Safe House

Actors:  Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Brendan Gleeson, Vera Farmiga, Sam Sheppard, Ruben Blades
Rating:  8 out of 10, this was a really good action movie with a superb cast at the top of their game.  Reynolds holds his own with Washington, no mean task.  Reynolds plays a CIA house minder named Weston who yearns for more action until it literally explodes in his face. I like the way he slowly adapts as his world falls apart and he tries to remain true to himself and his beliefs.  Washington dominates as the world weary super spy, Frost, on the run from the CIA in possession of devastating secrets.  The movie is a little too preachy about the evils of governments but that what you get with Hollywood – they never met a conspiracy they didn’t like.  I also wish they made better use of Farmiga who elevates whatever scene she’s in.  That aside, I was very impressed with the pyrotechnics for this movie, especially the gun fights which had a real edge of realism.  The action is almost non-stop and both Reynolds and Washington do a credible job with the physical aspects.  I liked the arc for both the main characters as Frost sees himself in the young Weston then watches their friends get stripped away until all they are left with is each other.  I’m surprised we didn’t hear more about this movie – it rocks.  I also really liked the ending as Weston goes to Paris but doesn’t cliché out.

MVP:  Washington as Tobin Frost (great name) both cool and extremely dangerous