Director Martin Campbell
Genre Action | Thriller
Cast Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan, Charlie Murphy, Rory Fleck Byrne
Rating R
Release Date October 13th, 2017
“A humble businessman with a buried past seeks justice when his daughter is killed in an act of terrorism. A cat-and-mouse conflict ensues with a government official, whose past may hold clues to the killers’ identities.”
The Foreigner is a tense thriller from New Zealand born director Martin Campbell, the man behind Goldeneye, The Mask of Zorro, Casino Royale, and Edge of Darkness. The film is based on the 1992 novel The Chinaman, written by British author Stephen Leather. The cast includes Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan, Charlie Murphy, Rory Fleck Byrne, and Katie Leung.
Blending aspects of Jason Bourne and John Wick, Jackie Chan's The Foreigner is an extremely clever and absolutely brutal revenge thriller. Scrap anything you think you know about Jackie Chan as an actor, more specifically his character in the Rush Hour films. This is a new breed of Jackie Chan, hell bent on revenge, and boy is he a blast to watch. I had fairly high expectations for The Foreigner considering early feedback as well as Chan's undeniable commitment to martial arts, not to mention his willingness to commit 100% to the authenticity of this type of role. This is the story of a man who has endured the greatest pain life can inflict on a human being, and unfortunately this is not the first time. The only thing more dangerous than an angry man with nothing to lose is an angry man with nothing to lose who also has a Special Forces background. I mentioned before how smart of a film this was and I can't stress that enough. The backstory behind the events that set the plot in motion go much deeper than I expected and I felt like that helped to add more weight to the film. The Foreigner is never predictable, and from the opening scene it justifies the R rating, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats right up until the film’s credits. The bombing scene is especially brutal, similar to Patriots Day, so if you have a difficult time with graphic scenes like that you may have to look away. Considering the subject matter, which is dark to say the least, The Foreigner has a few feel good moments that I think audiences will really appreciate. I mentioned the Jason Bourne comparison and Chan's character has a similar badass presence to him, but I also felt like the score resembled the Bourne films, utilizing a dramatic clip of music during powerful scenes and more specifically the conclusion of the film. To me that was always a staple of the Bourne films that I really enjoyed. From top to bottom The Foreigner is a very well rounded thriller.
The cast in The Foreigner is nothing short of phenomenal, lead by veteran actors Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan, both playing characters with dark pasts. I would be hard pressed to think of a better all around performance from Jackie Chan. The actor has an astounding 134 total acting credits according to his IMDb filmography, and is best known by mainstream audiences for the Rush Hour films in which he starred alongside Chris Tucker. He has been working his tail off with 6 or 7 films in the works currently, but since 2010's The Karate Kid remake most of his films have been international or limited releases. From his mannerisms to the way he carries himself, right down to the constant look of a man who has lost everything, you can't help but root for him to come out on top. The Foreigner reinforces Chan's ability to play a pivotal role in a big budget movie and I can't wait to see this side of him again. Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, with 83 acting credits to his resume, is amazing as expected. I really enjoyed Brosnan's character because of how many layers are peeled away throughout the film. My guess is audiences will be split on their feelings towards his character by the end, and those feelings will definitely fluctuate as the plot unfolds. Similar to Chan, Brosnan hasn't really had a big film release in a few years but his talent is also undeniable and I don't think anyone could have played this role better. Relatively unknown actor Rory Fleck Byrne, who has acted in mostly short films and television, is fantastic alongside Brosnan as his nephew and arguably the only other man with the skills to stop Chan's revenge spree. The supporting cast is fantastic without a weak spot to speak of.
The Foreigner is non-stop entertainment brought to life thanks to amazing source material and a stellar cast. As much as I love certain remakes as well as the blockbuster comic book movies that we have been treated to as of late, it's refreshing to go see and support an original idea based on a book most of us have never heard of. The Foreigner is one of those intense thrillers that begs to be watched multiple times just so that you can once again experience the way it makes you feel. It will definitely be a purchase for me once it hits Blu-ray. Step outside your comfort zone and check out The Foreigner in theaters. Highly recommended.
