it, we just wished it had less complications and more bite.
While on vacation in Greece, Beckett (John David Washington) and his girlfriend April (Alicia Vikander) decide to leave Athens to avoid the ongoing political rallies happening within the city. But while driving to their next hotel at night, they get into a tragic car accident. Beckett is the sole survivor and has no idea what to do next. While recovering from his injuries, he finds himself at the center of a dangerous political conspiracy and on the run for his life.
Is Beckett a super spy in disguise? That's the very last thought we had about the film. Because for a character who was supposed to be a plain guy on vacation with his girlfriend, Beckett did a lot of stuff that only James Bond would be able to replicate. This is the very weird notion that we found all throughout the film. "Beckett" wanted to be a story about a normal guy finding himself in the middle of a political game but it couldn't help itself but complicate the action, the story, and the characters within it to up the ante time and time again. What we hated most was the details about the political conspiracy. It just flew by our heads and we just couldn't get ourselves really invested with it. But all is not bad with "Beckett". John David Washington in particular provided an awesome performance overall. While the pervasive sense of dread from start to finish was undeniably stressful in a great way. Additionally, we also loved the cinematography which transported viewers right into the fray of fights and chases. If you could get over the narrative limitations and nonsensical elements of "Beckett", it will be a solid and slow thriller.
Rating: 2 and a half reels
Why you should watch it:
- provide a sense of thrill and dread from first minute to last
Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the nonsensical and lackadaisy feel meant we weren't as invested as we would normally be with a film
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